De Beursvoyeurs with Wouter Verlinden

Wouter Verlinden, senior portfolio manager at Value Square, firmly believes in the resurrection of the small- and mid-caps on the stock market. “We need to quell the Taylor Swiftification of the stock market due to the ETF craze.”

Ironically, anti-globalization demonstrations at Ghent University woke up the true capitalist in Wouter Verlinden. Since working as a senior portfolio manager at asset manager Value Square, he has not been afraid of making a small investment. Whether it's roofs full of solar panels, photo booths or hidden gems that outperform the index. In addition, Verlinden is a well-read man, an indispensable quality for an investor. “Investing is a philosophical activity; it's best to familiarise yourself with a range of sectors, that will benefit you.” And he immediately recommends a 300-year-old book: “Confusion of Confusions” by José de la Vega about trading in the 17th century. “A book about behavioral finance before the letter. '

Taylor Swiftification of the market

Verlinden himself was essentially FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) for a while and led a very frugal life. “Someone once said: you only get rich with the money you don't spend, and I used that mantra stoically. I cut dishes in half, saved on clothes. I won't sell a stock often either. Selling a good share rarely makes a profit,” says Verlinden. Bad management in a good sector, on the other hand, would score better on the stock market than good management in a bad sector. In addition, he is firmly convinced that a revival of the small- and mid-caps is imperative on the stock market. “Everyone is investing in the same trackers, just like Taylor Swift dominates the streaming lists. It is in our best interest to combat Taylor Swiftification,” Verlinden concludes belligerently.

Find out more in the latest episode of the podcast ''De Beursvoyeurs' with Ellen Vermorgen (De Tijd), Frank De Mol (De Belegger) and Tomas De Soete (host).

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• Link: https://www.tijd.be/podcasts/de-beursvoyeurs.html
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0vq0kuL4IvIjFQa8eE1Zch?si=8b81eacd362c4074
• Host: Tomas De Soete
• Guests: Frank De Mol, Wouter Verlinden and Ellen Vermorgen
• Editing and production: Anne-Sophie Moerman