What is the significance of the comparison between the stock values of IPOs and medium-sized enterprises with a long history in 'The Intelligent Investor'?

'The Intelligent Investor' by Benjamin Graham has significantly influenced corporate investment strategies. The book emphasizes the importance of value investing, a strategy of buying stocks at less than their intrinsic value. It also warns against the risks of investing in Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), especially during bull markets, due to their higher built-in commission and tendency to be sold at the peak of the market. These principles have guided many corporations in their investment decisions, promoting a more cautious and long-term approach to investing.

'The Intelligent Investor' challenges the existing paradigms about investing in IPOs by warning investors to avoid them, especially during bull markets. The book argues that IPOs often have higher built-in commissions, leading to a harder sell. Additionally, new issues are typically sold near the peak of a bull market, which can lead to a frenzy for subsequent IPOs. This often results in the prices of these new stocks crashing to new lows. Therefore, the book advises investors to stay away from this kind of costly speculation.