With indices touching new highs every day, many investors start thinking that they should be 100% invested in equity markets. No one wants to hold cash as there is high opportunity cost. Instead of holding cash in the portfolio, investors want to own a stock, any stock. This is perhaps the best time to remind ourselves of the value of cash. Let us remind ourselves of how successful investors look at it.
“I think it’s [cash] actually an aggressive strategic asset because it’s one of the few things that rises in value as the market plunges. Its value is inversely proportional to how challenging the environment is” Ken Shubin Stein
“Holding cash is uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as doing something stupid” Warren Buffett
“I have found it wise, in fact, to periodically turn into cash most of my holdings and virtually retire from the market. No general keeps his troops fighting all the time, nor does he go into battle without some of his forces held back in reserve” Bernard Baruch
“Naysayers argue that holding a large amount of cash that yields nearly nothing is foolish, and perhaps it is – until it isn’t. On all counts, we think it’s better to have cash and not need it, rather than to need it and not have it.” Bruce Berkowitz
“There are worse situations than drowning in cash and sitting, sitting, sitting. I remember when I wasn’t awash in cash – and I don’t want to go back.” Charlie Munger
“Cash combined with courage in a time of crisis is priceless.” Warren Buffett
“Our willingness to hold cash at times when great opportunities are scarce allows us to take advantage of opportunity amidst turmoil that could handcuff a competitor who is always fully invested” Seth Klarman
“If you go back and study the great investors throughout history—the Medicis, the Morgans, the Rothschilds, and recently Buffett—these great investors with terrific records share a common trait: they were always in a position to be liquidity providers. Each was willing to hold cash until someone was in distress or under duress, and they could provide liquidity at very attractive prices… I actually consider cash to be an asset class” John Phelan
“What’s unique about cash – and only cash has that attribute – it is not only a buffer that does not go down when other things go down. Cash is what you actually need to buy low so you can then sell high. When people say you are supposed to pounce when blood in the streets, you need cash to do that.” Charles De Vaulx
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