2月27日,億萬富翁沃倫·巴菲特致信股東,給投資者們鼓舞士氣,激勵他們保持對美國經(jīng)濟及其伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司(Berkshire Hathaway)旗下企業(yè)的信心。
巴菲特幾乎沒有提及去年那場使諸多企業(yè)黯然倒下的新冠疫情,而是著重強調(diào)伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司旗下的鐵路、公用事業(yè)、保險業(yè)和股票的長期遠(yuǎn)景。不過他也說,盡管疫情仍然在持續(xù),但隨著時間的推移,美國的企業(yè)將繼續(xù)蓬勃發(fā)展。
巴菲特寫道:“盡管美國不過只有短短232年的歷史,但還沒有哪一個國家能夠像美國那樣,成為釋放全人類潛力的孵化器。雖然其中經(jīng)歷過種種坎坷,但美國的經(jīng)濟發(fā)展依舊令人嘆為觀止?!?/p>
巴菲特的年度致函在商界向來備受好評,不僅因為他有著傲人的業(yè)務(wù)能力,還因為他很擅長用言簡意賅的方式,深入淺出,把復(fù)雜的話題解釋得通俗易懂。
但是,在許多投資者較為關(guān)心的問題上,諸如伯克希爾為何在幾年里都未進行重大收購,或該公司新近對威瑞森電信(Verizon Communications)和雪佛龍(Chevron)的重大投資,他并沒有給出太多的說明。
CFRA Research公司的分析師凱西·塞弗特(Cathy Seifert)說:“引起我注意的反而是信中沒有提到的事情。我認(rèn)為值得注意的是,縱觀美國發(fā)生的一切,從疫情到所有的社會動蕩,再到影響保險業(yè)的通貨膨脹和氣候變化——在信中居然一件都沒有提到?!?/p>
巴菲特一直是民主黨人,他在信中基本避談?wù)卧掝},但確實表達了對美國未來的信心。
“我們一直懷有一項憧憬:希望憲法可以讓我們成為一個‘更完美的聯(lián)邦’。然而這方面的進展卻有些遲緩,水平也參差不齊,還常常令人失望。但是,我們已經(jīng)在大步前進,并且還會繼續(xù)前進。我們堅定地認(rèn)為:永遠(yuǎn)不要唱衰美國?!彼f。
巴菲特表示,伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司最有價值的資產(chǎn)之一是價值1200億美元的蘋果公司(Apple)股份——規(guī)??梢院退钟械淖约褺NSF鐵路和伯克希爾公用事業(yè)部門的股份匹敵,盡管該公司僅擁有蘋果5.4%的股份,但這暗示著它會對蘋果進行長期投資的承諾。
巴菲特說,去年,他規(guī)模最大的投資之一是以250億美元的資金回購了自己原來的伯克希爾股票。但即便在那之后、包括去年下半年在股市投入的數(shù)十億美元,到2020年年底,伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司仍然持有1383億美元的現(xiàn)金儲備。愛德華瓊斯投資公司(Edward Jones)的分析師吉姆·沙納漢表示,巴菲特對自己的股票進行大手筆的投資很關(guān)鍵。
除了這封信,伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司表示其第四季度的利潤增長了23%,達到358億美元,每只A類股合23015美元,盡管疫情仍然給該公司大部分的業(yè)務(wù)造成了重創(chuàng),包括BNSF鐵路、幾家主要的公用事業(yè)公司、Geico保險,以及各種制造商和零售商。去年292億美元的收益(或每只合17909美元的A股)大部分與投資中尚未實現(xiàn)的賬面利潤有關(guān)。
巴菲特堅持認(rèn)為,伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司的營收狀況能夠更好地反映季度業(yè)績,因為這除去了可能存在較大誤差的投資及其衍生品。用這種指標(biāo)來衡量,伯克希爾的營收增長了近14%,達到50.2億美元,即每只A類股合3224.74美元。和前一年的44.2億美元(即每只A類股合2714.76美元)相比有所增加。
