charlieruane Posted July 17, 2025 Posted July 17, 2025 From the 2000 AR: We have added so many new companies to Berkshire this year that I’m not going to detail all of the products that we will be selling at the meeting. But come prepared to carry home everything from bricks to candy. One new product, however, deserves special note: Bob Shaw has designed a 3 x 5 rug featuring an excellent likeness of Charlie. Obviously, it would be embarrassing for Charlie - make that humiliating - if slow sales forced us to slash the rug’s price, so step up and do your part. Anyone here pick up one of these novelty Charlie rugs back in the day?
ValueMaven Posted July 21, 2025 Posted July 21, 2025 By Sabrina Valle (Reuters) -Berkshire Hathaway-owned BNSF Railway is working with Goldman Sachs to explore the takeover of a rival railroad, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. A deal would add to a slew of M&A activity in the railway sector, amid rival Union Pacific's possible acquisition of Norfolk Southern to create a $200 billion coast-to-coast rail network. A merger between Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern would create the first modern West-to-East single-line freight railroad in the U.S., altering the industry's competitive landscape for peers like BNSF. BNSF did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. It was not immediately clear whether BNSF would target Norfolk or the other East Coast carrier, CSX, according to Semafor which first reported the development. Shares of Norfolk Southern were up 2.4% in extended trading. (Reporting by Anshuman Tripathy and Arsheeya Bajwa in Bengaluru, and Sabrina Valle in New York; Editing by Anil D'Silva)
Munger_Disciple Posted July 21, 2025 Posted July 21, 2025 https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/bnsf-hires-goldman-csx-seeks-bankers-union-pacific-sparks-rail-ma-race-sources-2025-07-21/
CassiusKing1 Posted July 22, 2025 Posted July 22, 2025 https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/22/warren-buffett-knocks-down-reports-that-berkshires-bnsf-taps-goldman-for-a-railroad-takeover.html
gfp Posted July 22, 2025 Posted July 22, 2025 You gotta love Warren - It's not the merger speculation I find distasteful, its the notion that we would hire investment bankers
Spooky Posted July 22, 2025 Posted July 22, 2025 2 hours ago, gfp said: You gotta love Warren - It's not the merger speculation I find distasteful, its the notion that we would hire investment bankers Agreed, when I first heard the rumour I was thinking there is no way Berkshire engaged Goldman Sachs!
gfp Posted July 22, 2025 Posted July 22, 2025 Deepening the bench at Berkshire's insurance group https://www.insuranceinsiderus.com/article/2f3imlk15kldyoqquuozk/all-topics/talent/ex-corvus-president-gangu-joins-berkshire-hathaway-as-svp?zephr_sso_ott=T6CTpU Former positions https://www.reinsurancene.ws/corvus-insurance-welcomes-prashanth-gangu-as-new-president/
Munger_Disciple Posted July 22, 2025 Posted July 22, 2025 (edited) From the vudoo boys (cc: @gfp who seems to be a part-time practitioner ) https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/07/22/berkshires-stock-seeing-a-normal-drawdown-but-still-in-an-uptrend-says-carter-worth.html Edited July 22, 2025 by Munger_Disciple
gfp Posted July 23, 2025 Posted July 23, 2025 1 hour ago, Munger_Disciple said: From the vudoo boys (cc: @gfp who seems to be a part-time practitioner ) https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/07/22/berkshires-stock-seeing-a-normal-drawdown-but-still-in-an-uptrend-says-carter-worth.html OMG! So you are telling me that this profitable company that pays no dividends is in a long term uptrend?! Maybe I should start drawing uptrend channels on my passbook savings account and brag more to my wife
Munger_Disciple Posted July 23, 2025 Posted July 23, 2025 4 hours ago, gfp said: OMG! So you are telling me that this profitable company that pays no dividends is in a long term uptrend?! Maybe I should start drawing uptrend channels on my passbook savings account and brag more to my wife
Munger_Disciple Posted July 23, 2025 Posted July 23, 2025 Lubrizol CEO: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/07/23/lubrizol-not-tariff-free-but-well-positioned-due-to-local-approach.html
gfp Posted July 28, 2025 Posted July 28, 2025 (edited) So I feel like every other podcast these days is about the huge shortage of electricity we are looking at as these hyperscalers and the government backed arms race pours billions of dollars (trillions?) into data centers. Additionally, all of these investments in domestic production are in the news every day. Berkshire and Greg Abel are right at the center of this but the narrative hasn't really caught on with Berkshire yet. When a big foreign chip firm builds an enormous factory in the United States, it's Berkshire building the factory. Same with gigafactory in Sparks, NV. Berkshire even builds their own bridges for BNSF. I wonder how long until Berkshire is touted as the ultimate AI / re-shoring play and Greg Abel as the ideal CEO to navigate the historic investment? Look at all of these projects or break them out by category - Afco/W&W is huge https://www.wwafcosteel.com/all-projects https://www.wwafcosteel.com/projects/manufacturing https://www.wwafcosteel.com/projects/industrial https://www.wwafcosteel.com/projects/aerospace And BRK energy -> Edited July 28, 2025 by gfp
