--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the opportunities come, we may not…" description: "\"When the opportunities come, we may not want to buy another nickel asset, but if something comes cheap enough, we're all about return on equity.\" — Iva..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/ivan-glasenberg-23210_cheap_when-the-opportunities-come-we-may-not-w_868493.jpg" --- # When the opportunities come, we may not want to buy… ![“When the opportunities come, we may not want to buy another nickel asset, but if something comes cheap enough, we're all about return on equity.” quote by Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/ivan-glasenberg-23210_cheap_when-the-opportunities-come-we-may-not-w_868493.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/ivan-glasenberg-23210_cheap_when-the-opportunities-come-we-may-not-w_868493.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/ivan-glasenberg-23210_cheap_when-the-opportunities-come-we-may-not-w_868493.jpg) > “When the opportunities come, we may not want to buy another nickel asset, but if something comes cheap enough, we're all about return on equity.” [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Opportunity may be cheap, but buying low‑cost assets isn’t always wise; focus on return on equity. **In simple terms:** Cheap assets aren’t always good; consider equity returns. Key Takeaway Prioritize ROI over low price. Themes investment valuation equity Mood pragmatic critical Type business financial When to use this quote - stock buying - portfolio diversification - capital allocation Key Concepts financial analysis risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What metrics do you use to assess cheap assets? - How do you balance price vs. equity returns? A Different Perspective Low price can hide hidden risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Equity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equity/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) ## Related quotes > [Focus on return on equity, not earnings per share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/focus-on-return-on-equity-not-earnings-per-share/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [What are we focused on? Return on equity. We don't need these great big tier one assets. I'm very happy with getting tier two,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/what-are-we-focused-on-return-on-equity-we-don-t-need-these-great-big/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [Buy a nickel bag, smoke a little lye, get high tonight, get high tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/busta-rhymes/buy-a-nickel-bag-smoke-a-little-lye-get-high-tonight-get-high-tonight/) [Busta Rhymes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/busta-rhymes/) > [Why fight for a flag when you can buy one for a nickel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/why-fight-for-a-flag-when-you-can-buy-one-for-a-nickel/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“From 1977 to 1987, our average annual return to investors was 46 percent. And even in the middle of the recession, in 1991, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-walton/from-1977-to-1987-our-average-annual-return-to-investors-was-46/) [Sam Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-walton/) > [“Buffett added that there is a big difference between identifying a growth industry and minting money. He noted that AT&T’s return on equity over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pecaut/buffett-added-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-identifying-a/) [Daniel Pecaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pecaut/) > [“The only statistic I care about is return on equity. After many sessions with some of our business school graduates (yes, we do have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-c-greenberg/the-only-statistic-i-care-about-is-return-on-equity-after-many/) [Alan C. 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I have just taken whatever opportunities have come and been very genuine with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/i-ve-never-made-a-plan-for-my-life-i-have-just-taken-whatever/) [Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/) > [Opportunities do not come with their values stamped upon them… To face every opportunity of life thoughtfully, and ask its meaning bravely and earnestly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maltbie-davenport-babcock/opportunities-do-not-come-with-their-values-stamped-upon-them-to-face/) [Maltbie Davenport Babcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maltbie-davenport-babcock/) > [I just need to keep pushing, do my best in the games and take opportunities when they come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-foden/i-just-need-to-keep-pushing-do-my-best-in-the-games-and-take/) [Phil Foden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-foden/) > [“There are opportunities that come and go, like the trains on this very track. You can climb on any train and it will take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savi-sharma/there-are-opportunities-that-come-and-go-like-the-trains-on-this-very/) [Savi Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savi-sharma/) ## More by Ivan Glasenberg > [I thought if we could put our hard-working culture as traders into the asset management, it will be a great combination, and we did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/i-thought-if-we-could-put-our-hard-working-culture-as-traders-into/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [We're talking to every third-party supplier every day of the week, and our traders are talking to them and buying products from them. