Economy
Value Investing: Uncovering Opportunities Amid Market Declines
In bear markets, value investing is akin to finding hidden treasures on a clearance rack. When stock prices drop, it’s not necessarily a sign of poor quality. Instead, it offers a chance to buy solid stocks at a discount, focusing on companies with strong fundamentals that are temporarily undervalued. Discover how expert guidance through investment education firm can assist in spotting value investments during market downturns.
Principles of Value Investing in Bear Markets
When markets are down, it’s like a big sale in a department store. Prices are slashed, but that doesn’t mean the goods are of lesser quality. Value investing in bear markets works on this idea. The aim is to find stocks that are priced lower than their actual worth. But how do we do that? It’s all about sticking to the basics.
First, focus on companies with strong financial health. We’re talking about low debt levels, steady cash flow, and a history of profitability. These companies tend to weather economic storms better. When markets panic, these fundamentals often remain overlooked, creating an opportunity.
Next, patience is your best friend. Bear markets can last for months or even years. It’s not about flipping a stock for a quick profit. The goal is to hold onto these undervalued stocks until the market recognizes their true value. Remember the dot-com bust? Many tech stocks were beaten down, but those with solid fundamentals eventually rebounded spectacularly.
Lastly, keep your emotions in check. It’s easy to get caught up in the fear that grips the market, but value investing requires a calm mind. Think of it like fishing – you need to be patient and have faith that your strategy will pay off. So, are you prepared to go fishing for value in a sea of uncertainty?
Identifying Undervalued Stocks with Strong Fundamentals
Finding undervalued stocks isn’t about guessing or picking a name out of a hat. It’s more like detective work. You’re on the hunt for clues that suggest a company’s share price doesn’t match its intrinsic value. What does that mean, though? Well, it’s about the company’s real worth based on its assets, earnings, and market potential, not just the current stock price.
Start with the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. This number tells you how much you’re paying for every dollar the company earns. A lower P/E ratio might suggest a stock is undervalued, but don’t be fooled – sometimes, a low P/E can be a red flag. That’s where you dig deeper into the company’s earnings history and future potential.
Look at the company’s debt-to-equity ratio, too. This will give you a sense of how the company is financing its growth and how risky that might be. A company with high debt may struggle in tough times, while one with a balanced sheet will be more resilient.
Lastly, don’t forget about the management team. Companies with strong leadership and a clear vision are often better positioned to bounce back. It’s like betting on a seasoned jockey in a horse race – the experience can make all the difference. And remember, investing isn’t just about numbers; it’s also about understanding the story behind them. Who’s steering the ship, and do you trust them to navigate through rough waters?
Long-Term Growth Potential vs. Short-Term Volatility
Bear markets are like roller coasters. They can make you feel dizzy with all the ups and downs. But if you’re looking at the long-term growth potential, you’ve got to think beyond the next drop. Investing isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. Think about companies with solid foundations and the ability to grow even in tough times.
Take tech giants like Amazon or Google. During the 2008 financial crisis, their stocks took a hit like everyone else. But those who saw beyond the short-term turmoil and held onto their shares were rewarded handsomely over the years. These companies had something crucial: strong business models, innovation, and a market that kept growing.
What’s key here? Focus on the fundamentals and future growth. Sure, the market might be a mess now, but look at the company’s potential to innovate, expand, and capture more market share. Is it introducing new products? Does it have a solid plan to increase revenue? If so, it might weather the storm better than others.
Bear markets are tough, but they’re also a great test of your investment resolve. Are you someone who panics and sells at the first sign of trouble, or do you hold on, keeping an eye on the long game? That’s the difference between those who just get by and those who thrive in the investment world.
Conclusion
Value investing in bear markets requires discipline and patience, focusing on the long-term potential rather than short-term fluctuations. By identifying undervalued stocks with robust fundamentals, investors can turn market downturns into opportunities. It’s about sticking to proven principles and trusting that the market will eventually recognize true value.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The domestic supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, from the Dangote Refinery increased by 64.4 percent in December 2025, contributing to an enhancement in Nigeria’s overall petrol availability.
This is according to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in its December 2025 Factsheet Report released on Thursday.
The downstream regulatory agency revealed that the private refinery raised its domestic petrol supply from 19.47 million litres per day in November 2025 to an average of 32.012 million litres per day in December, as it quelled any probable fuel scarcity associated with the festive month.
The report attributed the improvement to more substantial capacity utilisation at the Lagos-based oil facility, which reached a peak of 71 per cent in December.
The increased output from Dangote Refinery contributed to a rise in Nigeria’s total daily domestic PMS supply to 74.2 million litres in December, up from 71.5 million litres per day recorded in November.
The authority also reported a sharp increase in petrol consumption, rising to 63.7 million litres per day in December 2025, up from 52.9 million litres per day in the previous month.
