About

Who we are

We are experienced private investors with successful track records. Focused on the value investing approach, we have achieved above market returns for over a decade. Our expertise includes in-depth company analysis, competitive analysis, data analysis and compilation, and programming capabilities.

We developed Growth With Value with a singular purpose: to provide users with easy-to-use tools which are based on sound value investing principles. Drawing form our years of knowledge and experience, we created a comprehensive investment platform. We offer a one-stop destination where investors can access a suite of tools designed to simplify the complexities of the market, all while adhering to sound investment principles.

Hello, I’m Alistair Cowley, a full-time investor fueled by a passion for finance. Eager to share my knowledge with fellow investors, I’m on a journey of continuous learning and skill enhancement in the captivating world of investing.

My journey…

If you have stumbled across this website, chances are that you are on the same journey as me, working towards your financial independence. Since becoming an expert in Value Investing, I realised that the share market provides investors the opportunity to buy shares in real businesses, not just a platform to speculate and hope for the best. By buying quality businesses at fair value, you greatly increase your chances of success.

I have made it my goal to be the best investor that I can be. To achieve this goal, I first needed to understand exactly what Value Investing was, so I soaked up as much information as possible by studying books, articles, websites, and online forums, as well as listening to podcasts and watching numerous documentaries. I soon realised there was a lot of valuable information available to the novice investor provided by highly acclaimed investment professionals. The only problem was it took me a long time to understand what it all meant.

“An investor should ordinarily hold a small piece of an outstanding business with the same tenacity that an owner would exhibit if he owned all of that business.”
— Warren Buffett

My background…

Straight after school, at the age of 18, I started work as an apprentice industrial electrician. After my four-year apprenticeship, I moved into a different business group within the same corporation where I was employed. My new role was to manage, operate, and maintain water treatment plants. Looking back on my work, I realised that it has many correlations with Value Investing. My work required me to follow strict procedures to ensure the continuity of safe and clean drinking water for the public. You could say it is similar to an investment checklist, using it to ensure that nothing has been overlooked. Also, I had to analyse data from the various treatment plants to determine any abnormalities, which is similar to reading a business’s financial report and looking for any warning signs. I also had strict parameters to follow to maintain water quality, with key indicators used to monitor the potential for any water quality incidents. This is similar to using a stock screener, where I incorporate filters to monitor the market for any potential investment opportunities. Trends and historical graphs are also used and monitored to ensure that water quality is not drifting outside certain parameters, similar to analysing the financial history of a company, looking for growing earnings or falling debt as a positive sign that the company is headed in the right direction.

Given my background wasn’t in the financial sector, I decided to undertake a Bachelor of Business majoring in Finance and Accounting in 2019. Later, I decided to turn my passion for finance and investment into a full-time commitment.

My market returns…

By the time I was nineteen, I had already been investing for a few months. I was a novice investor at the time but was lucky enough to start my investing career in 2009 after the Global Financial Crisis had made its impact, so most of my investments were made at a large discount to their Intrinsic Values. I had a mixed bag of mainly Blue Chip shares as well as a few speculative stocks. I soon realised that my greatest investment at the time was saving my money. As I was on a small wage, I managed a tight budget providing me with some free cash flow which I could then allocate to my investments. To this day, budgeting and managing my spending is still the most important financial decision I have made. It helped me understand the importance of maintaining a positive cash flow.

I experienced reasonable returns in my first 6 years, slightly outperforming the Australian Stock Exchange ASX 200 Accumulation Index (largest 200 companies listed on the ASX, which includes dividends paid out by the companies) by about 25 to 30%. This period was a learning process for me and between 2015 and 2019, my portfolio outpaced the ASX 200 Accumulation Index by 95%. Since 2019 to the end of 2023, my portfolio has returned a total of 145%, at an annual compound rate of 19.6%, compared to the ASX 200 Accumulation Index which returned about 51% or 8.6% compounded annually.

In my first years of investing, I had too many holdings, making it impossible to monitor them all. I didn’t realise the benefits of investing in businesses that had a strong financial history, zero or little debt, good profit margins, and positive indicators of future growth. I also had no understanding of the principle of ascertaining the Intrinsic Value of a business which has now become fundamental to all my investment decisions.

What we do

We leverage our expertise to gather and compile a wealth of investment data, including company financials and prices, stock market index price and volume, macroeconomic data, currencies, interest rates and market news. This data is integrated into our online tools, spreadsheets, and calculators, empowering users with valuable insights and analysis. Data can easily be exported for users who wish to conduct their own personalised analysis and further exploration.

At Growth With Value, investor education is paramount. With a focus on value investing, we provide all the necessary educational material essential for constructing a robust investment portfolio. With the sound principles learnt at Growth With Value, we equipe investors with the knowledge they need to navigate the complexities of the market with confidence.

Our platform not only educates but also facilitates practical application of the principles learned. Each step of the investment analysis process is covered, from analysing current market conditions with our macroeconomic data, to undertaking in-depth company analysis using our spreadsheets and competitive analysis tools, and finally, to determining a fair price to pay each investment by utilising our online valuation tools and company analysis spreadsheets. We also provide a stock screener to assist in filtering out potential investment opportunities, which users can then add to their personalised watchlist. It is also possible to track investments with our portfolio management tool.

Why we do it

The stock market is often perceived as risky and complex, but it doesn’t have to be. At Growth With Value, we believe in breaking down these barriers by advocating for the principles of value investing and providing intuitive analysis tools. Our mission is to instil confidence in investors, empowering them to make sound investment decisions based on their own principles and analysis.

Education is key, as this gives investors the confidence to undertake their own analysis based on personal principles. Through sound analysis, investors will harness the conviction needed to make long-term investments and endure the irrationalities of the stock market. Through our platform, investors can access a wealth of data and analysis tools conveniently consolidated into one place, freeing them from the arduous task of hours of research.

Convenience is our priority. We have compiled vast amounts of data into a single platform and equipped investors with intuitive tables, charts, and tools, to analyse this data. By saving investors time and effort, we enable them to focus on what truly matters: in-depth analysis, continuous growth, and learning.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting a sounder approach to investing. Advocating a long-term, buy and hold strategy grounded in real data and rigorous analysis, rather than succumbing to the day-to-day market fluctuations and broker antics. By empowering investors with the tools and knowledge they need, we strive to cultivate a community of informed and confident investors who can navigate the market with clarity and conviction.

How we do it

Unlock the full potential of our platform with our premium membership. By joining today, you gain access to advanced features and online analysis tools, saving you countless hours and enabling more comprehensive evaluations of investment opportunities.

Any Questions?

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