| Parameter | Investor | Speculator |
| Investment Thesis | Investment based on durable competitive moats | Investment based on disruptive and cool industries. |
| Time Horizon | Long term(>5years) | Short term (single/few days) |
| Risk Undertaken | Reasonable risk | High Risk |
| Return Expectations | Expects consistent return over time | Expects abnormal returns in short time |
| Mentality | Sticks to fundamental analysis for the long term. | Jumping the bandwagon from one stock to another |
| Risk Capacity | Risk averse | Readily takes more risks |
| Decision | Based on careful considerations and fundamental analysis of the company and looking into margin of safety, future prospects, dividends etc. | Based on intuition, rumors and charts, hopes, market psychology, opinions, etc. |
| Source of investment | Own money invested | Usually borrowed money in the form of leverage from brokers |
| Attitude | Sees stock as ownership in the company | Sees stock as a tradeable paper. |
| Type of persons | Cautious and Conservative | Aggressive |
| Analysis Type | Fundamental Analysis based on experience and past performance of company | Technical Analysis based on gut feeling |
| Valuation Approach | Based on absolute values and margin of safety | Based on relative valuation |
| Moto | Cash is King | Winner takes it all |