根據(jù)FactSet的調(diào)查,四位分析師預(yù)測,伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司公布的其每只A類股營業(yè)利潤為3,413.01美元。
航空零件制造商Precision Castparts公司是伯克希爾去年受打擊最嚴(yán)重的業(yè)務(wù)之一,由于航空公司在疫情中慘淡經(jīng)營,這項業(yè)務(wù)損失慘重。巴菲特去年減持了該公司將近100億美元的股份,他說,同意花323億美元收購這家公司是一個錯誤。
巴菲特說:“我不是被誰誤導(dǎo)的——是我對Precision Castparts公司正?;臐摿μ珮酚^了。去年,整個航空業(yè)(Precision Castparts公司最重要的客戶來源)都陷入衰退,我的錯判也就暴露了出來?!?/p>
除了開設(shè)自己的商業(yè)課程,這位90歲的投資者還向股東們保證,他沒有退休的打算。他說,伯克希爾最有經(jīng)驗的管理者之一曾經(jīng)干到103歲才退休,而他還覺得這個退休年紀(jì)“早得離譜”。
巴菲特說,不同于往年,今年5月舉行的線上年度會議將在洛杉磯而不是奧馬哈進行。他將與錯過了去年線上會議的投資搭檔查理·芒格在會議現(xiàn)場重聚。伯克希爾的其他幾位副主席——格雷格·阿貝爾和阿吉特·賈因也將在長達3.5小時的提問環(huán)節(jié)中回應(yīng)人們的問題。這兩人都被視為巴菲特的潛在繼任者,自2018年以來,賈因掌管著伯克希爾所有的保險業(yè)務(wù),而阿貝爾則負(fù)責(zé)除了保險以外的其他業(yè)務(wù)。(財富中文網(wǎng))
編譯:陳聰聰
2月27日,億萬富翁沃倫·巴菲特致信股東,給投資者們鼓舞士氣,激勵他們保持對美國經(jīng)濟及其伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司(Berkshire Hathaway)旗下企業(yè)的信心。
巴菲特幾乎沒有提及去年那場使諸多企業(yè)黯然倒下的新冠疫情,而是著重強調(diào)伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司旗下的鐵路、公用事業(yè)、保險業(yè)和股票的長期遠(yuǎn)景。不過他也說,盡管疫情仍然在持續(xù),但隨著時間的推移,美國的企業(yè)將繼續(xù)蓬勃發(fā)展。
巴菲特寫道:“盡管美國不過只有短短232年的歷史,但還沒有哪一個國家能夠像美國那樣,成為釋放全人類潛力的孵化器。雖然其中經(jīng)歷過種種坎坷,但美國的經(jīng)濟發(fā)展依舊令人嘆為觀止?!?/p>
巴菲特的年度致函在商界向來備受好評,不僅因為他有著傲人的業(yè)務(wù)能力,還因為他很擅長用言簡意賅的方式,深入淺出,把復(fù)雜的話題解釋得通俗易懂。
但是,在許多投資者較為關(guān)心的問題上,諸如伯克希爾為何在幾年里都未進行重大收購,或該公司新近對威瑞森電信(Verizon Communications)和雪佛龍(Chevron)的重大投資,他并沒有給出太多的說明。
CFRA Research公司的分析師凱西·塞弗特(Cathy Seifert)說:“引起我注意的反而是信中沒有提到的事情。我認(rèn)為值得注意的是,縱觀美國發(fā)生的一切,從疫情到所有的社會動蕩,再到影響保險業(yè)的通貨膨脹和氣候變化——在信中居然一件都沒有提到?!?/p>
巴菲特一直是民主黨人,他在信中基本避談?wù)卧掝},但確實表達了對美國未來的信心。
“我們一直懷有一項憧憬:希望憲法可以讓我們成為一個‘更完美的聯(lián)邦’。然而這方面的進展卻有些遲緩,水平也參差不齊,還常常令人失望。但是,我們已經(jīng)在大步前進,并且還會繼續(xù)前進。我們堅定地認(rèn)為:永遠(yuǎn)不要唱衰美國。”他說。
