What changes: growth and moats fade faster
Zoom’s 2020 boom was real; two years on, its sales were growing in single digits
−80%since the 2020 peak
- $478, Nov 2020
Month-end share prices since Zoom listed in April 2019. Source: Nasdaq
Why it matters
So we judge great and cheap differently: a great company has to keep its growth and its moat for years, and a price is only cheap if the growth lasts. 20% a year for 15 years multiplies profit about 15 times; 40% for 3 years, under 3 times.
15.4x
2.7x
20% a year for 15 years40% a year for 3 years
| 20% a year for 15 years | 15.4x |
| 40% a year for 3 years | 2.7x |
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