My investor theme during these dire times.

In the US one gets around 4-5% in savings' accounts in their Banks, slightly more if  you save in a Money Market fund. In the US you get around 1- 2.5% in dividends from stocks (yes, more on Oil stocks and selective property funds, but that is another story).  In Thailand bank savings accounts yield only around 0.45%, and there are no money mkt. funds as an alternative....hah, but long established value stocks pay close to 7% or even slightly more next year, and the Baht currency is far from a weak currency.  That is the core difference!

These select companies, as I know how to pick them with long experience, are removed from any US/EU or other global crisis....example is Union Auction, which is by far the leading on-line auctioneer of cars/motorbikes and condo's in Thailand.  Much benefiting in fact from any economic downturns....as less people here now buy new cars -yet still need to drive, so buy/trade/dispose of used cars. The used car mkt. is a huge biz. in Thailand!  AUCT (9.50) is hence a pure domestic and defensive company, with no debt and a long good history...not least. the dominant one here with over 40% mkt. share.  Its growing very fast and pay a near 7% dividend!  But because it does not trade in millions of shares per day, all bloated institutions must ignore it.  There are other very solid defensive choices here, today I just point out one of my favorite one.

Here is my last post, just days after AUCT reported yet another record Q. profit:   AUCT (9.50) after the mkt closed on Aug. 15th  reported outstanding earnings, yet again.:  
"2 Q. earnings were up 27.8%  to 0.15 Baht per share, vs. 0.12 Baht the same 2nd Q last year. (Remember 4th Q's are seasonably its strongest).  AUCT has been firing on all cylinders for some years...and along with this strong earnings announcement just declared a 0.35 Baht interim dividend, or an increase of 36% as compared to last years 0.26 Baht.  The total 2024 dividend so is 0.35 + 0.37 = 0.72 Baht, or for a current dividend yield of 7.5%.  Hence one of the SET highest dividend payer.  AUCT will likely net profit some 400 mill. Baht this year, (0.80 Baht per share) a doubling from 4-5 years ago when I first here table pounded on it, at half the current mkt price.   :)  Its 2024 year p/e is so barely around 12-13. My own long :Buy view: -and then some- so maintained. Buy view -and then some- so maintained."

I think an investment which pays 7% in annual dividends, will double in value in less then 7 years. This assuming the dividend does not increase (or decrease).  Vs. Gold for example which pays nothing.  That is the rational investor dilemma and reality, to Gold lovers.