Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits (Wiley Audio) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Phillip A. Fisher (Author), Philip A. Fisher (Author), George Guidall (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2000 | Series: Wiley Audio

Widely respected and admired, Philip Fisher is among the most influential investors of all time. His investment philosophies, introduced almost forty years ago, are not only studied and applied by today's finance professionals, but are also regarded by many as gospel. He recorded these philosophies in 'Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits', a book considered invaluable reading when it was first published in 1958, and a must-read today. Approximate running time: 180 minutes. Two audio cassettes.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Philip A Fisher

From AudioFile

This program takes a fundamental view of what it takes to be a top-drawer business worthy of your investment dollar. It's based on traditional company variables like capitalization, market position, and labor relations, and some new variables like organizational adaptability and leadership depth and vision. The broad thinking and nuances are so intuitive and clearly drawn that listeners won't even realize how abstract and intelligent this writing is. The impressive piece of work is nicely abridged, and George Guidall is as connected to the material as anyone could be. Still, this is not for the cognitively challenged, nor for overly aggressive investors nor those with money hang-ups. A great resource for understanding why some companies are great and which ones will be. T.W. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Wiley Audio; Abridged edition (June 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560150416
• ISBN-13: 978-1560150411
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,368,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > Books on Cassette > Business > Investing

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not sure if it is applicable to an average investor, July 28, 2007

By 

Persian Guy (Vienna, Va, US) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits (Wiley Audio) (Audio CD)

One of the main, repetitive advices is this book is to talk to the CEO or CFO of the company whose stock you are going to buy. I am rather confused how that is possible for an average investor. Since I am not yet in the same league as Warren Buffet or even Mr Fisher, I found much of the book's advice useless to me.
There are some good points though (not paying attention to trailing P/E too much, not being obsessed with price of the stock, Cost averaging, not selling a winner to take profits, etc.) which make the audiobook useful.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for Fundamental Investors, December 2, 2006

By 

Sidarta Tanu (Richmond, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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Philip Fisher's thoughts and experience are invaluable and timeless. Not as boring (to read) as the intelligent investors (though both are equally important reading). I particularly like the chapters about "Fifteen points to look in a common stocks","when to buy", "when to sell", "Five don't", and "Developing your investment philosophies". One particular topic that I like best is about "Don't follow the crowd". Also on "How I go about finding a growth stock"

Some of the area that the a company/stock (to buy) should have a lot of these criteria:
1. Product and service with potential increase in sales for seveal years
2. Management who commited to develop products to continue growth
3. Size of company's research versus its size (enough research needed)
4. Good sales organization
5. Worthwhile profit margin
6. Activity to improve profit margin
7. Good labor and personal relation
8. Outstanding executove relations
9. Depth in management
10. Good accounting controls and cost analysis
11. favorable (degree of skills) compare to the competition
12. Long range outlook on profit
13. Equity financing in the next couple years should ot cancel the existing shareholder benefit from the anticipated growth
14. Management talk freely to investor about tings that goes well and also when things doesn't go well
15. Management needs to have unquestionable integrity

Five don'ts for investor:
1. Don't buy into promotional companies (development companies)
2. Don't ignore stocks just becuase it is traded over the counter
3. Don't buy stocks because you like the tone of annual report
4. Don't assume the high price is an indication of future growth
5. Dont quibble over small fraction (when you buy a stock)

Five additional don'ts for Investor
1. Don't overstress diversification
2. Don't be afraid buying in a war scare
3. Don't forget your Gilbert and Sullivan
4. Don't fail to consider time as well as price in buying a true growth stock
5. Don't follow the crowd

This book also covers what a good business should have (it recaps of what they teach you in business school). I have 10 years of investing experience before I read this book (I know I should have read this book earlier), and in my opinion this book should work as a guideline to develop our own investing philosophies (and not our philosophy itself). There are no one size fits all strategy in the investing world. This book will also help to open your eyes (especially for beginner) that investing (the right way) is not easy and is a complex process, however the result from a patient and diligent investor could be great.

There are 3 important aspects of a business (apart from the stock price) which this book will cover most of them:
1. The Business (and the Industry)
2. The Financials
3. The People (Management, Personnel)

I also recommend you all to read Ben Graham's "The Intelligent Investors" (with commentary by Jason Zweig who will give more recent and relevant example), and Peter Lynch's "One up on Wall Street". Once you read them all (coupled with some real experience), then you are ready to be an investing pro...

Happy Investing!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Long-term Investors, September 28, 2008

By 

Bobby C. (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits (Wiley Audio) (Audio CD)

This book makes me want to finish up any other project I'm currently working on so I can spend my free time finding good investments. Excellent book, not to mention it's recommended by Warren Buffett.

I was disappointed, however, that there wasn't an Unabridged Audio CD version. And the reader of the abridged audio CD is rather boring, but overall I'm very glad I found this book.