Buffett/Berkshire - general news

[jbwent63]

32 minutes ago, jbwent63 said:

The filings with the Japanese market regulator (EDINET) show slightly higher balances for each of the Japanese companies as of today than were held on December 31, 2024 (the date of the NAIC filings). I am still a bit bewildered as to why they are filing now when NICO had already increased its ownership of these corps, but there must be a reason. They now own between 9.82% (Mitsui) and 8.53% (Itochu) of these firms.

I answered my own question. The filings indicate the ownership change is either exactly 1.00% or just a bit more than 1.00% higher, meaning that the shares acquired since year-end pushed their ownership beyond an extra full percent, causing the need to make the filings. I also do not read Japanese, but it appears the filings may be as of March 10, not today to be precise.

[Snorky]

Is it possible to see the buying prices in the fillings?

[ValueMaven]

You can sell some slightly OTM calls on BRKB at the $530 strike - expiring this Friday and collect some interesting premiums.  Basically unless you think the stock will move 3%-5% by the end of the week, its interesting.  No position currently but looking given the outperformance here and equity rally over the last 2 days.  

[yesman182]

Buffett is loosening the standards for his NCAA tournament pool. Hopefully he is able to give away $1M. Seems like he is still finding small things to keep his job fun. Although I don't like all the references to "while I'm still chairman", but I guess some things are inevitable. 

 

https://archive.is/SBb0i

[RunPacoRun]

On 3/17/2025 at 7:34 PM, ValueMaven said:

You can sell some slightly OTM calls on BRKB at the $530 strike - expiring this Friday and collect some interesting premiums.  Basically unless you think the stock will move 3%-5% by the end of the week, its interesting.  No position currently but looking given the outperformance here and equity rally over the last 2 days.  

 

It just broke $530. Although there's one more trading day left before the options expire, it did go to show that the stock moved 3%-5% up. Let us know what you ended up doing. I never risk being forced to sell my shares.

 

BTW, I write cash-covered puts for BRKB with the goal of purchasing and getting a premium. I'm in that mode now given the high price.

[Ulti]

https://blogs.cfainstitute.org/investor/2025/03/20/book-review-buffetts-early-investments/

[John Hjorth]

3 hours ago, Ulti said:

https://blogs.cfainstitute.org/investor/2025/03/20/book-review-buffetts-early-investments/

 

@Ulti,

 

In the Books Forum :

 

https://thecobf.com/forum/topic/21024-buffetts-early-investments

 

 

[John Hjorth]

Perhaps especially for @gfp, @Munger_Disciple, @yesman182 and @73 Reds, but perhaps also of interest for other persons here on CofB&F interested in Berkshire,

 

Ravi Nagarajan has written an interesting article about his review of the Berkshire DEF 14A on The Rational Walk :

 

The Rational Walk [March 15^th 2025] : Berkshire Hathaway’s 2025 Proxy Statement

Edited March 20, 2025 by John Hjorth

[Munger_Disciple]

28 minutes ago, John Hjorth said:

Perhaps especially for @gfp, @Munger_Disciple, @yesman182 and @73 Reds, but perhaps also of interest for other persons here on CofB&F interested in Berkshire,

 

Ravi Nagarajan has written an interesting article about his review of the Berkshire DEF 14A on The Rational Walk :

 

The Rational Walk [March 15^th 2025] : Berkshire Hathaway’s 2025 Proxy Statement

 

Good article by Ravi. I share his concerns with respect to Ron Olson's departure & Ajit's potential retirement from the board in 2032. Thanks for sharing @John Hjorth!

Edited March 20, 2025 by Munger_Disciple

[ValueMaven]

7 hours ago, RunPacoRun said:

 

It just broke $530. Although there's one more trading day left before the options expire, it did go to show that the stock moved 3%-5% up. Let us know what you ended up doing. I never risk being forced to sell my shares.

 

BTW, I write cash-covered puts for BRKB with the goal of purchasing and getting a premium. I'm in that mode now given the high price.

 

I didnt sell any OTM calls actually!

Can you give an example of a cash covered put on BRKB that you recently sold, what premium, strike, and expiration?  Do you just have the cash sitting in T-Bills or something?

[John Hjorth]

53 minutes ago, Munger_Disciple said:

Good article by Ravi. I share his concerns with respect to Ron Olson's departure & Ajit's potential retirement from the board in 2032. Thanks for sharing @John Hjorth!

 

Thank you, @Munger_Disciple,

 

I have to say here I have a hard time thinking about :

• How this proposal in the first place ended up on the boards agenda for proposals to the annual general meeting to be processed,
• How it was processed by the board while on the boards agenda for that meeting.

I do not even feel sure it was a proposal from Mr. Buffett to the board to do so! 

[RunPacoRun]

2 hours ago, ValueMaven said:

 

I didnt sell any OTM calls actually!

Can you give an example of a cash covered put on BRKB that you recently sold, what premium, strike, and expiration?  Do you just have the cash sitting in T-Bills or something?

 

I have uninvested cash sitting in a tax-advantaged retirement account that earns interest in a government money market fund. Right now, it's roughly 4%. Hence, any premiums earned on cash-covered puts are a bonus on top of that. My brokerage liquidates the money market fund automatically when purchases are made.

