warren buffett’s way
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Moneyweb's Alec Hogg reporting back from Berkshire Hathaway AGM (Omaha, Nebraska May 2009)TRANSCRIPT
Warren Buffett’s WayAlec Hogg
Reporting back from Berkshire Hathaway AGMOmaha, Nebraska
May 2009
Buffett: Nebraskan to the core, man of simple tastes...
And a close South African connection, too
Some of what 35,000 Pilgrims come for...
6:55am, May 2, 2009, Qwest Centre, Omaha
7:30am, May 2, 2009 - Qwest Centre, Omaha
7:30am, May 2, 2009 - Qwest Centre, Omaha
8 / 25
Warren Buffett, media star
Buffet 38, Market 6
2008
1965 to 2008
Negative -9.6 %
Negative 37.5%
11.0 %
5.5 %
20.5 % 8.9 %
Key:Berkshire Hathaway
S & P 500
In 44 years, Berkshire Hathaway lost money only once before
2001: - 6,2%
During same period S&P was negative 11 times
2008Berkshire Hathaway: -9.6%S&P 500: -37.5%
1965 to 2008 Berkshire Hathaway: 20.3%S&P 500: 8.9%
NB 70% of active managers UNDERPERFORM index
8.9 %
BERKSHIRE’S WORST YEAR, BUT………
• Lost $11.6bn, down 9.6%
- “We do not consider this our worst year by miles. We measure what we do on a relative basis and will always do it that way…….”
- “We would love to double up on everything we own…”
• Share price fell 33% in past 12 months
- “Judging what’s going on by looking at share prices is a fool’s way of doing it”
- “We are copying Andrew Carnegie’s Playbook and we are not going to do it any other way.”
KEY CAUSES OF THE MELTDOWN
• Excessive leverage - “The most important lesson is the world needs a whole lot less leverage”
• Gross immorality … consumer credit given to perople who couldn’t handle it… derivatives traders preyed on their customers
• Stupidity… People inside institutions themselves; Regulators didn’t listen
• “Horribly failed” by accounting profession…”the people who created the principles should be removed.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE FINANCIAL CRASH…….
• Deep economic recession which “it’s going to last a very long time”
• Probably lead to increased regulation for financial services
• China, not US taxpayer is picking up the tab
• Lower US Dollar as politicians lower the value of ballooning debt
Buffett: “You can bet on inflation.”
Three stocks they love
• Buffett loves Wells Fargo: “below $9 if there was one stock into which I’d be happy to put my total net worth, it’s Wells.”
• Munger loves BYD: “I have never in my life been more privileged to be associated with something as I am with this company.”
• Both agree, Google has the widest, deepest moat: “It’s an incredible business model. I’ve looked very hard and I don’t know how to take it away from them.”
And some of their pet hates
• Buffett and Munger reads five newspapers a day, but “we would not buy a newspaper company in the US at any price. They have the possibility of going to unending losses.”
• Remuneration Committees are worthless: “They’re appointed by the CEO and he wants cocker spaniels, not doberman’s. The CEO’s salary should be determined by the whole board, not a sub-committee.”
• Share buy-backs: “Probably 90% of them are not in shareholders’ interests.”
* Lack of financial literacy: Buffett’s experience inFlamingo Bar, Las Vegas, in 1952. Munger: “A worldwhere legalised gambling is encouraged by many Statutes needs a lot more financial literacy.”
Succession
• Buffett will eventually be replaced by two people:
- Three current Berkshire executives have been identified as candidates for the CEO position : “The most important part of this job will be to manage relationships with the subsidiary companies”
• Four candidates have been identified to run the $50bn share investment portfolio as the CIO: Bu the race is wide open. None of the four performed well in 2008, all losing around 38% of the value of their portfolio last year.
Buffett believes…
1) How to value a business
2) How to think about stock market fluctuations
AND NOTHING MORE…………………..
WHAT SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN BUSINESS SCHOOLS
Finally, some recommended reading
.• From Warren on the financial meltdown…….- JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon’s letter to shareholders (“it’s long but well worth reading” - WEB)
• On the man himself……. - Alice Schroeder’s book The Snowball – Warren Buffett and the business of life(all 838 masterful pages)
AND, NATURALLY, THE ANNUAL BERKSHIRE LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS……..
KEEP CONNECTEDKEEP CONNECTED
ALEC HOGG’S CONTACT DETAILSALEC HOGG’S CONTACT DETAILS
• FFacebook.com/alechoggacebook.com/alechogg• [email protected]• WWW.MONEYWEB.CO.ZA• SAFM 6pm weeknightsSAFM 6pm weeknights• Boardroom Talk newsletterBoardroom Talk newsletter
• AND TWEETING FLAT-OUT VIA AND TWEETING FLAT-OUT VIA www.twitter.com/alechoggwww.twitter.com/alechogg