cubsfan Posted July 28, 2025 Posted July 28, 2025 36 minutes ago, gfp said: Berkshire and Greg Abel are right at the center of this but the narrative hasn't really caught on with Berkshire yet. When a big foreign chip firm builds an enormous factory in the United States, it's Berkshire building the factory. Same with gigafactory in Sparks, NV. Berkshire even builds their own bridges for BNSF. I wonder how long until Berkshire is touted as the ultimate AI / re-shoring play and Greg Abel as the ideal CEO to navigate the historic investment? Look at all of these projects or break them out by category - Afco/W&W is huge https://www.wwafcosteel.com/all-projects https://www.wwafcosteel.com/projects/manufacturing https://www.wwafcosteel.com/projects/industrial https://www.wwafcosteel.com/projects/aerospace GFP - I've been wondering about this myself. The energy needs are self evident- although the slide you provided really hits home. I'm not sure I understand your inference on Afco/W&W - is Berkshire's contribution to the projects beyond energy? Thanks
gfp Posted July 28, 2025 Posted July 28, 2025 (edited) 3 minutes ago, cubsfan said: I'm not sure I understand your inference on Afco/W&W - is Berkshire's contribution to the projects beyond energy? Berkshire owns W&W/Afco Steel since the Alleghany purchase Edited July 28, 2025 by gfp
cubsfan Posted July 28, 2025 Posted July 28, 2025 1 minute ago, gfp said: Berkshire owns W&W/Afco Steel since the Alleghany purchase I'm obviously a dummy, I thought Alleghany was strictly P&C, Reinsurance. Much appreciated.
gfp Posted July 28, 2025 Posted July 28, 2025 5 minutes ago, cubsfan said: I'm obviously a dummy, I thought Alleghany was strictly P&C, Reinsurance. Much appreciated. And squishmallows! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squishmallows
rogermunibond Posted July 28, 2025 Posted July 28, 2025 That list of WWAfco projects is impressive. Just makes me think that there's going to be lots of concrete poured as well as lots of building envelope installed as well. Not to mention the HVAC systems.
gfp Posted July 28, 2025 Posted July 28, 2025 https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250728587320/en/Verisign-Announces-Secondary-Offering-of-Common-Stock-by-Selling-Stockholders
jbwent63 Posted July 28, 2025 Posted July 28, 2025 (edited) 8 minutes ago, gfp said: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250728587320/en/Verisign-Announces-Secondary-Offering-of-Common-Stock-by-Selling-Stockholders The sellers are two of the pension master trusts, BNSF (3,800,000) and the rest is held in the BH Consolidated Master Trust. There are other pension master trust investments that are not included, PCC and Scott Fetzer. Interesting the reason given is to get below the 10% reporting threshold. One year standstill agreement in place for the remaining shares held by BH and affiliates. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1014473/000114036125027577/ny20052578x1_s3asr.htm Edited July 28, 2025 by jbwent63
gfp Posted July 29, 2025 Posted July 29, 2025 (edited) "Inside the Culture and Strategies of Berkshire Hathaway" An interview of Berkshire board member Chris Davis by David Rubenstein on Bloomberg. I always enjoy Rubenstein's interviews. Link to YouTube version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfjT9JHxR1w Bloomberg version (should be same) here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-07-29/inside-the-culture-and-strategies-of-berkshire-hathaway-video edit: I guess those are just short clips here is another clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_3g1UM4SF0 Edited July 29, 2025 by gfp
gfp Posted July 30, 2025 Posted July 30, 2025 Seritage had to send Berkshire another $8 million cash to extend their loan maturity by one year. This was an option they had negotiated earlier in case they couldn't get the BRK loan paid off in time. Ain't running no charity here! https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1628063/000095017025100344/srg-20250728.htm
DooDiligence Posted July 30, 2025 Posted July 30, 2025 This is only part of the reason Sears went out of business.
Xerxes Posted July 31, 2025 Posted July 31, 2025 On 7/29/2025 at 9:40 AM, gfp said: "Inside the Culture and Strategies of Berkshire Hathaway" An interview of Berkshire board member Chris Davis by David Rubenstein on Bloomberg. I always enjoy Rubenstein's interviews. Link to YouTube version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfjT9JHxR1w Bloomberg version (should be same) here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-07-29/inside-the-culture-and-strategies-of-berkshire-hathaway-video edit: I guess those are just short clips here is another clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_3g1UM4SF0 I am hoping to read this work on the Davis family before close of the year or early next year.
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