Meb Faber - Cambria Investments

Behind the Ticker

In a recent episode of “Behind the Ticker,” Meb Faber, CEO and CIO of Cambria Investments, shares insights into his career journey and the innovative investment strategies employed by his firm. Faber, who has a background in engineering and biotech, founded Cambria Investments and has led the firm to manage approximately $2.5 billion in assets. Based in Manhattan Beach, California, Cambria is known for its quantitative, rules-based investment approach. Over the past decade, the firm has launched 15 funds, attracting over 150,000 investors worldwide.
Faber emphasizes Cambria’s commitment to launching funds that fill gaps in the market. The firm’s investment philosophy revolves around creating ETFs that either don’t exist or are implemented significantly better or cheaper than existing options. This approach has led to the development of a diverse range of ETFs, all backed by substantial academic and practitioner research. Faber’s passion for educating investors is evident through Cambria’s free research service, the Idea Farm, which curates valuable investment insights for over 100,000 subscribers.
A significant portion of the discussion centers around Cambria’s Shareholder Yield ETFs, particularly SYLD, which focuses on U.S. stocks. Shareholder yield goes beyond traditional dividend yield by incorporating net stock buybacks, providing a more comprehensive measure of a company’s return to shareholders. Faber explains that the methodology behind these ETFs includes screening for companies with high shareholder yield, favorable valuation metrics, and strong financial health. The final selection process also considers intermediate-term momentum to avoid value traps.
The Shareholder Yield ETFs, including SYLD, FYLD (foreign developed markets), and EYLD (emerging markets), are designed to offer investors high-quality, cash-generating businesses at attractive valuations. These funds aim to provide superior risk-adjusted returns compared to traditional dividend-focused strategies. Faber highlights the current undervaluation of international and emerging market stocks, making them attractive investments given their potential for significant returns.
Faber also touches on Cambria’s trend-following strategies, which serve as a premier diversifier in portfolios. These strategies have proven effective during market downturns, offering protection and opportunities for gains in various market conditions. The firm continues to innovate and expand its ETF offerings, guided by the principle of creating products that Faber and his team would invest in themselves. For more information about Cambria and its range of ETFs, investors can visit CambriaFunds.com.