2009年2月19日 星期四

[Finance]無法定調的投資風險偏好

[心得]


[出處] 以下文章引用自:
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/oolong1001/5431341

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[文章]

投資生活家


無法定調的投資風險偏好
本期發刊日:2009/02/15

過年後,無論是媒體或周遭的人都常會問幾個投資問題,那就是「現在可不可以買股票?還是第二季再買?」、「到底可以買什麼股票?」。從前,或許筆者會如同媒體裡的分析師或基金經理人一般,總是要就個人的論點發表一番。然而,經過這十幾年的經歷,終究體認到一個投資世界上的現象,那就是「沒有一個人的想法甚至感受是與另一個人完全相同的。」例如,跟三個人談未來股勢將會大好,但三個人對於大好的感受或想法卻有很大的差異,某甲可能以為股市會翻倍上漲,某乙則認為會漲超過上波高點,某丙則單純的以為比現在好一點。再如,認為某種股票值得投資目標價至少40元,聽在不同人耳裡也會有著不同的解讀與動作,有的人認為如果目標價是40元,那麼最好35元就先溜了。有的人則會認為超過40元再說吧,更有的人認為40元的目標價只是底線,上面還有上漲空間的。就因著上述不同的個別反應,也使得筆者不願意再隨便提出一些投資建議來。因為,到最後會投資建議如同耳語傳播一般,跟個人原意有著很大的差異。

其實,除了上述因著每個人的不同,對事情所產生認知上的差異外,在事事講求報酬率等數字上精確的投資世界上,還有一個必然會產生更大的差異,那就是投資風險偏好。從偏好這兩個字就可以曉得這是個無法用數字精確描述的現象,即使是用盡投資學上各種複雜的數學模式也無法精確描述,因為偏好本來就是飄忽末定、時時改變,想用數學模式描述分析只是一種奢望罷了。對於同一時空下同一種股票的未來價值與走向判斷,本就會因著個人個性與所謂的風險偏好而有著千變萬化的不同,更不必論及每個人的財務狀況間的不同了。例如,即使同一個分析報告中對於同一個股的未來獲利預估是相同的,都是每年每股盈餘2元並且以每年15%的成長率成長。但每個人對於該份研究報告的可信度想法也有不同,更不必談及個別投資人對於相關研究的解析能力間的不同。如果,再加上飄忽未定的未來經濟景氣局勢,以及寫這些研究報告分析師與券商常常每兩三個月就更動預估每股獲利的不良記錄,上述這些種種因素再加上每個人的財務狀況的不同,要讓每個人得出相同的投資計畫、策略與操作價格,那可是比登天還難的事了。

其實,比上述因著投資人個別條件、偏好與飄忽不定的未來,而讓所有人無法訂出相同、獲利最高的投資策略這個問題更令筆者個人不解的問題,就是為什麼一大堆國內外頂尖投資分析師人才還要傻呼呼去做這樣的事。因為,即使費盡心思做出多麼精采的研究報告,但是因著不完全了解客戶(法人投資人)的真正投資心態、偏好甚至投資策略,卻做出一致而清楚的目標價投資建議。這種作法不是太過輕率,就是對於投資偏好這碼子事沒什麼了解,否則幹嘛要在投資建議中加入建議目標價格這一項。不過,進一步想想也不是沒什道理的。因為,就像坊間最新的一本介紹世界頂尖投資銀行與分析師生涯的書中的敘述,這一切不過是在追求短利而已,亦即讓客戶多做些交易多賺點交易手續佣金才是。想一想這不正如國內的證券商解盤一般,目的總是在要客戶多做些短線交易,多賺點手續費。只是,外資法人的交易規模較大而已,佣金與手續費更多罷了。

到底從那裡可以得到對於筆者上述論點的真實驗證呢?從世界各主要股市其大多數基金長期平均投資報酬率等於或略低於大盤報酬率這個事實,就是最好的說明。因為,基金報酬率等於大盤報酬率,正清楚表示上述分析師的努力並沒什特殊效果,即使加上專業的基金經理人與操盤人的努力之後也不例外。事實上,投資大師對於華爾街的基金經理人與投資報告的長期投資績效大概也有類似的評論。

其實,拉拉雜雜說了一大堆,筆者要各位讀者真正了解的是,如果對自己的個性、偏好、景況、優勢不夠了解,那麼再多的投資資訊、建議都沒什麼大作用。再者,投資學上所謂的風險偏好也有一個前提,那就是風險是可分析的。只是,這個假設在投資實務上是根本不存在的,從最近的國際金融海嘯就可知道。因為,綜和全球各頂尖經濟研究機構、投資機構,絕大多數卻也無法事先預測到事件的發生。即使有事先預測到的分析師與機構,從其過去的預測記錄觀察,也應該是矇對的。那麼讀者面對這樣的投資世界真實景況又要如何呢?除了想一想自己的風險偏好與相對應的投資策略外,也要記得建立投資信心。雖說投資信心是一個有趣甚至玄妙的名詞,但卻是讓投資邁入藝術境界與成功地步的關鍵。

有空再跟讀者多談投資信心,未來世界將逐漸邁入復甦成長,對應於筆者去年的論點現在似乎看到一些端倪。因為,世界總是往前走的,人們也總是在努力想改善生活,這正是股市、經濟與生活會逐漸會變得更好的原動力,而對於未來持有悲觀想法的正是違反這個事實的,這個觀點與想法也是成為一個成功投資人投資信心的重要一環。總而言之,風險偏好雖然是有著個別的差異,但「唯有敢投資才能致富」這一點卻是永遠不變的真理,這才是面對未來逐步復甦的世界經濟的正確觀點。
下一個專題:「當真心有多大,世界就有多大?」

[MLB]Is Ian Kinsler Really the Top Second Baseman?

