Seeking Alpha (May 7)
“Berkshire Hathaway holds $130 billion in cash. That is over 18% of the company’s market cap. Clearly, management is not confident in the near term outlook of U.S. equity markets” in light of “the increasing preponderance of data that supports lower growth and lower earnings. The U.S. has certainly experienced an incredible period of growth and profits over the last 3 years. That phase is coming to an end.”
Tags: $130 billion, Berkshire Hathaway, Cash, Confident, Data, Earnings, Equity markets, Lower growth, Management, Market-cap, Near term, Outlook, Profits, U.S.
Fortune (May 6)
“Warren Buffett, whose economic insights are craved for Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s deep ties to the American economy, had a gloomy prediction for his own businesses: the good times may be over. The billionaire investor expects earnings at the majority of Berkshire’s operations to fall this year as a long-predicted downturn slows economic activity.”
Tags: Berkshire Hathaway, Billionaire, Buffett, Craved, Downturn, Earnings, Economy, Gloomy, Insights, Investor, Predicted, Prediction
Australian Financial Review (February 4)
“Mr Buffett shocked the world in 2020 when Berkshire Hathaway announced that it bought stakes in five of Japan’s biggest trading companies, which at the time were grappling with declining profits as the COVID-19 pandemic reduced demand for fuel and raw materials.” Now, his “surprise bet” is clearly “paying off as the companies expect a record-breaking rebound in profits.”
Tags: 2020, Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett, COVID-19, Demand, Fuel, Grappling, Japan, Pandemic, Profits, Raw materials, Shocked, Stakes, Trading companies
Wall Street Journal (May 5)
“Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is trading at more than $421,000 per Class A share, and the market is optimistic. That’s a problem.” The share price “has nearly hit the maximum number that can be stored in one common way exchange computers handle digits.” Nasdaq Inc.’s system tops out at $429,496.7295 and had to suspend “broadcasting prices for Class A shares of Berkshire over several popular data feeds.” Nasdaq says a fix is in the works for later this month.
Tags: Berkshire Hathaway, Class A share, Digits, Exchange computers, Market, Nasdaq, Suspend, Trading
Wall Street Journal (September 1)
“Five venerable Japanese companies were sitting in the bargain bin in plain sight. It took a 90-year-old Warren Buffett to scoop them up.” His company Berkshire Hathaway bought “stakes in Japanese trading companies shunned by others, seeing low valuation and healthy dividends.” The stakes of about 5%, are in trading companies that “resemble none other than Berkshire Hathaway itself,” with “holdings in energy, mining and consumer goods, sometimes owning companies outright and other times taking smaller stakes.”
Tags: Bargain bin, Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett, Consumer goods, Dividends, Energy, Japan, Mining, Shunned, Stakes, Trading companies, Valuation
New York Times (March 3)
Warren Buffet’s annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders really let the finance industry have it. “Mr. Buffett has long ridiculed the financial industry, but this year’s letter, laced with references to bankers, lawyers and consultants as ‘a lot of mouths with expensive tastes,’ seemed to amp up the pugnacity.”
Washington Post (May 5, 2013)
“Part rock concert, part investment workshop, the annual gathering of Berkshire Hathaway shareholders is an odd mix.” This year about 30,000 people attended what has become known as “Woodstock for capitalists.” During an annual highlight, Chairman Warren Buffet and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger participated in over 5 hours of Q&A. This year, “the questions seemed somewhat tougher and more detailed because of the addition of a panel of investment professionals, including Doug Kass, who has a negative view on Berkshire’s stock.” The wide-ranging questions also came from shareholders, journalists and analysts.“Part rock concert, part investment workshop, the annual gathering of Berkshire Hathaway shareholders is an odd mix.” This year about 30,000 people attended what has become known as “Woodstock for capitalists.” During an annual highlight, Chairman Warren Buffet and Vice Chairman Charlie Munger participated in over 5 hours of Q&A. This year, “the questions seemed somewhat tougher and more detailed because of the addition of a panel of investment professionals, including Doug Kass, who has a negative view on Berkshire’s stock.” The wide-ranging questions also came from shareholders, journalists and analysts.
