The Buffett/Berkshire Blog

Berkshire’s worst year ever

DXL — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:07:27 +0000

The new Annual Report is out, including the yearly Letter to Shareholders.

Authorized Warren Buffett Biography (976 pages) Announced

DXL — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:57:07 +0000

Image by Getty Images via DaylifePublisher Random House has announced the forthcoming publication of the authorized biography of Warren Buffett. The hardcover book will have 976 pages and is written by Alice Schroeder, a former managing director with Morgen Stanley.

Schroeder has spend “thousands of hours” talking to Buffett about his life and career. She’s also spoken to many of the investor’s friends and has had access to private documents.

The official list price is set at $35, but Amazon.com has already discounted this to less than $25.

The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder (Hardcover, 976 pages)

The 10 Richest People Of All Time

DXL — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:50:22 +0000

We all know that right now, Warren Buffett is the richest man in the world. But he isn’t the richest man of all time. Indeed, he doesn’t even make the top ten list. If you want to know who does, read the post 10 Richest People of All Time and How They Made Their Fortunes at Neatorama.

Buffett makes second cameo appearance in All My Children

DXL — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:22:34 +0000

Superinvestor Warren Buffett made a cameo appearance in the ABC Soap Opera All My Children. Watch the video >

Buffett World’s Richest & The Berkshire Annual Report

DXL — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:12:30 +0000

Yesterday, Forbes launched their brand new list of the world’s billionaires, ranked by net worth. Warren Buffett now holds the first spot with an astonishing $62 billion. He surpassed both his bridge mate Bill Gates and the Mexican Carlos Slim Helú.

Also recently released is Berkshire Hathaway’s Annual Report of 2007. The company posted a profit of $13 billion, up about $2 billion from 2006. As always, the report includes Buffett’s Letter to Shareholders. He writes that Berkshire was hit lightly by the real estate market crash, especially in Berkshire’s manufactured homes division. If you don’t want to read the whole letter, check the New York Times analysis.

Berkshire Launches Bonds Insurer

DXL — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:01:20 +0000

As you may have already heard, Berkshire Hathaway has created a bonds insurance company by the name of Berkshire Hathaway Assurance. The company will offer to guarantee lower government bonds. BusinessWeek digs into the matter >

VIDEO: Warren Buffett speech at Florida U - from the archives

DXL — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:31:04 +0000

Warren Buffett speaks to Florida U about value investing and his personal life.

Also see:

Buffet Q&A with Tuck Investment Club

DXL — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 21:04:04 +0000

A few days ago, Buffett spoke with the investment club of the Tuck School of Business. There are some interesting questions and insightful answers in the long article. Check it out.

Janet Lowe has a new book on the billionare investor, Warren Buffett Speaks: Wit and Wisdom from the World’s Greatest Investor. Half of the book is about his investment theory, the other half about his personal life. Promises to be a great read for the Buffett enthousiast.

The History of Value Investing

DXL — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:08:22 +0000

I came across a paper today covering the history of value investing. It talks about how Warren Buffett shifted his approach from a purely technical approach based on reports and balance sheets, to analyzing the business as a whole. Reading the 41 pages is certainly worthwile, so check it out: The Evolution of the Idea of “Value Investing”: From Benjamin Graham to Warren Buffett.

Wisdom from Warren Buffett

DXL — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:36:03 +0000

I found a reprint from a 1998 article in The Investor Journal. It has some nice notes from one of Berkshire’s famous annual meetings, including:

”Because of the use of options and warrants, we estimate earnings for many companies could be 10% or more lower than what they state.”
“We have decentralized Berkshire Hathaway to the point of abdication. The only thing we have centralized is money.”
“Good businesses throw up easy questions for the managers and the board, bad businesses throw up tough questions.”

I recommend you read the full article yourself.