The Father Of Financial Analysis

BENJAMIN GRAHAM THE FATHER OF FINANCIAL ANALYSIS Irving Kahn, C.F.A. and Robert D. Milne, C.F.A. Occasional Paper Number 5 Copyright © 1977 by The Financial Analysts Research Foundation Charlottesville, Virginia 10-digit ISBN: 1-934667-05-6 13-digit ISBN: 978-1-934667-05-7 CONTENTS Dedication About the Authors I. Biographical Sketch of Benjamin Graham, Financial Analyst II. Some Reflections on Ben Graham’s Personality III. An Hour with Mr. Graham, March 1976 IV. Benjamin Graham as a Portfolio Manager V. Quotations from Benjamin Graham VI. Selected Bibliography The authors wish to thank The Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts staff, including Mary Davis Shelton and Ralph F. MacDonald, III, in preparing this manuscript for publication. THE FINANCIAL ANALYSTS RESEARCH FOUNDATION AND ITS PUBLICATIONS 1. The Financial Analysts Research Foundation is an autonomous charitable foundation, as defined by Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation seeks to improve the professional performance of financial analysts by fostering education, by stimulating the development of financial analysis through high quality research, and by facilitating the dissemination of such research to users and to the public. More specifically, the purposes and obligations of the Foundation are to commission basic studies (1) with respect to investment securities analysis, investment management, financial analysis, securities markets and closely related areas that are not presently or adequately covered by the available literature, (2) that are directed toward the practical needs of the financial analyst and the portfolio manager, and (3) that are of some enduring value. The Financial Analysts Research Foundation is affiliated with The Financial Analysts Federation, The Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts, and the University of Virginia through The Colgate Darden Graduate School of Business Administration. 2. Several types of studies and publications are authorized: 1. Studies based on existing knowledge or methodology which result in a different arrangement of the subject. Included in this category are papers that seek to broaden the understanding within the profession of financial analysis through reviewing, distilling, or synthesizing previously published theoretical research, empirical findings, and specialized literature; 2. Studies that apply known techniques, methodology, and quantitative methods to problems of financial analysis; 3. Studies that develop new approaches or new solutions to important problems existing in financial analysis; 4. Pioneering and original research that discloses new theories, new relationships, or new knowledge that confirms, rejects, or extends existing theories and concepts in financial analysis. Ordinarily, such research is intended to improve the state of the art. The research findings may be supported by the collection or manipulation of empirical or descriptive data from primary sources, such as original records, field interviews, or surveys. 3. The views expressed in this book and in the other studies published by the Foundation are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Foundation, its Board of Trustees, or its staff. As a matter of policy, the Foundation has no official position with respect to specific practices in financial analysis. 4. The Foundation is indebted to the voluntary financial support of its institutional and individual sponsors by which this and other publications are made possible. As a 501 (c)(3) foundation, contributions are welcomed from interested donors, including individuals, business organizations, institutions, estates, foundations, and others. Inquiries may be directed to: Research Director The Financial Analysts Research Foundation University of Virginia, Post Offic