[hectorr]

I agree with you, this is all true in theory, but this definition also excludes non-dividend stocks that offer no governance controls. Like Snap, Google, Facebook, Amazon, etc. In addition, the move to buybacks in lieu of dividends in many companies changes the shareholder dynamics considerably. So does the fact that a ton of money is indexing these days.

The market has fundamentally changed. Graham was right, as proved by Buffett, but even Berkshire can't make Berkshire returns anymore. To make money in investing you have to be right when other people are wrong, otherwise the value is priced in. So speculation does have economic benefit, in that it serves to help find new value and fund boundary-pushing projects. It is VC with more liquidity and lower barriers to entry.

Sure, a lot of speculators will lose their shirt, but who cares? As long as they aren't over levered, the rest of society benefits from the fruits of their risk.