Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting 2024

[gfp]

Berkshire's Q1 results are out.  Float is down ~$1 Billion from $169 -> $168 Billion. (edit: this was the effect of rounding, Float was only down a couple hundred million dollars during q1)  Repurchases were $2.6 billion in the quarter.  Operating earnings $11.222 Billion in Q1.

 

Only Class A stock was repurchased in the quarter

Edited May 4 by gfp

[UK]

AAPL holdings reduced by ~13 per cent?

[gfp]

5 minutes ago, UK said:

AAPL holdings reduced by ~13 per cent?

 

Certainly appears that the share count of the AAPL position went from 905,560,000 to something like 789,596,454 (plenty of rounding error in this number)

[longterminvestor]

Looks like AAPL has been reduced by over 100M shares.  Holding is down to roughly 790M-800M shares.  

[gfp]

Interestingly there was only $19.972 Billion of equity security sales in the quarter, so they didn't get a very high price for the AAPL stock sold in the quarter (or maybe there is enough rounding error in the estimated number of shares sold that my math is off)

[yesman182]

So are we at like 180b cash/tbills or 22% of market cap? 

[gfp]

24 minutes ago, yesman182 said:

So are we at like 180b cash/tbills or 22% of market cap? 

 

$189 B if you count all the subsidiary cash

 

A decent chunk of the "bond portfolio" was so short dated that it crossed into "cash and cash equivalents" just through the passage of time.

Edited May 4 by gfp

[CanadianMunger]

I love Warren but the size of this cash pile is...Indefensible 

[gfp]

Just now, CanadianMunger said:

I love Warren but the size of this cash pile is...Indefensible 

 

Just call it a "bond portfolio" and debate his decision on duration instead.  If he put half of it in 2 year notes nobody would complain.

[John Hjorth]

The CNBC page streaming the AGM is now on a countdown.

[gfp]

1 hour ago, UK said:

AAPL holdings reduced by ~13 per cent?

 

Nice of Warren to call Tim Cook yesterday and let him know the big headline was going to be (almost) $20 Billion AAPL share sales in the quarter.

[Gamecock-YT]

I forgot how much I hate CNBC. Turning this into the Apple shareholder meeting.

[gfp]

1 minute ago, Gamecock-YT said:

I forgot how much I hate CNBC. Turning this into the Apple shareholder meeting.

 

"Warren sold Apple shares in the quarter because they didn't have a compelling story to tell on generative AI in the period!"

[Luke]

Moving Video! 

[cubsfan]

20 minutes ago, Luca said:

Moving Video! 

Wonderful 

[John Hjorth]

Can you see the twinkle in the eyes of Mr. Buffett? He is as fresh as a sea eagle in a headwind - and that at the age 93! I sincerely hope his voice does not let him down under whole session.

 

- And then, right now it's like his speeding up, after - slowly - warming up!

[gfp]

My impression is that he has continued to sell Apple shares after quarter-end since he seemed very confident that the $182 cash figure would be $200 billion at June 30.

[AzCactus]

Love hearing Greg speak.  It's good to see the next generation.  

[John Hjorth]

43 minutes ago, gfp said:

My impression is that he has continued to sell Apple shares after quarter-end since he seemed very confident that the $182 cash figure would be $200 billion at June 30.

 

He must have had the Pope on the phone, who may want to sell. Next : The Vatican City.

[Cigarbutt]

3 hours ago, CanadianMunger said:

I love Warren but the size of this cash pile is...Indefensible 

 

3 hours ago, gfp said:

Just call it a "bond portfolio" and debate his decision on duration instead.  If he put half of it in 2 year notes nobody would complain.

Whether it's conscious or not, planned or not or whatever, over the years, there has been some defensible movements of the fixed vs float quantity/duration balance.

Using this methodology, at Q4 2023, the ratio was 106%, at Q1 2024, 112%. 

Even if there is some kind of rationality (relative lack of equity opportunities at reasonable prices), it's sometimes hard to differentiate tactical asset allocation from market timing.

-----

i would say this aspect is also relevant for people wondering (on the FFH threads) how much money could be shifted from bonds to equities in certain circumstances.

Edited May 4 by Cigarbutt
minor addition potentially relevant to FFH

[Blake Hampton]

Buffett's point on corporate taxes is spot-on. A historically low rate during a time of record fiscal deficits is simply crazy.

[Blake Hampton]

Brittle, bitches

[gfp]

2 minutes ago, blakehampton said:

Buffett's point on corporate taxes is spot-on. A historically low rate during a time of record fiscal deficits is simply crazy.

[Blake Hampton]

Just now, gfp said:

 

Too bad Biden is too focused on taxing unrealized capital gains instead of the more straightforward option. Dude has literally zero understanding of how business works. Trump does, but he's the kind of character who'll forcefully take over the FED and then lower interest rates to zero.

[backtothebeach]

What a class act, Warren! Makes me want to become a Berkshire shareholder again…