The Beursvoyeurs with Wouter Verlinden

Wouter Verlinden, senior portfolio manager at Value Square, is a firm believer in the resurgence of small- and mid-caps in the stock market. "We need to quell the Taylor Swiftification of the stock market by the ETF craze.

Ironically, anti-globalization demonstrations at Ghent University awakened the true capitalist in Wouter Verlinden. Since working as a senior portfolio manager at the asset manager Value Square, he is not afraid of small investments. Be it roofs full of solar panels, photo booths or hidden gems that outperform the index. Verlinden is also a well-read man, an indispensable quality for an investor. 'Investing is a philosophical activity, it is best to read up on a range of sectors, that will benefit you.' And he immediately tips a 300-year-old book: 'Confusion of Confusions' by José de la Vega about stock market trading in 17th century. 'A book about behavioral finance avant la lettre.'

Taylor Swiftification of the market

Verlinden himself was essentially FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) for a while and led a particularly frugal life. "Someone once said: you only get rich from the money you don't spend, and I stoically kept that mantra. I halved dish cubes, saved on clothes. I won't often sell a stock, either. Selling a good stock rarely yields a profit," Verlinden says. In turn, bad management in a good sector would score better on the stock market than good management in a bad sector. And besides, he firmly believes that a revival of small- and mid-caps is imminent on the stock market. 'Everyone is investing in the same trackers, just as Taylor Swift dominates the streaming charts. It is in our own interest to counter this Taylor Swiftification,' Verlinden concludes pugnaciously.

Find out more in the latest episode of the podcast 'The Stock Exchange Voyeurs' 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