巴菲特表示,伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司最有價值的資產(chǎn)之一是價值1200億美元的蘋果公司(Apple)股份——規(guī)??梢院退钟械淖约褺NSF鐵路和伯克希爾公用事業(yè)部門的股份匹敵,盡管該公司僅擁有蘋果5.4%的股份,但這暗示著它會對蘋果進行長期投資的承諾。
巴菲特說,去年,他規(guī)模最大的投資之一是以250億美元的資金回購了自己原來的伯克希爾股票。但即便在那之后、包括去年下半年在股市投入的數(shù)十億美元,到2020年年底,伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司仍然持有1383億美元的現(xiàn)金儲備。愛德華瓊斯投資公司(Edward Jones)的分析師吉姆·沙納漢表示,巴菲特對自己的股票進行大手筆的投資很關(guān)鍵。
除了這封信,伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司表示其第四季度的利潤增長了23%,達到358億美元,每只A類股合23015美元,盡管疫情仍然給該公司大部分的業(yè)務(wù)造成了重創(chuàng),包括BNSF鐵路、幾家主要的公用事業(yè)公司、Geico保險,以及各種制造商和零售商。去年292億美元的收益(或每只合17909美元的A股)大部分與投資中尚未實現(xiàn)的賬面利潤有關(guān)。
巴菲特堅持認(rèn)為,伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司的營收狀況能夠更好地反映季度業(yè)績,因為這除去了可能存在較大誤差的投資及其衍生品。用這種指標(biāo)來衡量,伯克希爾的營收增長了近14%,達到50.2億美元,即每只A類股合3224.74美元。和前一年的44.2億美元(即每只A類股合2714.76美元)相比有所增加。
根據(jù)FactSet的調(diào)查,四位分析師預(yù)測,伯克希爾-哈撒韋公司公布的其每只A類股營業(yè)利潤為3,413.01美元。
航空零件制造商Precision Castparts公司是伯克希爾去年受打擊最嚴(yán)重的業(yè)務(wù)之一,由于航空公司在疫情中慘淡經(jīng)營,這項業(yè)務(wù)損失慘重。巴菲特去年減持了該公司將近100億美元的股份,他說,同意花323億美元收購這家公司是一個錯誤。
巴菲特說:“我不是被誰誤導(dǎo)的——是我對Precision Castparts公司正?;臐摿μ珮酚^了。去年,整個航空業(yè)(Precision Castparts公司最重要的客戶來源)都陷入衰退,我的錯判也就暴露了出來。”
除了開設(shè)自己的商業(yè)課程,這位90歲的投資者還向股東們保證,他沒有退休的打算。他說,伯克希爾最有經(jīng)驗的管理者之一曾經(jīng)干到103歲才退休,而他還覺得這個退休年紀(jì)“早得離譜”。
巴菲特說,不同于往年,今年5月舉行的線上年度會議將在洛杉磯而不是奧馬哈進行。他將與錯過了去年線上會議的投資搭檔查理·芒格在會議現(xiàn)場重聚。伯克希爾的其他幾位副主席——格雷格·阿貝爾和阿吉特·賈因也將在長達3.5小時的提問環(huán)節(jié)中回應(yīng)人們的問題。這兩人都被視為巴菲特的潛在繼任者,自2018年以來,賈因掌管著伯克希爾所有的保險業(yè)務(wù),而阿貝爾則負(fù)責(zé)除了保險以外的其他業(yè)務(wù)。(財富中文網(wǎng))
編譯:陳聰聰
Billionaire Warren Buffett encouraged investors to maintain their faith in America's economy and the businesses his Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate owns in a reassuring letter to his shareholders on February 27.
