Category Archives: Berkshire Hathaway

Warren Buffett and Berkshire-Hathaway’s Annual Letter

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“For whatever reasons, markets now exhibit far more casino-like behavior than they did when I was young. The casino now resides in many homes and daily tempts the occupants.” ~ Warren Buffett

Berkshire’s goal is simple: “To own either all or a portion of businesses that enjoy good economics that are fundamental and enduring. Within capitalism, some businesses will flourish for a very long time while others will prove to be sinkholes. It’s harder than you would think to predict which will be the winners and losers. And those who tell you they know the answer are usually either self-delusional or snake-oil salesmen,” writes Warren Buffett, legendary Chairman and CEO of Berkshire-Hathaway.

At Berkshire, they “particularly favor the rare enterprise that can deploy additional capital at high returns in the future. Owning only one of these companies – and simply sitting tight – can deliver wealth almost beyond measure,” writes Buffett.

Be patient when you find a wonderful business

“When you find a truly wonderful business, stick with it,” Buffett writes. “Patience pays, and one wonderful business can offset the many mediocre decisions that are inevitable.”

Never risk permanent loss of capital

The stock market is becoming more and more like a casino, offering daily temptations to ignore a long-term investment strategy and quickly turn over holdings when “feverish activity” brings all number of uninformed or ill-intentioned actors out of the woodwork.

He writes: “At such times, whatever foolishness can be marketed will be vigorously marketed — not by everyone but always by someone.”

The late Charlie Munger, Buffett’s long-time friend and business partner, argued that there were two types of individuals who buy shares in the stock market: investors and speculators. The investors tend to be disciplined, hard-working, and thoughtful when buying assets. But the speculators are those who seek nothing more than a quick buck without care for the intrinsic value of the underlying business they’re buying.

He notes do not fall for the marketing of the foolishness, or the scene could turn ugly, and the average investor may walk away “bewildered, poorer, and sometimes vengeful.”

Number One Rule

“One investment rule at Berkshire has not and will not change: Never risk permanent loss of capital. Thanks to the American tailwind and the power of compound interest, the arena in which we operate has been — and will be — rewarding if you make a couple of good decisions during a lifetime and avoid serious mistakes,” states Buffett.

The final statement from Warren Buffett as stated in Berkshire Hathaway’s Annual letter to shareholders:

“Berkshire can handle financial disasters of a magnitude beyond any heretofore experienced. This ability is one we will not relinquish. When economic upsets occur, as they will, Berkshire’s goal will be to function as an asset to the country – just as it was in a very minor way in 2008-9 – and to help extinguish the financial fire rather than to be among the many companies that, inadvertently or otherwise, ignited the conflagration,” commented Buffett.

Source:  https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/2023ltr.pdf

Berkshire-Hathaway vs. S&P 500

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“An investment of $10,000 in Berkshire Hathaway stock in 1965 would have grown to approximately $355 million by 2022.” ~ Nasdaq

In 2022, Berkshire Hathaway outperformed the market, gaining 4% versus the S&P 500’s 19% drop.

Since Buffett took over in 1965, Berkshire Hathaway has beaten the market 39 out of 58 years. It has underperformed the market the other 19 years.

Since 1964, Berkshire Hathaway stock returns has outperformed the S&P 500 by a significant margin.

According to a report by Nasdaq, an investment of $10,000 in Berkshire Hathaway stock in 1965 would have grown to approximately $355 million by 2022, a compounded annual gain of 19.8%.

In contrast, an investment of $10,000 in the S&P 500 over the same period would have grown to approximately $2.3 million, a compounded annual gain of 9.9%.

Since that time, Berkshire Hathaway stock has gained more than 153 times the S&P 500’s gains over the same time period — good enough to give you roughly $355 million based on a $10,000 investment. That translates to a compounded annual gain of 19.8%, or nearly double the S&P 500’s 9.9% compound annual gain.

It’s worth noting that the above figures are based on past performance and do not guarantee future results.

Additionally, investing in individual stocks can be risky and requires careful consideration of one’s financial goals and risk tolerance.

Warren Buffett, Berkshire-Hathaway’s Chairman and CEO, is an advocate of buying stock in businesses that will last.

References:

  1. https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/you-wont-believe-how-much-more-warren-buffett-has-made-than-the-market-since-1965

Repurchasing a Company’s Outstanding Shares

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“When you are told that all repurchases are harmful to shareholders or to the country, or particularly beneficial to CEOs, you are listening to either an economic illiterate or a silver-tongued demagogue (characters that are not mutually exclusive).”  ~ Warren Buffet, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s 2022 Annual Report

A very minor gain in per-share intrinsic value took place in 2022 through Berkshire Hathaway’s share repurchases.

Regarding share repurchases or buybacks, when the share count goes down, shareholder’s interest in Berkshire Hathaway’s many businesses goes up. Every small bit helps if repurchases are made at value-accretive prices, writes Warren E. Buffett, Chairman and CEO, Berkshire Hathaway.

On the other hand, when a company overpays for repurchases, the continuing shareholders lose. At such times, gains flow only to the selling shareholders and to the friendly, but expensive, investment banker who recommended the foolish purchases, states Buffett in the 2022 Annual Letter to shareholders.

Gains from value-accretive repurchases, it should be emphasized, benefit all owners – in every respect.

Imagine, if you will, three fully-informed shareholders of a local auto dealership, one of whom manages the business. Imagine, further, that one of the passive owners wishes to sell his interest back to the company at a price attractive to the two continuing shareholders. When completed, has this transaction harmed anyone? Is the manager somehow favored over the continuing passive owners? Has the public been hurt?

