Friday, March 8, 2019

Difference Between Investment And Speculation

Difference Between Investment And Speculation
The major dissimilarities or difference between investment and speculation can be pointed out as follows:
1. Introduction
Investment: Act of purchasing assets or financial securities with the aim of generating stable income in the future for longer period of time.
Speculation: Act of purchasing risky financial assets or instruments with the aim of gaining significant return in short period.

2. Risk Undertaken

Investment: Lower risk
Speculation: Higher risk

3. Expected Return

Investment: Investor expects average or satisfactory continuous return on his investment
Speculation: Speculator expects abnormally high return on his investment.

4. Duration/Time Horizon

Investment: It is done for longer term generally for more than one year.
Speculation: It is done for short period generally for few months.

5. Nature Of Return

Investment: Income is more stable and certain
Speculation: Income is unstable and uncertain
difference-investment-speculation


6. Attitude/ Behavior Of Investor

Investment: More disciplined, cautious and caring
Speculation: More aggressive, less concentration and daring

   
Also Read: 

7. Fund Used

Investment: Own saving and personal properties of investor are used
Speculation: Generally speculators uses borrow fund from others

8. Objective/Purpose/Aim

Investment: To make regular income for longer period of time
Speculation: To make abnormal or significant gain in the short period.

Investment Vs Speculation (Comparison Chart)

Basis

Investment
Speculation
Introduction

Purchase of assets and securities to generate income in the future
Purchase of risky assets and securities to generate significant income in short period
Risk

Lower
Higher
Expected Return

Average
High
Duration

Longer period
Short period
Nature Of Income

Certain/Stable
Uncertain/Unstable
Investor's Attitude

Cautious and disciplined
Aggressive and daring
Fund Used

Own fund
Borrowed fund
Aim/Purpose

To make regular income
To make abnormal gain

I hope this post is helpful to understand the difference between investment and speculation and to make comparison between them.