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/we-re-talking-to-every-third-party-supplier-every-day-of-the-week-and/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [I've said I will be CEO as long as my colleagues want me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/i-ve-said-i-will-be-ceo-as-long-as-my-colleagues-want-me/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [A lot of deals are done or not done because chief executives are not fully aligned to shareholders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/a-lot-of-deals-are-done-or-not-done-because-chief-executives-are-not/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [I observed a man sourcing candle wax from South America and selling it to Japan. I thought: 'That's unbelievable. Talking on the phone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/i-observed-a-man-sourcing-candle-wax-from-south-america-and-selling/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [We work. You don't come here to take life easy. And we all got rich from it, so, you know, there's a benefit from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/we-work-you-don-t-come-here-to-take-life-easy-and-we-all-got-rich/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [I stopped focusing on people being different, and I started treating everyone the same way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/i-stopped-focusing-on-people-being-different-and-i-started-treating/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [We always look at opportunities. We are not aggressively looking to buy something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/we-always-look-at-opportunities-we-are-not-aggressively-looking-to/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [I'm a CEO of a public company. You have to show decorum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/i-m-a-ceo-of-a-public-company-you-have-to-show-decorum/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [When we first invested in Colombia, we were buying a lot of coal from Colombia. We were dealing with them daily. I knew their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/when-we-first-invested-in-colombia-we-were-buying-a-lot-of-coal-from/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [What are we focused on? Return on equity. We don't need these great big tier one assets. 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If we didn't get more tonnes into the system, your next motorcar is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/we-re-creating-new-supply-for-the-world-which-is-key-if-we-didn-t-get/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [Many people may say that luck is important, but I think you create your own luck by working hard to ensure you don't miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/many-people-may-say-that-luck-is-important-but-i-think-you-create/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [It's nice to do an IPO where your investors get value straightaway and the share price pops up; it proves you left something on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/it-s-nice-to-do-an-ipo-where-your-investors-get-value-straightaway/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) > [Africa is where commodities are found, so it is vital that Glencore and other miners are there to develop those resources, helping Africa itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-glasenberg/africa-is-where-commodities-are-found-so-it-is-vital-that-glencore/) [Ivan Glasenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) [Explore all 26 Ivan Glasenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-glasenberg/) ## More Cheap quotes > [Just because the Americans are so good at rattling out accessible and cheap junk food, nobody looks twice when it comes to their food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/just-because-the-americans-are-so-good-at-rattling-out-accessible-and/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [In cloths cheap handsomeness, doth bear the bell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/in-cloths-cheap-handsomeness-doth-bear-the-bell/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [The only way to learn on a zero dollar budget is to talk to people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-houston/the-only-way-to-learn-on-a-zero-dollar-budget-is-to-talk-to-people/) [Drew Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-houston/) > [There's a whole generation of women who never really heard the word investment before, when it came to fashion. They've been buying things because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kors/there-s-a-whole-generation-of-women-who-never-really-heard-the-word/) [Michael Kors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kors/) > [If cheap immigrant labor is made unavailable, employers can hire Americans at a higher wage, or replace low-wage immigrant workers with technology and automation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/if-cheap-immigrant-labor-is-made-unavailable-employers-can-hire/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [“Many great opportunities are not cheap; but some cheap opportunities are so great.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iveta-cherneva/many-great-opportunities-are-not-cheap-but-some-cheap-opportunities/) [Iveta Cherneva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iveta-cherneva/) > [“Sorry is so cheap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/sorry-is-so-cheap/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [There would be weeks when I'd just go to Paris on a cheap ticket, sleep on my friend's floor, and just do a show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skepta/there-would-be-weeks-when-i-d-just-go-to-paris-on-a-cheap-ticket/) [Skepta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skepta/) > [Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/never-buy-what-you-do-not-want-because-it-is-cheap-it-will-be-dear-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The United States has the best, deepest, widest, and most transparent capital markets in the world which give you, the investor, the ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/the-united-states-has-the-best-deepest-widest-and-most-transparent/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [Justice is not cheap. Justice is not quick. It is not ever finally achieved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/justice-is-not-cheap-justice-is-not-quick-it-is-not-ever-finally/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [This MeToo is bothering me much, making me shun TV and newspapers. They are making such wild charges for cheap publicity, claiming something happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sowcar-janaki/this-metoo-is-bothering-me-much-making-me-shun-tv-and-newspapers-they/) [Sowcar Janaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sowcar-janaki/) > [I'm sad that my childhood came just slightly before the lithium-ion-battery boom, because I would've killed for the cheap radio-controlled helicopters they have now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/i-m-sad-that-my-childhood-came-just-slightly-before-the-lithium-ion/) [Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/) > [Grace is free, but it's not cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/grace-is-free-but-it-s-not-cheap/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [I was a cheap criminal; I did many, many wrongs. I admit that. 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