Buffett still wants deals but can’t find any attractive ones

OMAHA, Neb. — Billionaire Warren Buffett says his firm has benefited from some “extraordinary luck” find acquisitions like BNSF railroad over the many years, but he hasn’t had a lot of that lately as Berkshire Hathaway’s money pile has grown to just about $147 billion.

Buffett sought to reassure shareholders together with his annual letter Saturday that he retains a robust urge for food for acquisitions and inventory investments, but he hasn’t discovered a lot of both that curiosity him at in the present day’s inflated costs.

He blamed the continued low rates of interest for serving to drive up the worth of shares and complete firms alike, and prior to now he has mentioned that growing competitors from non-public fairness consumers has made it onerous to find good deals.

“From time to time, such possibilities are both numerous and blatantly attractive. Today, though, we find little that excites us,” Buffett wrote concerning the prospects for locating good inventory investments.

Buffett’s letter is at all times effectively learn within the enterprise world due to his remarkably profitable monitor document, but he stored his message targeted on Berkshire’s companies and did not point out politics or say a lot concerning the broader financial system.

He additionally did not provide any new particulars about Berkshire’s succession planning in his first letter since saying final spring that Berkshire Vice Chairman Greg Abel will at some point change him as CEO, though the 91-year-old Buffett has no plans to retire.

Berkshire has targeted on rising the 90-odd companies the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate already owns and repurchasing its personal shares — one thing Buffett has invested $51.7 billion in during the last two years together with $27 billion final yr.

And regardless of the dearth of acquisitions and new investments Berkshire has continued to revenue. The corporate reported making $39.6 billion, or $26,690 per Class A share, in the course of the fourth quarter. That is up from $35.8 billion, or $25,015 per Class A share, a yr in the past.

But these backside line figures have been inflated by paper features on Berkshire’s investments, which is why Buffett maintains that working earnings are a greater measure of the corporate’s efficiency as a result of they exclude investments and derivatives. By that measure, Berkshire’s working earnings jumped from $5.02 billion, or $3,224.74 per Class A share, to $7.3 billion, or $4,904.23 per Class A share, in the course of the fourth quarter.

The 4 analysts surveyed by FactSet anticipated Berkshire to report working earnings per Class A share of $4,197.84 within the quarter.

Buffett mentioned this yr Berkshire will convey again the total slate of occasions surrounding the corporate’s annual assembly that used to routinely appeal to greater than 40,000 individuals earlier than the pandemic compelled it to go digital for the previous two years. But anybody who wants to attend the April 30 assembly in Omaha to listen to Buffett spend hours answering questions should show they’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19.

Berkshire owns an eclectic number of firms, together with BNSF, numerous giant electrical utilities, Geico insurance coverage and an assortment of producing and retail firms. The conglomerate additionally holds giant inventory investments in Apple, Coca-Cola, Financial institution of America and different firms.

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