
The Calculus of Value
From The Memo by Howard Marks by Oaktree Capital Management
August 14, 2025 · 42 min · Episode 71
About this episode
Howard Marks discusses the relationship between value and price and its implications for investment performance.
In his latest memo, Howard Marks sets forth the essence of value and price, as well as the critical relationship between the two. He posits that value exerts a ‘‘magnetic’’ influence on price, meaning the relationship of price to value should be expected to strongly influence investment performance in the long run, with high valuations presaging low subsequent returns, and vice versa. In the context of today’s elevated U.S. equity valuations and widespread investor optimism, he advises us to consider going to an ‘‘Investment Readiness Condition’’ in which investors shift their portfolios somewhat in the direction of increased defense. You can read the memo here (https://www.oaktreecapital.com/insights/memo/the-calculus-of-value).
People in this episode
Host: Howard Marks
Topics covered
- value
- price
- investment performance
- equity valuations
- portfolio defense
Keywords
- value
- price
- investment
- equity
- valuations
- defense
- performance
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Oaktree Capital Management
Places: U.S.
More episodes of The Memo by Howard Marks
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- Reflections on Oaktree Conference 2026 with Howard Marks · March 24, 2026 · 33 min
- AI Hurtles Ahead · February 26, 2026 · 46 min
- Is It a Bubble? · December 9, 2025 · 1h 7m
- Cockroaches in the Coal Mine · November 6, 2025 · 24 min
- A Look Under the Hood · October 28, 2025 · 29 min
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