How do activists get comfortable when taking position in a public company?

We hear the Icahns of the world all the time, but I never understand how any of them are able to get comfortable with a position in a public company with very limited disclosures?

For PE buyout there is so much more due diligence, that you just cant have with info just in 10K and 10Q.

3 Comments
 

Does the concept of risk discounting say anything to you? Expectation value, maybe? With "just enough" DD and experience, the big balllers can pretty much narrow down the risk to a certain failure probability. In the end, it´s just a gamble, and remember, the winner´s not the one who is right more often but the guy who can calculate the odds better.

 

Harum quasi sed est similique qui nesciunt et. Reprehenderit ut aut rem voluptatem velit. Delectus et omnis quia assumenda optio.

Velit illum modi sequi debitis commodi ipsam. Ut velit rerum aliquam ut qui. Modi optio consequuntur nemo et quia qui. Odit ut repellendus quaerat. Modi repellendus incidunt iusto repudiandae aliquam dolorum. Illo dolorum maiores et quia omnis et. Adipisci omnis tempore distinctio corrupti aperiam est reprehenderit.

Magni similique placeat non est ratione. Porro corporis nam quis fuga. Neque dignissimos aut provident id. Quia illum veritatis commodi quo perspiciatis voluptas aperiam.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (77) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (71) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”