Search
Get in touch!
Linkedin X-twitter Envelope

Aswath Damodaran: How to manage catastrophic risks for corporations

In this article, Aswath Damodaran, Professor at NYU, discusses how we as investors can factor in the risk of catastrophic events for the companies we either already own or are considering adding to our portfolio.

One of the examples he cites is the company, Blue Lagoon, a well-regarded Icelandic spa with a history of high profitability, which found its existence threatened by volcanic activity in southwest Iceland. Another interesting example is the climate change/ESG risk when investing in oil and gas companies.

To the extent that all businesses are exposed to catastrophic risks, some company-level and some having broader effects, there are actions that businesses can take to, if not protect to themselves, at least cushion the impact of these risks. A personal-service business, headed by an aging key person, will be well served designing a succession plan for someone to step in when the key person leaves (by his or her choice or an act of God). […]

Embedded in this discussion are also the limits to sustainability, since the notion of sustaining a business at any cost is absurd. Building in adaptability and safeguards against catastrophic risk makes sense only if the costs of doing so are less than the potential benefits, a simple but powerful lesson that many sustainability advocates seem to ignore, when they make grandiose prescriptions for what businesses should and should not do to avoid the apocalypse.

Click here to go to the external source.

Share the news

Disclaimer of liability

The above has been prepared by Børsgade ApS for information purposes and cannot be regarded as a solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell any security. Nor can the information etc. be regarded as recommendations or advice of a legal, accounting or tax nature. Børsgade cannot be held liable for losses caused by customers’/users’ actions – or lack thereof – based on the information in the above. We have made every effort to ensure that the information in the above is complete and accurate, but cannot guarantee this and accept no liability for errors or omissions.

Readers are advised that investing may involve a risk of loss that cannot be determined in advance, and that past performance and price development cannot be used as a reliable indicator of future performance and price development. For further information please contact info@borsgade.dk

You might also find this interesting:

Michael Mauboussin: How to Handle Intangibles in Modern Value Investing

June 18, 2025

Michael Mauboussin, Head of Consilient Research at Morgan Stanley, delivered a compelling keynote presentation at the Ben Graham Centre for Value Investing’s 2025 conference, addressing how the rise of intangible assets has fundamentally altered the landscape of value investing.

Drawing from nearly a century of investment wisdom while adapting to modern realities, Mauboussin argues that traditional accounting methods have become increasingly inadequate for evaluating companies in today’s intangible-heavy economy. His presentation reveals that intangible investments now represent 1.7 times tangible investments in the U.S. economy, a complete reversal from 1977 when tangible investments dominated by a factor of 1.4.

Cliff Asness: Missing the Best Days Isn’t the Real Problem

June 12, 2025

Clifford Asness of AQR Capital Management revisits his 1999 rejected paper that challenged one of the most common arguments against market timing. The widespread belief that missing just a few of the market’s best days destroys long-term returns is fundamentally flawed, according to Asness.

His analysis shows that while missing the best performing days does hurt returns, missing the worst performing days provides symmetrical benefits. The author demonstrates through both historical data and simulations that this “evidence” against market timing is mathematically obvious and essentially useless for investment decision-making.

Asness argues that legitimate criticisms of market timing should focus on investors’ lack of skill rather than cherry-picked scenarios of perfect incompetence. His 25+ years of out-of-sample data confirms these findings, showing the argument remains as flawed today as it was when first proposed.

Warren Buffett: Lessons from the Oracle of Omaha

June 12, 2025

In this special celebratory episode from The Investor’s Podcast, host William Green shares his personal observations from attending the annual shareholder meeting in Omaha where the announcement was made, describing it as the most joyful meeting he’s ever attended.

The episode features powerful highlights from Green’s previous conversations with legendary investors including Joel Greenblatt, Nick Sleep, Thomas Russo, Chris Davis, Chuck Akre, and Christopher Bloomstran, all discussing Buffett’s profound influence on their investment approaches.

Chris Davis: Navigating Todays Turbulent Markets With Bill Miller

June 6, 2025

Two legendary portfolio managers, Chris Davis and Bill Miller, engaged in a comprehensive discussion about navigating today’s volatile investment landscape, drawing from their combined decades of experience managing billions in assets.

The conversation, structured around nine key topics, covers everything from investment temperament and market volatility to emerging technologies and geopolitical challenges. Miller, famous for outperforming the S&P 500 for 15 consecutive years while managing the Legg Mason Value Trust, and Davis share insights on stewardship, patience, and contrarian investing approaches. The discussion emphasizes the importance of long-term thinking, adaptability, and maintaining perspective during uncertain times.