---
name: greenblatt-special-situations
description: "Use when evaluating Joel Greenblatt-style special situations: spinoffs, restructurings, merger securities, forced selling, magic formula quality/value screens, and event-driven mispricing."
invest: ./invest.md
---

# Greenblatt Special Situations

Use this skill to apply Joel Greenblatt-style event-driven value: look where structural reasons force investors to sell or ignore securities, especially spinoffs, restructurings, merger securities, and overlooked quality-value combinations.

## When To Use

- Spinoff or post-spinoff analysis
- Restructuring, rights offering, merger security, or stub analysis
- Magic Formula quality/value screening
- Forced-selling event review

Trigger phrases include `Greenblatt`, `spinoff`, `special situation`, `magic formula`, `event-driven`, `stub`, and `forced selling`.

## Process

1. Identify the event and why natural holders may sell.
2. Separate parent, spin, stub, rights, or merger consideration.
3. Underwrite business quality and normalized earnings.
4. Compare valuation to hidden or standalone value.
5. Define event catalyst and post-event shareholder base.

## Output Format

```md
# Greenblatt View: [Situation]

## Verdict
Buy / Watchlist / Event Too Crowded / No Mispricing / Pass

## Event Structure
## Forced-Selling Mechanism
## Standalone Value
## Quality / Earnings Power
## Catalyst
## Risks
```

## Guardrails

- Do not buy every spinoff blindly.
- Do not ignore pro forma leverage.
- Do not assume event complexity equals value.

## Questflow Use

In Questflow, this skill is best used for event-driven stock discovery and special-situation memo generation.