Letters to Clients

Smells like Teen Spirit

September 2024

As we approach back-to-school season, we thought it might be timely to riff on that staple of teen fashion magazines everywhere and serve up a list of what’s “in” and what’s “out” according to our Marshfield style guide.

Punk'd

April 2024

In writing about company and industry quality and the kinds of signifiers of durable value creation we seek, we never want to lose sight of the importance of price.

The Ghost in the Machine

December 2023

Objectivity is not all it’s cracked up to be.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

April 2023

Resilience: a must-have quality for Marshfield companies.

Talk to the Hand

May 2022

An exploration of industry structure and its impact on Marshfield stock selection.

Game of Thrones

December 2021

The importance of having an appropriate corporate culture and how we incorporate an analysis of it into our decision-making process.

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

September 2021

Why we sell – and keeping feelings from getting in the way when we do.

Living in the Past

April 2021

Mitigating the impact of cognitive biases and preventing them from creeping into the decision-making process.

Home on the Range

December 2020

Managing risks and living with multiple possible outcomes.

To Catch a Falling Butter Knife

April 2020

Sticking to our discipline and adhering to our process during times of adversity.

Bondage and Discipline

February 2020

Being true to our investment discipline is not always easy, and that’s precisely the point.

The Human League

September 2019

Investors can become intoxicated by technological innovation, yet it is often the human element that separates the wheat from the chaff.

Ch-ch-ch-ch Changes

February 2018

Poll Dance

April 2017

Knowing what’s knowable and what’s not – and taking refuge in our process.

Blood on the Tracks

December 2016

How surprises present opportunities.

Wall Street Stories

July 2016

Investing in companies, not fairytales – and knowing the difference.

Whither England?

June 2016

Brexit: what does it mean for us?

First Rate

March 2016

Thoughts on Moody’s Corp.

What's Going On

January 2016

Causes of volatility: what’s real, what’s fantasy, and exploiting misjudgments.

Shop't

January 2016

Opportunity in the evolving retail ecosystem, and the Ross Stores example.

Diamonds are Forever

August 2015

Investing, like baseball, is a long game: near-term performance is not always indicative of long-term success.

There's No App for That

February 2015

Competitive advantages that endure … and that technology is unlikely to supplant.

Vive la Différence

May 2014

Marshfield’s investment philosophy: how we are thoughtfully different.

Opportunity Knocks

November 2013

Opportunistic investing: a rational approach to an unknowable future.

Price Points

June 2013

A company’s pricing policy: what it can tell you.

Show Time

December 2012

Exploiting the luxury of time in investing.

Let's Get Physical

August 2012

Where do we invest if the agents of change themselves are so easily displaced by the next generation of innovators? Hint: not everything changes.

A Fistful of Dollars

June 2012

Risk control and opportunity in an unpredictable world.

Springtime for Banking!

April 2012

Banking: what hath the financial crisis wrought?

High Anxiety

August 2011

In regard to the noise, skepticism is your friend.

Cheap Tricks

June 2011

Intrinsic value: an antidote for misjudgments and emotion.

Book 'em, Danno

February 2011

All banks are very much NOT the same.