EPS: Earnings-Focused Smart Beta Vehicle That Underdelivers

Group 1 - The article discusses the rising valuations in the market and highlights the quality factor as a focus for investors with lower risk appetites, particularly those with contrarian views on high-performing sectors like technology and AI capital expenditures [1] - Vasily Zyryanov, an individual investor, emphasizes the importance of identifying underpriced equities with strong upside potential and overappreciated companies with inflated valuations, particularly in the energy sector, including oil and gas supermajors and exploration companies [1] - Zyryanov advocates for a comprehensive analysis that includes Free Cash Flow and Return on Capital, suggesting that these metrics provide deeper insights beyond simple profit and sales analysis [1] Group 2 - The article acknowledges that while some growth stocks may warrant their premium valuations, it is crucial for investors to investigate whether the market's current opinions are justified [1]