Buffett hardly even addressed the coronavirus that ravaged many businesses last year, instead focusing on the long-term prospects for the railroad, utility, and insurance businesses and stocks that belong to Berkshire Hathaway. But he said U.S. business will thrive over time in spite of the pandemic.
"In its brief 232 years of existence, however, there has been no incubator for unleashing human potential like America. Despite some severe interruptions, our country’s economic progress has been breathtaking," Buffett wrote.
Buffett's annual letter is always well read in the business world because of his remarkably successful track record and his knack for explaining complicated subjects in simple terms.
But he didn't offer much explanation for why Berkshire hasn't made a major acquisition in several years or discuss the company's recent major new investments in Verizon Communications and Chevron, leaving many investors wanting more.
"The one thing that caught my eye about the letter was sort of what it didn’t have," CFRA Research analyst Cathy Seifert said. "I think what was notable was the fact that given everything that’s gone on in this country from the pandemic to all the social unrest to the social inflation and climate change that’s impacting the insurance industry. It was striking to me that none of that was mentioned in the letter."
Buffett, a long-time Democrat, largely avoided politics in the letter but he did express faith in the future of the country.
"We retain our constitutional aspiration of becoming ‘a(chǎn) more perfect union.’ Progress on that front has been slow, uneven and often discouraging. We have, however, moved forward and will continue to do so. Our unwavering conclusion: Never bet against America," he said.
Buffett said Berkshire's $120 billion stake in Apple is one of its most valuable assets—rivaling its BNSF railroad and Berkshire's utility division—even though it owns only 5.4% of the iPhone maker, hinting at a long-term commitment to the Apple investment.
Buffett said one of his biggest investments last year was the $25 billion repurchase of Berkshire's own shares. But even after that and several multibillion-dollar stock market investments in the second half of last year, Berkshire still held $138.3 billion cash at the end of 2020. Edward Jones analyst Jim Shanahan said it's significant that Buffett is investing that much in his own stock.
In addition to the letter, Berkshire said its fourth-quarter profits grew 23% to $35.8 billion, or $23,015 per Class A share, even though the pandemic continued to weigh on most of its businesses, which include BNSF railroad, several major utilities, Geico insurance, and an assortment of manufacturers and retailers. Most of the gain over last year’s $29.2 billion, or $17,909 per A share, was related to paper gains on the value of its investments.
Buffett maintains that Berkshire’s operating earnings offer a better view of quarterly performance because they exclude investments and derivatives, which can vary widely. By that measure, Berkshire’s operating earnings increased by nearly 14%, to $5.02 billion, or $3,224.74 per Class A share. That’s up from $4.42 billion, or $2,714.76 per Class A share, a year earlier.
The four analysts surveyed by FactSet expected Berkshire to report quarterly operating earnings per Class A share of $3,413.01.
One of Berkshire's hardest-hit businesses last year was aviation parts manufacturer Precision Castparts, which lost a significant amount of business because airlines struggled due to the pandemic. Buffett, who took a nearly $10 billion writedown on the value of Precision Castparts last year, said he made a mistake when he agreed to pay $32.3 billion for that business.
"No one misled me in any way—I was simply too optimistic about PCC’s normalized profit potential," Buffett said. "Last year, my miscalculation was laid bare by adverse developments throughout the aerospace industry, PCC’s most important source of customers."
Besides the business lessons Buffett offered in his missive, the 90-year-old investor reassured his stockholders that he has no plans to retire; he said one of Berkshire’s most-experienced managers had retired at the "ridiculously premature retirement age" of 103.
In a break from tradition, this year's annual meeting will be broadcast from Los Angeles instead of Omaha in May, Buffett said. He will be reunited on stage with his investing partner, Charlie Munger, who missed last year's virtual meeting. Berkshire's other vice chairmen—Greg Abel and Ajit Jain—will also be there to respond during the 3.5-hour-long question period. Abel and Jain are both viewed as potential successors to Buffett as CEO, and since 2018, Jain has overseen all of Berkshire’s insurance businesses while Abel has overseen the conglomerate’s non-insurance operations.