 

On March 18th, I sold a put, with strike price of $500, expiring 28-March, for $1.21. Nothing impressive, but a little something to do while waiting for the price to fall. Yes, my calculated IV for BRK-B is $500. But that's me.

 

[gfp]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/wplg-miami-loses-abc-affiliation-disney-abc-miami-sunbeam-1236169307/

[73 Reds]

15 hours ago, John Hjorth said:

Perhaps especially for @gfp, @Munger_Disciple, @yesman182 and @73 Reds, but perhaps also of interest for other persons here on CofB&F interested in Berkshire,

 

Ravi Nagarajan has written an interesting article about his review of the Berkshire DEF 14A on The Rational Walk :

 

The Rational Walk [March 15^th 2025] : Berkshire Hathaway’s 2025 Proxy Statement

Thanks, John.  Of course while Buffett is in charge, the BOD largely remains a fiction.  In  a (my own) perfect world the board would be much smaller and required to maintain at least 50% of their wealth in BRK shares.  

[villainx]

Quote

Presumably this means that Greg Abel’s future compensation will comprised of cash only, although I assume that there will be a base salary and bonus component that is somehow tied to performance. In my view, Mr. Abel has a large enough holding in Berkshire to align his incentives with the company, but it is obviously impossible to know how much stock Mr. Abel’s eventual successor might hold.

 

On 3/21/2025 at 9:14 AM, 73 Reds said:

In  a (my own) perfect world the board would be much smaller and required to maintain at least 50% of their wealth in BRK shares. 

 

Or also main executives should have some sizable tied to BRK (or whatever respective other company).  Which is harder to do without stock based compensation?  Or use Constellation model?

 

[gfp]

I guess I wasn't paying attention, but was recently reminded that Rational Walk is "web_rules" from the old value message boards and Brooklyn investor is "veryearly" from the old value message boards.  Now I feel like I've known 'em for decades...  Hopefully it is not considered doxxing to connect pseudonyms to other pseudonyms (is this what it's like on the blockchain bros?).  At least Wabuffo has maintained his pseudonym to make it easy on the old timers.  And dealraker of course - but even then I've seen chompin and several other variations to keep up

 

Anyway, on the topic of compensation at BRK, I would love to see Greg Abel adopt a $100k salary shortly after taking the top job.  I will be very pleased when it happens and believe "tone at the top" is priceless!

 

See you then for either 1.) an "I told you so" or 2.) "oops"

Edited March 22, 2025 by gfp

[John Hjorth]

9 minutes ago, gfp said:

I guess I wasn't paying attention, but was recently reminded that Rational Walk is "web_rules" from the old value message boards and Brooklyn investor is "veryearly" from the old value message boards.  Now I feel like I've known 'em for decades...  Hopefully it is not considered doxxing to connect pseudonyms to other pseudonyms (is this what it's like on the blockchain bros?).  At least Wabuffo has maintained his pseudonym to make it easy on the old timers.  And dealraker of course - but even then I've seen chompin and several other variations to keep up. ...

 

No matter what's considered netiquette in that respect, we all here on CofB&F vill forgive you, I'm sure, if you by posting so may have been in breach of such netiquette. 

[fareastwarriors]

Berkshire Hathaway employee wins $1 million in Warren Buffett’s March Madness bracket challenge

[alpha]

 

FT wrote about Precision Cast Parts valuation, disappointed Buffett didn't have much to say when asked to comment.

 

https://www.ft.com/content/6dbdec34-b2f8-4e9c-8b31-ac008211d4cd

[ValueMaven]

@alpha thanks for sharing!  Timing could have been a lot better for BRK and he could have done this or that instead!  PCP was willing to be sold and BRK hadnt done a big deal in many years!!  At the time PCP's stock was depressed so it seemed like a reasonable deal.  I believe Combs lead the deal actually.  BRK also had low exposure to the sector overall.  I think with the fullness of time this will turnout to be an OK deal for BRK. Would have been awesome if they acquired HEICO - but the family is not selling 

[gfp]

Seems like this 5 share $539 execution from yesterday afternoon might be it for a little while at least.

 

Edited April 3, 2025 by gfp

[Charlie]

I also sold some Berkshire b shares. 

 

The entire market was ignoring the tariffs. 

The market is not good at anticipating change.

 

Let the MAGA bubble burst!!! 

Edited April 3, 2025 by Charlie

[Whensthepaintdry?]

I hate to do it, but I feel like at some point brk will give a little and I have sold a chunk of my non taxable shares. I’d be curious how many people are doing the same. I can pencil out 5-10 percent returns from here. Seems easier to make those on something like googl right now at these prices. 

[longlake95]

6 minutes ago, Whensthepaintdry? said:

I hate to do it, but I feel like at some point brk will give a little and I have sold a chunk of my non taxable shares. I’d be curious how many people are doing the same. I can pencil out 5-10 percent returns from here. Seems easier to make those on something like googl right now at these prices. 

im thinking of selling some too. It's only been at this valuation roughly 3 times or so, over the past 15 years... but I suffer from an emotion tie to BRK. Owned it since 2003. Its served us well. 

[Whensthepaintdry?]

Such an emotional roller coaster. In one hand I’m thrilled “wow look at brk go” and on the other hand I’m like dang why is the marker making me make this tough decision. Sorry, I have nothing brilliant to say. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking this way.