Posted by jasonzweig on Jun 4, 2018 in Articles & Advice, Blog, Columns, Featured |

Image Credit: Alex Nabaum

By Jason Zweig | June 1, 2018 12:43 pm ET

Then, as now, companies and investors were engaged in a massive power struggle. Then, companies were worth far more than investors thought — and would do almost anything to keep investors from unlocking the hidden value. Today, companies may be worth less than investors think — and are equally intent on preventing investors from noticing.…

To read the rest of the column:

The Wall Street Journal, https://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2018/06/01/how-companies-use-the-latest-profits-fad-to-fool-you/

For further reading:

Books:

Howard M. Schilit, Jeremy Perler, and Yoni Engelhart, Financial Shenanigans: How to Detect Accounting Gimmicks and Fraud in Financial Reports

Charles W. Mulford and Eugene E. Comiskey, The Financial Numbers Game: Detecting Creative Accounting Practices



Jason Zweig, Your Money and Your Brain



Jason Zweig, The Devil’s Financial Dictionary





Benjamin Graham, The Intelligent Investor



Jason Zweig, The Little Book of Safe Money



Articles:

Benjamin Graham, “Inflated Treasuries and Deflated Stockholders: Are Corporations Milking Their Owners?” (Forbes Magazine, June 1, 1932)

Securities and Exchange Commission, Regulation G (Conditions for Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures)