Investing is an art that requires not only in-depth knowledge and financial expertise, but also an understanding of the long-term trends and principles of the investment market. Investors are frightened by uncertainty and the risk of losing what they have invested.
The search for the "investment grail" continues.
One popular investment strategy is based on the Lindy Effect, which states that the longer an asset (investment product, company or technology) exists and shows stable results, the higher the probability of its long-term survival. Investors often use this principle when making investment decisions, favouring assets that have a long history.
Which company to invest in? Old or new. According to the Lindy Effect, Coca-Cola has a better chance of surviving into the next century than Google. Is this true?
The Lindy EffectI'm often asked, "What will change in the next 10 years? And almost never: 'What will NOT change in those 10 years? Yet the second question is more important than the first. You can only build a successful business strategy based on what is stable over time. Jeff Bezos
A company's long history of success is an indicator of its stability and reliability. This principle was first articulated by American author and financier Nassim Taleb. If something has existed for a long time, there is a high probability that it will continue to exist. What is valuable is what has stood the test of time. That's the essence of the Lindy Effect.
Can we believe in the Lindy Effect?We can assume that "old" established companies, such as Coca-Cola or Johnson & Johnson, have a better chance of surviving into the next century because of their long and successful history. Based on the Lindy effect, Google (founded in 1998) should be considered a new company and not a promising one to invest in. But we know that Google's innovative potential and unique market position have long made it a successful investment target. "Newcomers" Apple, Amazon and Microsoft are profitable investments. So new companies and technological innovation should not be ignored when considering where to invest.