(Intelligent Investor Chapter Breakdown) Chapter 1: Investments vs Speculation Investors vs Speculators. Investors use analysis and collect information to make an educated decision on buying a financial instrument that will return its principal value and a decent profit. Speculators make financial decisions based on emotional conviction. For the longest time in history investing was associated with speculative trading of common stock, due to the fact that the majority of the public were unfamiliar with common stock and companies. Common stocks were deemed risky due to historical crashes, even though analysis at the time showed that stocks were deeply undervalued. Institutional investors must adequately educate the public on the difference between investing and speculation or they risk bein