--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One has to know more about a company if…" description: "\"One has to know more about a company if one buys earnings.\" — Walter Schloss" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/walter-schloss-7650_business_one-has-to-know-more-about-a-company-if_3016877.png" --- # One has to know more about a company if one buys earnings. ![“One has to know more about a company if one buys earnings.” quote by Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/walter-schloss-7650_business_one-has-to-know-more-about-a-company-if_3016877.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/walter-schloss-7650_business_one-has-to-know-more-about-a-company-if_3016877.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/walter-schloss-7650_business_one-has-to-know-more-about-a-company-if_3016877.png) > “One has to know more about a company if one buys earnings.” [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding a company’s fundamentals is essential before investing in its earnings. **In simple terms:** Know the business before buying earnings. Key Takeaway Do thorough research first. Themes investment analysis due diligence Mood analytical cautious Type advice financial When to use this quote - stock selection - portfolio building - financial planning - risk assessment Key Concepts financial fundamentals earnings quality Questions to Reflect On - What metrics reveal true earnings health? - How can you verify earnings quality? A Different Perspective Earnings can be manipulated, misleading investors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Buys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buys/) [Buys Earnings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buys-earnings-4863372/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Company Buys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company-buys-4378517/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Earning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earning/) [Earnings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earnings/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Know Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-company-311178/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [Most look at earnings and earnings potential, well I can't get into that game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/most-look-at-earnings-and-earnings-potential-well-i-can-t-get-into/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [Earnings can change dramatically. Usually assets change slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/earnings-can-change-dramatically-usually-assets-change-slowly/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [There is no contest between the company that buys the grudging compliance of its work force and the company that enjoys the enterprising participation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-semler/there-is-no-contest-between-the-company-that-buys-the-grudging/) [Ricardo Semler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-semler/) > [Calculate "owner earnings" to get a true reflection of value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/calculate-owner-earnings-to-get-a-true-reflection-of-value/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [The only thing you should do with pro forma earnings is ignore them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-only-thing-you-should-do-with-pro-forma-earnings-is-ignore-them/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Think how weird profit margins are: We've got high unemployment and financial crises - and world record profit margins. People think the American market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-grantham/think-how-weird-profit-margins-are-we-ve-got-high-unemployment-and/) [Jeremy Grantham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-grantham/) > [The earnings have been pretty good so far, but there's an ambiguity in the market about them, because you'll see Amazon or Microsoft disappointing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-s-johnson/the-earnings-have-been-pretty-good-so-far-but-there-s-an-ambiguity-in/) [Hugh S. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-s-johnson/) > [I give a percentage of the earnings to the Motion Picture Home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-macarthur/i-give-a-percentage-of-the-earnings-to-the-motion-picture-home/) [James MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-macarthur/) > [Accounting does not make corporate earnings or balance sheets more volatile. Accounting just increases the transparency of volatility in earnings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-garnick/accounting-does-not-make-corporate-earnings-or-balance-sheets-more/) [Diane Garnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-garnick/) > [There is no limit on earnings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-nightingale/there-is-no-limit-on-earnings/) [Earl Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-nightingale/) > [When I got my statement in January, I was worth $2.2 billion. Then I got another statement in August that said I was worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/when-i-got-my-statement-in-january-i-was-worth-2-2-billion-then-i-got/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [The concept of paying one-hundred-and-something times earnings for any company for me is just anathema. Having said that, at the end of the day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tudor-jones/the-concept-of-paying-one-hundred-and-something-times-earnings-for/) [Paul Tudor Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tudor-jones/) > [It's not just hours and pay that are important anymore. People want to know what the company is like, what the culture is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-minshew/it-s-not-just-hours-and-pay-that-are-important-anymore-people-want-to/) [Kathryn Minshew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-minshew/) > [I don't know where we should take this company, but I do know that if I start with the right people, ask them the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-where-we-should-take-this-company-but-i-do-know-that-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most salespeople are half prepared. They know everything about their company and their product. They know nothing about their prospect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/most-salespeople-are-half-prepared-they-know-everything-about-their/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) ## More by Walter Schloss > [You have to have patience in this field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/you-have-to-have-patience-in-this-field/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [Try to buy assets at a discount than to buy earnings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/try-to-buy-assets-at-a-discount-than-to-buy-earnings/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [If the market were way over priced, I wouldn't own any stocks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/if-the-market-were-way-over-priced-i-wouldn-t-own-any-stocks/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [Fear and greed tend to affect one's judgement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/fear-and-greed-tend-to-affect-one-s-judgement/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [I helped Ben with the third edition of Security Analysis, published in 1951.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/i-helped-ben-with-the-third-edition-of-security-analysis-published-in/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [If there are not too many value stocks that I can find, the market isn't all that cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/if-there-are-not-too-many-value-stocks-that-i-can-find-the-market-isn/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [Graham liked the idea of protection on the downside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/graham-liked-the-idea-of-protection-on-the-downside/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [We may buy a little bit of a stock, to get our feet wet and get a feeling for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/we-may-buy-a-little-bit-of-a-stock-to-get-our-feet-wet-and-get-a/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [Each year we buy stocks and they go up, we sell them and then we try to buy something cheaper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/each-year-we-buy-stocks-and-they-go-up-we-sell-them-and-then-we-try/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [When you buy a depressed company it's not going to go up right after you buy it, believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/when-you-buy-a-depressed-company-it-s-not-going-to-go-up-right-after/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [Earnings can change dramatically. Usually assets change slowly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/earnings-can-change-dramatically-usually-assets-change-slowly/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [Look for companies that do not have a lot of debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/look-for-companies-that-do-not-have-a-lot-of-debt/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [Ben's emphasis was on protecting his expectation of profit with minimum risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/ben-s-emphasis-was-on-protecting-his-expectation-of-profit-with/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [Buy stocks where the outlook is not good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/buy-stocks-where-the-outlook-is-not-good/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) > [A lot of companies have lots of assets tied up in plant and equipment. Well, is it old plant, or is it new plant?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/a-lot-of-companies-have-lots-of-assets-tied-up-in-plant-and-equipment/) [Walter Schloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) [Explore all 89 Walter Schloss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One has to know more about a company if one buys earnings.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Schloss" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/one-has-to-know-more-about-a-company-if-one-buys-earnings/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/one-has-to-know-more-about-a-company-if-one-buys-earnings/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/walter-schloss-7650_business_one-has-to-know-more-about-a-company-if_3016877.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/walter-schloss-7650_business_one-has-to-know-more-about-a-company-if_3016877.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0d/walter-schloss-7650_business_one-has-to-know-more-about-a-company-if_3016877.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One has to know more about a company if one buys earnings.” — Walter Schloss", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Walter Schloss", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-schloss/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One has to know more about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/one-has-to-know-more-about-a-company-if-one-buys-earnings/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-schloss/one-has-to-know-more-about-a-company-if-one-buys-earnings/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```