#61 - Mr Common Sense - Rich Pzena on how to build an $80bn deep value firm, survive 60% underperformance and buy stocks on under 10x normalised earnings.

#61 - Mr Common Sense - Rich Pzena on how to build an $80bn deep value firm, survive 60% underperformance and buy stocks on under 10x normalised earnings.

Author: Stephen Clapham's Podcast on Value Investing | Stockmarket Analysis | Equities July 16, 2026 Duration: 1:25:39

Rich Pzena, founder of $80bn AUM Pzena Investment Management, explains his value investing philosophy and how he built a deep value franchise by buying good businesses when they are deeply out of favour.

He talks through recreating Benjamin Graham’s net net research at Wharton, leaving a secure role at Bernstein to start his own firm, surviving ten quarters of brutal underperformance in the dot com bubble and how he nearly sold out but was persuaded to continue by Joel Greenblatt. Rich explains his clear framework for what makes a good business, how to judge if problems are temporary, and why most investors systematically misprice uncertainty and cyclicality. He thinks deep value investing is just common sense.

Behind the Balance Sheet is a forensic accounting and fundamental investing podcast for serious investors.Each episode dives into how real‑world investors source ideas, build conviction and manage their portfolios.

You’ll hear frameworks for analysing industries, understanding business models, and thinking about risk,behaviour and incentives, so you can refine your own process rather than copy stock tips. For show notes, transcripts and additional resources, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you value thoughtful, process-driven investing discussions, follow the show and consider leaving a short review, or just a 5* rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Please help spread the word.

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⁠AlphaSense⁠, the AI-powered expert network platform 


Behind the Balance Sheet is a forensic accounting and fundamental investing podcast for serious investors.Each episode dives into how real‑world investors source ideas, build conviction and manage their portfolios.

You’ll hear frameworks for analysing industries, understanding business models, and thinking about risk,behaviour and incentives, so you can refine your own process rather than copy stock tips. For show notes, transcripts and additional resources, visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you value thoughtful, process-driven investing discussions, follow the show and consider leaving a short review, or just a 5* rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Please help spread the word.

Give our sponsors some love - check them out!

⁠AlphaSense⁠, the AI-powered expert network platform 


Stephen Clapham hosts Behind the Balance Sheet, a detailed conversation series that pulls back the curtain on how elite fund managers really think. Each episode is built on the premise that understanding a company requires digging far deeper than headlines or simple ratios. You’ll hear Clapham engage with celebrated investors such as John Armitage, Mario Gabelli, and Bill Nygren, dissecting their actual processes for evaluating businesses and spotting market inefficiencies. The discussions are technical and substantive, focusing on practical frameworks for forensic accounting, navigating capital cycles, and rigorous valuation. This isn’t about hot stock tips; it’s about the disciplined craft of equity research and risk management. The podcast serves as a continuing education for anyone-from dedicated private investors and students to working analysts and portfolio managers-who aims to sharpen their fundamental analysis and develop a more professional, critical investment mindset. Tune in for a masterclass in the principles of value investing, delivered through candid talks with the practitioners who have consistently generated alpha. You’ll come away with a clearer sense of the questions that need asking before any capital is committed.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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