Does it make sense to invest in Berkshire Hathaway?
It can be smart to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock. The company has historically outperformed the S&P 500 over the long term. For example, it has delivered an average annual return of 12% over the last 10 years, outperforming the S&P 500's 10.2% average annual return.
Berkshire Hathaway doesn't pay dividends
In the comparison to the S&P 500 Index above, the performance figures include reinvested dividends. That is a benefit for the S&P 500, but has no impact on Berkshire Hathaway's performance because the company doesn't pay a dividend.
Currently, there are a finite number of shares. “Everybody” can't buy shares because not all shareholders want to sell and there aren't enough shares to go around. Berkshire could issue more shares in order for that to happen, and that would result in an influx of cash that they'd have to invest.
Berkshire Hathaway can be a great lower-risk investment. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A -0.34%) (BRK.B -0.01%) needs no introduction. The Warren Buffett-managed conglomerate has a stellar track record of growing value for its shareholders. It can make a great long-term investment.
- Overview. By safeguarding against the law of mean reversion, a wide moat around a highly profitable business castle helps lower the investment risk and keep up a superior rate of return. ...
- Leadership. ...
- Delegation. ...
- Long-term focus. ...
- Low cost of capital. ...
- Reputation. ...
- Finally.
Over the past decade, Berkshire's beta is 0.63, showing it experiences significantly less volatility than the broader market. For these reasons, Berkshire Hathaway is an excellent stock to add to your portfolio today and hold for the long haul.
It owns a variety of well-known private businesses, such as GEICO, and also has minority interests in public companies, such as Apple. Risks of being a Berkshire investor include issues of regulatory challenges and being a conglomerate, as well as the performance of successors when Warren Buffett retires or dies.
Berkshire created two share classes in 1996 to make investing more accessible. Both share classes offer essentially the same exposure to the company's success. Most investors are better off sticking with Class B shares for their flexibility and affordability.
Buffett is seen by some as the best stock-picker in history and his investment philosophies have influenced countless other investors. One of his most famous sayings is "Rule No. 1: Never lose money.
His penchant for long-term investments is reflected in another of his aphorisms: “You should invest in a business that even a fool can run, because someday a fool will.” He doesn't believe in businesses that rely for their success on every employee being excellent.
What is Warren Buffett's top investing rule?
Rule 1: Never lose money.
By following this rule, he has been able to minimize his losses and maximize his returns over time. He emphasizes this so much that he often says, “Rule number 2 is never forget rule number 1.”
The primary driver behind Berkshire Hathaway's investment loss is its majority stake in tech giant Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). Apple's shares declined by over 11% in the third quarter, causing Buffett to incur an investment loss of over $24 billion during this period.
"Slightly better" than the average American corporation
Since Buffett took control of Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, the stock has trounced the S&P 500. Its compound annual gain through 2023 was 19.8% versus 10.2% for the broader index.
Berkshire Hathaway B has a conensus rating of Moderate Buy which is based on 1 buy ratings, 1 hold ratings and 0 sell ratings. The average price target for Berkshire Hathaway B is $441.00. This is based on 2 Wall Streets Analysts 12-month price targets, issued in the past 3 months.
Warren Buffett, its leader, is one of the most recognized figures in finance, renowned around the globe. There's a good reason for this fame: Berkshire Hathaway stock has been one of the best-performing investments in history, compounding value at market-beating rates for decades.
In 1962, Warren Buffett began buying stock in Berkshire Hathaway after noticing it was statistically undervalued. Buffett bought the stock with the idea that as Berkshire closed textile mills and freed capital, there would be a tender offer at some point and they could sell the stock for a profit.
Furthermore, Berkshire Hathaway's substantial cash reserves provide a significant buffer during times of economic uncertainty. They are currently sitting on a record cash pile of approximately $167.6 billion, reflected in their 2023 annual report.
| Stock | 2024 return through March 31 |
|---|---|
| Janux Therapeutics Inc. (JANX) | 250.9% |
| Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. (DJT) | 254.1% |
| Super Micro Computer Inc. (SMCI) | 255.3% |
| Viking Therapeutics Inc. (VKTX) | 340.6% |
Data from Bespoke Investment Group shows that every time the S&P 500 dropped 20% or more, Berkshire stock beat the index by a median of 14.89 percentage points. It achieved this distinction through a combination of focusing on long-term investment horizons, keeping a lot of cash on hand, and favoring dividend stocks.
Berkshire Hathaway said Saturday that it lost $12.8 billion, or $8,824 per Class A share, in the quarter. That's significantly bigger than the $2.8 billion loss, or $1,907 per Class A share, that it reported a year ago.
Is Berkshire Hathaway in debt?
Total debt on the balance sheet as of December 2023 : $128.27 B. According to Berkshire Hathaway 's latest financial reports the company's total debt is $128.27 B. A company's total debt is the sum of all current and non-current debts.
According to the latest long-term forecast, Berkshire Hathaway price will hit $450 by the end of 2024 and then $500 by the middle of 2025. Berkshire Hathaway will rise to $600 within the year of 2027, $700 in 2028, $800 in 2030, $900 in 2032 and $1000 in 2034.
Berkshire Hathaway stock held strong in 2022, making a slight gain compared to a loss of more than 19% for the S&P 500. But it lagged in 2023 rising about 16% compared to the S&P 500's gain of 24%. So far this year it is up around 16%. All-around performance is strong, but not quite ideal, for Berkshire Hathaway stock.
Anyone can invest in Berkshire Hathaway if they have enough money to buy at least one Class B share (about $360 in late 2023). For comparison, hedge funds are open only to accredited investors, meaning those with a high income or net worth and who can meet the fund's minimum investment, which can be $1 million or more.
A 70/30 portfolio is an investment portfolio where 70% of investment capital is allocated to stocks and 30% to fixed-income securities, primarily bonds.