In contrast, the domestic supply of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) known as diesel declined to 17.9 million litres per day in December from 20.4 million litres per day in November, even as daily diesel consumption increased to 16.4 million litres per day from 15.4 million litres per day.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply recorded modest growth during the period, rising to 5.2 metric tonnes per day in December from 5.0 metric tonnes per day in November.
Despite the gains recorded by Dangote Refinery and modular refineries, the NMDPRA disclosed that Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries recorded zero production in December.
It said the Port Harcourt Refinery remained shut down, though evacuation of diesel produced before May 24, 2025, averaged 0.247 million litres per day. The Warri and Kaduna refineries also remained shut down throughout the period.
On modular refineries, the report said Waltersmith Refinery (Train 2 with 5,000 barrels per day) completed pre-commissioning in December, with hydrocarbon introduction expected in January 2026. The refinery recorded an average capacity utilisation of 63.24 per cent and an average AGO supply of 0.051 million litres per day
Edo Refinery posted an average capacity utilisation of 85.43 per cent with AGO supply of 0.052 million litres per day, while Aradel recorded 53.89 per cent utilisation and supplied an average of 0.289 million litres per day of AGO.
Total AGO supply from the three modular refineries averaged 0.392 million litres per day, with other products including naphtha, heavy hydrocarbon kerosene (HHK), fuel oil, and marine diesel oil (MDO).
The report listed Nigeria’s 2025 daily consumption benchmarks as 50 million litres per day for petrol, 14 million litres per day for diesel, 3 million litres per day for aviation fuel (ATK), and 3,900 metric tonnes per day for cooking gas.
Actual daily truck-out consumption in December stood at 63.7 million litres per day for petrol, 16.4 million litres per day for diesel, 2.7 million litres per day for ATK and 4,380 metric tonnes per day for cooking gas.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has introduced a comprehensive revision of minimum capital requirements for nearly all capital market operators, marking the most significant overhaul since 2015.
The changes, outlined in a circular issued on January 16, 2026, obtained from its website on Friday, replace the previous regime. Operators have been given until June 30, 2027, to comply.
The SEC stated that the reforms aim to strengthen market resilience, enhance investor protection, discourage undercapitalised operators, and align capital adequacy with the evolving risk profile of market activities.
According to the circular, “The revised framework applies to brokers, dealers, fund managers, issuing houses, fintech firms, digital asset operators, and market infrastructure providers.”
Some of the key highlights of the new reforms include increment of minimum capital for brokers from N200 million to N600 million while for dealers, it was raised to N1 billion from N100 million.
For broker-dealers, they are to get N2 billion instead of the previous N300 million, reflecting multi-role exposure across trading, execution, and margin lending.
The agency said fund and portfolio managers with assets above N20 billion must hold N5 billion, while mid-tier managers must maintain N2 billion with private equity and venture capital firms to have N500 million and N200 million, respectively.
There was also dynamic rule as firms managing assets above N100 billion must hold at least 10 per cent of assets under management as capital.
“Digital asset firms, previously in a regulatory grey area, are now fully covered: digital exchanges and custodians must maintain N2 billion each, while tokenisation platforms and intermediaries face thresholds of N500 million to N1 billion. Robo-advisers must hold N100 million.
“Other segments are also affected: issuing houses offering full underwriting services must hold N7 billion, advisory-only firms N2 billion, registrars N2.5 billion, trustees N2 billion, underwriters N5 billion, and individual investment advisers N10 million. Market infrastructure providers carry some of the highest obligations, with composite exchanges and central counterparties required to maintain N10 billion each, and clearinghouses N5 billion,” the SEC added.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The founder and chief executive of Austin Laz and Company Plc, Mr Asimonye Austin Lazarus Azubuike, has sold off about 52.24 million shares of the organisation.
The stocks were offloaded in 11 tranches at an average price of N4.36 per unit, amounting to about N227.8 million.
The transactions occurred between December 2025 and January 2026, according to a notice filed by the company to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Friday.
Business Post reports that Austin Laz is known for producing ice block machines, aluminium roofing, thermoplastics coolers, PVC windows and doors, ice cream machines, and disposable plates.
The firm evolved from refrigeration sales to diverse manufacturing since its incorporation in 1982 in Benin City, Edo State, though facing recent operational halts.
According to the statement signed by company secretary, Ifeanyi Offor & Associates, Mr Azubuike first sold 1.5 million units of the equities at N2.42, and then offloaded 2.4 million units at N2.65, and 2.0 million units at N2.65.
In another tranche, he sold another 2.0 million units at a unit price of N2.91, and then 5.0 million units at N3.52, as well as about 4.5 million at N3.87 per share.
It was further disclosed that the owner of the company also sold 9.0 million shares at N4.25, and offloaded another 368,411 units at N4.66, then in another transaction sold about 6.9 million units at N4.67.
In the last two transactions he carried out, Mr Azubuike first traded 10.0 million units equities at N5.13, with the last being 8.5 million stocks sold at N5.64 per unit.
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