Information Wants To Be Free

Published on January 30, 2023

I have removed all paywalls on The Rational Walk. Over the past nine months, I have published twelve comprehensive company write-ups, all of which are now free to read. All of the reports are listed on the Publications page and also appear in the table at the end of this article.

If you are a paid subscriber of Rational Reflections, the Substack newsletter published by The Rational Walk, please see this post for details regarding pro-rated refunds of time remaining on your subscription. No action is necessary on your part and a refund will be issued soon. The Rational Walk has been my primary internet presence since 2009 and will remain so. But I will continue sending out articles via Rational Reflections as a convenience for those who prefer to receive emails rather than visiting the website. If you are interested in receiving articles via email, feel free to sign up for Rational Reflections.

I am discontinuing the use of Twitter and other social media platforms other than to post links to my work as a courtesy to followers. Avoiding social media in all other ways is not only a more pleasant way to live but, in my experience, essential for thinking well. Social media is a dystopia full of relentless negativity, pessimism, political idiocy, mindless inane chatter, and general dysfunction. Luckily, real people in the real world remain mostly good and decent. If you spend time on social media, it is easy to assume that it is representative of the real world. But it is not.

I have enjoyed publishing content on The Rational Walk for nearly fourteen years and plan to continue writing for many years to come. Thanks for reading!

DateTitleDescriptionReportData
01/24/2023Daily Journal CorporationBolstered by a large investment portfolio, Charlie Munger is determined to complete the transformation of a small newspaper publisher into a significant software company.PDFExcel
12/21/2022ProgressiveThis profile examines the third largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States with a focus on its rivalry with Berkshire Hathaway’s GEICO subsidiary.PDFExcel
11/26/2022FastenalA profile of a leading industrial distributor with a multi-decade record of strong performance.PDFExcel
10/25/2022CostcoAn examination of Costco’s impressive track record and an assessment of whether future growth prospects are likely to justify today’s lofty valuation.PDFExcel
09/26/2022Union PacificOperating efficiency gains and aggressive repurchases have delivered attractive returns to shareholders over the past decade. Will these trends continue?PDFExcel
09/08/2022George Risk IndustriesA small manufacturer is massively overcapitalized but controlled by the founder’s family. Minority shareholders can go along for the ride but may never see a catalyst.PDFExcel
08/25/2022BNSFA review of Berkshire Hathaway’s twelve years of ownership.PDFExcel
08/16/2022CarMaxCarMax shook up automotive retailing in the 1990s. Will the company face disruption by online competitors in the 2020s?PDFExcel
07/13/2022Tractor SupplyMany affluent Americans are migrating from crowded metropolitan areas to exurbs and rural areas boosting the prospects of companies catering to their needs.PDFExcel
06/30/2022Investors TitleA strong regional title insurer with a fifty-year history.PDFExcel
06/08/2022America’s Car-MartServing the subprime used car market.PDFExcel
05/20/2022DaVitaAn essential provider of dialysis services.PDFExcel
10/21/2011Platinum UnderwritersMining for value in reinsurance.PDF
03/01/2011Berkshire HathawayIn Search of the “Buffett Premium”. A comprehensive 118 page report. PDFExcel
02/28/2010Berkshire HathawayBackground, analysis, and valuationPDF
Information Wants To Be Free
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