Billionaire Warren Buffett is known as one of the world’s greatest investors, and the 93-year-old has a devout following of people who admire his track record and appreciate his sage advice on life and investing
Billionaire Warren Buffett is known as one of the world’s greatest investors, and the 93-year-old has a devout following of people who admire his track record and appreciate his sage advice on life and investing.
Buffett’s latest annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders released Saturday morning was filled with a mix of both.
On investing in stocks:
“I can’t remember a period since March 11, 1942 – the date of my first stock purchase – that I have not had a majority of my net worth in equities, U.S.-based equities. And so far, so good. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell below 100 on that fateful day in 1942 when I ‘pulled the trigger.’ I was down about $5 by the time school was out. Soon, things turned around and now that index hovers around 38,000. America has been a terrific country for investors. All they have needed to do is sit quietly, listening to no one.”
On picking winners:
“Our goal at Berkshire is simple: We want to own either all or a portion of businesses that enjoy good economics that are fundamental and enduring. Within capitalism, some businesses will flourish for a very long time while others will prove to be sinkholes. It’s harder than you would think to predict which will be the winners and losers. And those who tell you they know the answer are usually either self-delusional or snake-oil salesmen.”
On market panics:
“Markets can – and will – unpredictably seize up or even vanish as they did for four months in 1914 and for a few days in 2001.
