What is the primary aim of "capital preservation" in investing?

The primary aim of "capital preservation" in investing is to protect the absolute value of principal. This strategy focuses on ensuring that the original amount of money invested remains intact or is not significantly eroded over time, regardless of market fluctuations. Investors who prioritize capital preservation are typically more concerned about avoiding losses than about seeking high returns. Such investors tend to prefer low-risk assets, such as government bonds or high-quality fixed-income securities, that have a predictable return and aim to safeguard their capital against inflation and market volatility.

In contrast, maximizing short-term profits inherently involves taking on higher risk, which is not aligned with the goal of preserving capital. Investing in high-risk stocks also contradicts capital preservation since those stocks may lead to significant losses. Generating regular dividend payments, while potentially a part of a broader investment strategy, does not necessarily relate to the primary aim of preserving the principal investment; dividends do not guarantee the safety of the initial investment amount.