Fundamental investing comes to life through real-world examples. This category features case studies that show how investment principles are applied in practice.
You’ll explore historical investments, business analyses, and real-world decisions made by successful investors.
Topics include Buffett partnerships, business acquisitions, and detailed investment breakdowns.
If you were a kid in the 1980s or 1990s, no trip to the mall was complete without visiting KB Toys. Mothers across the United States bribed their young kids to behave on shopping trips by promising to take them to KB. When the company went into liquidation in 2008, many people assumed KB Toys
The Rise and Fall of KB Toys: A Business Strategy Case Study Read More »
Introduction Why has Costco consistently outperformed many retailers for decades? The answer isn’t simply low prices or warehouse stores. Costco has built a business model that combines customer loyalty, operational efficiency, disciplined management, and a powerful competitive advantage. For fundamental investors, Costco offers an excellent case study of how a well-designed business can create long-term
Costco: A Case Study in Competitive Advantage Read More »
IPO Investing Is Exciting—And Dangerous Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) generate enormous excitement. Investors are drawn to innovative companies, compelling stories, and the possibility of owning the next great business before it becomes a household name. The upcoming SpaceX IPO has generated exactly this kind of enthusiasm, with the company expected to become one of the
Even the best investors make mistakes. Warren Buffett has called his investment in Dexter Shoes: “The worst deal I’ve ever made.” At first, Dexter looked like a great business. But over time, it became completely worthless. In this case study, you’ll learn: The Investment: What Happened? In 1993, Berkshire Hathaway acquired Dexter Shoes. At the
Case Study: Dexter Shoes — Warren Buffett’s Worst Investment Read More »
What does a great investment actually look like in the real world? Apple is one of the best modern examples. In 2011, many investors were uncertain about Apple’s future. But those using fundamental investing principles saw something different: A high-quality business trading at an attractive price. In this case study, you’ll learn: The Situation in
Case Study: Apple — A Great Investment Explained Using Buffett’s Framework Read More »
Warren Buffett is one of the most successful investors of all time. But his approach is surprisingly simple. He doesn’t chase trends.He doesn’t try to predict the market. Instead, he focuses on understanding businesses. At the Fundamental Investing Institute, we teach a similar approach—evaluating companies based on fundamentals, not speculation. In this guide, you’ll learn:
How Warren Buffett Evaluates Companies: A Simple Investing Framework Read More »
This post is part of an ongoing series reflecting on Warren Buffett’s career and investment philosophy. Buffett on Scale and Structural Advantage In 1999, at the height of the dotcom bubble, Warren Buffett gave an interview for BusinessWeek. Buffett was discussing how the combination of an over-heated stock market and Berkshire Hathaway’s large size made
Reflection on Warren Buffett’s Career: The Partnership Years Read More »
Early Life and Family Influences In the first post in this series, I wrote a bit about how I encountered Warren Buffett’s investment philosophy as an undergraduate student (read it here). In this post, I discuss Warren Buffett’s early years and some of the influences that shaped his early career. Warren Buffett was born on
Reflections on Warren Buffett’s Career: Early Influences Read More »
Part One: Early Influences, Long-Term Discipline, and Learning to Think About Business Why Reflect on Warren Buffett Now On January 1st, 2026, Warren Buffett officially stepped down as the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., the sprawling conglomerate and investment holding company that Buffett, alongside his late partner Charlie Munger, built up over five decades. As
Reflections on Warren Buffett’s Career Read More »
In a previous blog post, The Risks of Financial Leverage in Small Business Acquisitions, I discussed the increased number of online influencers. They are promoting small business acquisitions as a path to creating wealth. While there are plenty of entrepreneurs who have become very wealthy acquiring small businesses, these deals are not without risk. Influencers
Small Business Acquisition – The Management Factor Read More »