Yet, Washington politicians either knowingly miss state the truth or whom are “economic Illiterate”, imply otherwise

References:

  1. Warren E. Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. 2022 Annual Report, February 25, 2023, pg. 6. https://berkshirehathaway.com/2022ar/2022ar.pdf

Successful Long Term Investing

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“All there is to investing is picking good stocks at good times and staying with them as long as they remain good companies.” Warren Buffett

You need courage, a long term focus, and the discipline to adhere to a long term plan to buy stocks when the markets are turbulent, stock prices are melting down, and the economy is in a deep slump, and the outlook for corporate earnings over the subsequent quarters is unfavorable. In Warren Buffett’s view, “Widespread fear is your friend as an investor because it serves up bargain purchases.” Thus, smart long-term investors love when the prices of their favorite stocks fall, as it produces some of the most favorable buying opportunities. According to Buffett, “Opportunities come infrequently. When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble.”

“The best thing that happens to us is when a great company gets into temporary trouble…We want to buy them when they’re on the operating table.” Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett

Additionally, investors must focus on the long term — a minimum of seven to ten years — and look for high-quality, blue-chip companies that have fortress like balance sheets and can generate extraordinary free cash flow. In the short term, equity markets tend to swing wildly from day to day on the smallest of news, trend and sentiment, and celebrate or vilify the most inane data points. It’s important not to get caught up in the madness but stick to your homework. Warren Buffett quipped that, “If you aren’t willing to own a stock for ten years, don’t even think about owning it for ten minutes.”

Invest in well-managed, financially strong businesses that sell goods and services for which demand is consistently strong (think food, consumer goods, and medicines), since it’s essential to keep capital preservation and margin of safety at the top of your priority list when deciding how to invest your money. As Buffett says, “Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down.”

Businesses that are well managed and that have strong balance sheets typically display certain characteristics:

  • They carry little or no debt.
  • They generate enough free cash flow (earnings plus depreciation and other noncash charges, minus the capital outlays needed to maintain the business) that they don’t have to raise equity or sell debt.
  • They have a proven history of management excellence.
  • They have abundant opportunities for reinvesting capital (or clear policies for returning excess capital to shareholders), and their leaders boast an outstanding record of allocating capital.
  • They have a durable competitive advantage which could mean cost advantages, a strong brand name, or something else.
  • In addition, they are global in scope. After all, 95% of the world’s population lives outside the U.S., and economic growth is likely to be greater abroad than at home.

“We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.” Warren Buffett

To be a successful long term investor, it’s essential to filter out the short-term noise. Most of the chatter from Wall Street and in the financial entertainment media headlines is just that: chatter you can and should ignore. “We’ve long felt that the only value of stock forecasters is to make fortune tellers look good. According to Buffett, “Even now, Charlie and I continue to believe that short-term market forecasts are poison and should be kept locked up in a safe place, away from children and also from grown-ups who behave in the market like children.”

“The key to investing is not assessing how much an industry is going to affect society, or how much it will grow, but rather determining the competitive advantage of any given company and, above all, the durability of that advantage.” Warren Buffet

If You’re Not Investing You’re Doing it Wrong

“Today people who hold cash equivalents feel comfortable. They shouldn’t. They have opted for a terrible long-term asset, one that pays virtually nothing and is certain to depreciate in value.” Warren Buffett

Investing in equities delivers higher returns than bond or cash investments over the long term but is accompanied by a higher exposure to market risk. Investing in fixed income investments offers more modest return potential and risk exposure. Investors can invest in cash as a low- risk, low-return strategy, which is ideal for short-term savings goals or to balance out the risks of stock and bond investments. Ideally, investors’ asset allocations should reflect their goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, income and wealth, and other personal factors.

“The most important quality for an investor is temperament, not intellect. You need a temperament that neither derives great pleasure from being with the crowd or against the crowd.” Warren Buffett

References:

  1. https://www.kiplinger.com/article/investing/t038-c000-s002-7-blue-chips-to-hold-forever.html
  2. https://www.fool.com/investing/best-warren-buffett-quotes.aspx
  3. https://www.ruleoneinvesting.com/blog/how-to-invest/warren-buffett-quotes-on-investing-success/
  4. https://personal.vanguard.com/pdf/how-america-invests-2020.pdf

3 Ways to Start Investing in the Stock Market With $100 or Less | Motely Fool

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“One of the best ways to build wealth over time is to invest!”  The Motley Fool

The stock market is a fantastic tool to build wealth.  If you don’t have much money to spare, The Motley Fool video below explains how to start investing with just $100 or less.

Berkshire Hathaway sells Airline Position

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“In 2008 and ’09, our economic train went off the tracks. This time, we just pulled the train off the tracks and put it on a siding.” Warren Buffett

During their annual shareholders meeting, Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett explains to shareholders and to the financial markets why the conglomerate sold its entire stake in four U.S. airlines.

https://youtu.be/VDE9ckVnu_M

During the virtual shareholders meeting, Buffett commented that although he believes that they are “well managed”, “The world has changed for the airlines”, to explain why Berkshire sold its stakes in the “big four” U.S. airline carriers in April.

“Fear is the most contagious disease you can imagine. It makes the virus look like a piker.” Warren Buffett

Airlines are receiving government aid to remain operational amid declines of more than 90% in domestic and international air travel.

References:

  1. https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/warren-buffett-25-best-quotes-berkshire-hathaway-annual-meeting-2020-5-1029160195