[心得]


[出處] 以下文章引用自:
Fantasy911
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[文章]

If you take a look at some of the pre-draft rankings available online now--like, say, the rankings provided by FP911, or the new top 500 put together by Mike Podhorzer--you will find that Ian Kinsler leads the pack at second base. As far as the fantasy hosting sites go, Yahoo! sports also ranks him as the top second baseman, while ESPN and CBS each put him at third for the position. His current ADP at Mock Draft Central is 11.28, six places ahead of Chase Utley (17.13), the next second baseman drafted.

Ian Kinsler at batThe enthusiasm for Kinsler is understandable. While he has been a fair hitter for much of his professional career, he hit .319 in 2008. While he's always been speedy, he stole a career-high 26 bases last year. And while his career-high mark for home runs was set with 20 in 2007, he still hit 18 in 2008, and posted a .375 OBP and .892 OPS. In all, the 2008 season gave us a tantalizing glimpse of Ian Kinsler as the Carlos Beltran of second base--a legitimate five-category player, good for power, speed, and batting average, whose overall excellence tempts you to pick him over the (only) more powerful or (only) faster options at the same position.

The Injured Top Tier
Unfortunately, as many will be quick to point out (including Brian Joura over at FanGraphs), Kinsler comes with a drawback--even with three good years in the major leagues, Kinsler has yet to play a full season. An injured thumb in 2006; an injured left foot in 2007; a sports hernia in 2008: each has limited Kinsler's playing time, and the wise fantasy drafter would keep a similarly not-quite-full 2009 season in mind.

Chase Utley at batStrangely enough, Kinsler's value in 2009 is likely boosted by an injury--an injury to Chase Utley. Utley underwent surgery on his hip in November, which caused many to worry that he might miss a month or more of the season. Recent reports say that Utley may be ready to play on Opening Day, but I'm sure that his surgery--and the initial worries over his return date--are still suppressing the usual excitement for his performance.

To see how assuming less playing time for Utley can affect Kinsler's standing in the top tier, let's take a look at the numbers offered by Mike Podhorzer's excellent projections:

Player AB AVG BABIP HR RBI RUN SB $Total
Ian Kinsler 550 .295 .310 23 80 105 28 28.82
Brian Roberts 610 .288 .330 9 55 105 38 22.74
Chase Utley 500 .301 .320 26 85 95 11 21.17
Brandon Phillips 575 .279 .300 22 85 85 25 20.79
Dustin Pedroia 625 .317 .330 13 70 100 12 18.79

Here is where Kinsler's value as an all-around excellent player emerges. While Brian Roberts is faster, he doesn't project to have the same power or average as Kinsler. While Brandon Phillips can match Kinsler in power and speed, he loses out on average too. While Dustin Pedroia projects to be a better hitter than Kinsler, he doesn't look likely to come near to his home run or stolen base totals. And while Chase Utley could overpower Kinsler in hitting skill, and could have a modest base-stealing ability of his own, he's currently projected to have fewer at-bats than any of the other second basemen in the top tier.

Is Kinsler a Safe Bet?
It is worth looking at Kinsler's recent history to see how likely he is to repeat his past performance. Here are his basic and peripheral stats for the past three years:

Season PA AVG HR SB OBP BABIP
2006 474 .286 14 11 .347 .310
2007 566 .263 20 23 .355 .282
2008 583 .319 18 26 .375 .339

Season BB% K% LD% GB% FB% HR/FB%
2006 8.6% 15.1% 20.6% 35.3% 44.2% 8.8%
2007 11.4% 17.2% 19.6% 34.7% 45.7% 11.0%
2008 8.0% 12.9% 24.2% 32.4% 43.3% 9.2%

As we can see, Kinsler has shown some good and better-than-average walk and strikeout rates, which suggest that his average and OBP numbers can be expected to repeat. Likewise, while his line drive rates and BABIP have fluctuated somewhat, they haven't departed from each other in any significant way that might indicate a streak of luck (good or bad) or any great regression in either direction.

Kinsler's batted ball statistics look stable enough, which is good for another high-average season, but considering how average his HR/FB numbers are, it doesn't seem likely he will enjoy any large power spike in the coming season. Since he's still 26, it's not outlandish to think some sort of increase in home runs or doubles could come along, but I wouldn't expect any dramatic surge past 25 home runs.

In all, Kinsler profiles to continue his performance as an excellent hitter who contributes in all the standard fantasy categories. Though his playing time is a considerable concern, he is, by all reports, healthy and on track to start the year in his usual form--which is a very good form to be in, and one that outshines most of the other options at second base. As Opening Day approaches, Chase Utley's value is likely to climb back up, and he may take the top spot among second basemen in most drafts. But you couldn’t ask for a better second choice than Ian Kinsler.