Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of understanding business models in investment decisions, highlighting that successful investing requires recognizing the barriers to entry, the ease of earning money, and the sustainability of the business over time [2][3]. Group 1: Business Model Analysis - A business model refers to how a company makes money, which includes various barriers such as technological patents, brand advantages, and customer loyalty that reduce competition and stabilize profits [2]. - The ease of earning money in a business is influenced by its position in the supply chain and the challenges it faces, such as capital shortages, talent gaps, and sales difficulties [2]. - The longevity of a business is crucial, as companies with products that can easily become outdated or are in cyclical industries may face significant risks, leading to wealth fluctuations among investors [3]. Group 2: Investment Decision Simplification - Understanding the business model allows for simpler valuation methods, focusing on price-to-book and price-to-earnings ratios, which streamlines investment decision-making [3]. - The article references Charlie Munger's observation that Warren Buffett rarely uses calculators for discounted cash flow calculations, indicating a preference for qualitative assessments over complex quantitative models [3]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - The article mentions the "three-part method" of investment proposed by Xueqiu, which advocates for long-term investment and asset allocation through diversification across assets, markets, and timing to achieve diversified returns and risk mitigation [4].

Group 1: Internet Platform Companies - Tencent has a gross margin of 53% and a net margin of 33.7%, dominating the social media space [1] - Trip.com has a gross margin of 81.76% and a net margin of 32.02%, holding a market share of 65-70% in high-star hotels [1] - Pinduoduo reports a gross margin of 60.9% and a net margin of 28.6%, affected by losses from TEMU [1] - NetEase Games shows a gross margin of 57.14% and a net margin of 28.2% [1] Group 2: Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Brands - Leading FMCG brands like Nongfu Spring and Coca-Cola have net margins around 20%, with Coca-Cola at 22.6% due to its innovative business model [2] - Second-tier brands like PepsiCo and Nestlé have net margins around 10%, often due to insufficient brand loyalty or high pricing with low scale [3] - Third-tier brands such as Master Kong and Uni-President operate with net margins around 5%, relying on low prices for market share but struggling with brand loyalty and production scale [4] Group 3: Chain Beverage Companies - Top-tier chain beverage companies like Bawang Tea have a net margin of 20.3%, benefiting from brand premium [5] - Starbucks typically has a net margin of around 15%, but faces margin pressure due to increased competition [6] - Second-tier brands like Mixue Ice City and Gu Ming have net margins of 17.94% and 16.99%, respectively, leveraging scale advantages [6] Group 4: Hardware Companies - Apple has a gross margin of 46.2% and a net margin of 24%, while Xiaomi has a gross margin of 20.4% and a net margin of 6.44% [8] - NVIDIA shows a gross margin of 78.9% and a net margin of 57%, compared to AMD's gross margin of 50.2% and net margin of 15.3% [8] Group 5: Business Insights - High net margins (above 30%) often indicate monopolistic products, while margins below 15% suggest competitive pressures [9] - Companies with single-digit net margins typically rely on price wars, indicating weak product differentiation and low competitive advantage [14] - Trends in gross and net margins can reveal significant insights about a company's market position, as seen with Tesla and BYD [15]

Core Viewpoint - Investment is fundamentally about purchasing future cash flows, and understanding a company equates to understanding its future cash flows [2][10][12]. Group 1: Investment Philosophy - The essence of value investing lies in buying future cash flow discounted to present value [3][12]. - Many investors often base their stock purchases on factors unrelated to future cash flows, such as market sentiment or speculative trends [3][5]. - A strong business model is crucial, as it often correlates with a wide economic moat, ensuring good future cash flows [3][4][18]. Group 2: Understanding and Capability - Investors should remain within their circle of competence, as understanding a business typically requires years of experience [4][8]. - It is important to avoid expanding one's circle of competence too quickly, as this can lead to poor investment decisions [4][8]. - The market is generally perceived as intelligent, and investors should only act when they believe the market is wrong [4][8]. Group 3: Risk Consideration - Risk is the primary consideration in investment decisions, and understanding where the risks lie is essential [24][25]. - For those unfamiliar with business, the stock market is not a reliable way to make quick profits; long-term losses are more common [5][6]. - The importance of education and understanding in investment cannot be overstated, as it significantly influences decision-making [25].