Month: August 2023

Categories
BYD

Byd Posts Record Earnings for First Six Months of 2023

(BYDDF), (BYDDY)

BYD, the Chinese automobile manufacturer backed by Berkshire Hathaway, posted record profits for the first six months of 2023. The company reported a 204.7% jump in profits as compared to the same period in 2022.

BYD, which is China’s largest automaker, reported net profits of 10.95 billion yuan ($1.50 billion) on revenues of 260.12 billion yuan for the period ending June 30.

During the month of June alone, BYD sold an impressive total of 253,046 new energy vehicles, a 5.3% increase over its May sales volume. The total unit sales through June 30 for BYD have reached an impressive figure of almost 1.2 million units, almost double the 641,350 units sold during the first six months of 2022.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Berkshire Hathaway to Supply Solar Power to the Sphere in Las Vegas

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s NV Energy will be powering Las Vegas’s newest entertainment venue, Sphere, with renewable energy. NV Energy and MSG Las Vegas LLC have jointly applied for approval from the Public Utility Commission for a 25-year agreement.

The ground-breaking Sphere is billed as a next-generation entertainment medium that will bring wonder to the world and redefine the future of live entertainment. Sphere will be powered by cutting-edge technologies that ignite the senses and transport audiences to places both real and imagined. The first Sphere venue is currently under construction in Las Vegas and is expected to open in fall 2023. Once open, Sphere will host a wide variety of events, including concerts and residencies from the world’s biggest artists; Sphere Experiences from leading Hollywood creatives; and premier marquee events.

Sphere will be a “model for renewable energy use by entertainment venues around the country,” according to the company.

Rich Claffey, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of Sphere, noted, “Just as Sphere is setting a new standard for immersive live entertainment, the venue is also setting an industry standard when it comes to renewable energy. From the outset, we designed Sphere to minimize environmental impact and to help create a sustainable operation well into the future. We’re proud to enter into this agreement with NV Energy and partner with them to achieve both of those important goals.”

An estimated 70% of the power needed by the entertainment venue will be derived from dedicated solar and battery resources.

The new NV Energy solar and battery facility, if approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, will serve Sphere and additional NV Energy customers.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: It’s Much Easier to Compound a Small Amount of Money

Warren Buffett is an investor that has truly scaled his investments to a size that is almost impossible to conceive. However, Buffett is quick to point out that compounding small sums is much easier than large. And the larger the sum you start with, the harder it become to continue to compound it over time.

“I think, working with a very small sum, that there is an opportunity to earn very high returns,” Buffett said at the 1999 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. “But that advantage disappears very rapidly as the money compounds.”

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Mouser Electronics

Mouser Electronics Added 29 New Manufacturers in First Half of 2023

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Mouser Electronics, Inc. has expand its line card by adding 29 new manufacturers to date in 2023. With more than 1,200 manufacturer brands, Mouser now offers an even wider range of product options for its global customer base of design engineers, component buyers, procurement agents, educators and students.

“We are proud to offer our customers the widest selection of the latest technologies and products from the top electronic component manufacturers,” said Jeff Newell, Mouser Electronics Senior Vice President of Products. “With almost 30 new manufacturers in just the first half of the year, and our continuing expansion into industrial automation and factory control, we are committed to being the industry’s NPI leader and one-stop source for the components and development tools our customers need.”

Mouser’s Global Distribution Center handles a massive inventory of more than 1.1 million unique SKUs for semiconductors and electronic components across all product categories, including embedded, connectors, optoelectronics, passives and more.

Among the new manufacturer partners Mouser has added in 2023 are:

• ATC Automatic Timing & Controls, a manufacturer of highly rugged, high-reliability products that are engineered to provide accurate and repeatable timing and monitoring operations in all types of industrial environments, including factory automation, food processing, packaging, water treatment and many OEM applications.

• Banner Engineering, a leader in industrial automation providing innovative solutions for warehouse and factory sensing, machine safety, and state indication, helping companies increase efficiency, safeguard equipment, and protect personnel.

• Intelligent Memory, a fabless memory manufacturer serving the industrial electronics market. Intelligent Memory’s extensive product portfolio consists of DRAM ICs and modules (from SDR to DDR4) and a variety of managed NAND products for industrial applications.

• XSemi, an IC design company specializing in analog and power semiconductors, primarily focusing on the automotive and industrial sectors.

• EnOcean, a leading developer of wireless energy harvesting technology for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. EnOcean produces maintenance-free wireless switches and sensors, which gain the device’s energy from their surroundings, including movement, light, and temperature.

Since 2020, Mouser has added almost 250 new manufacturers.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

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Uncategorized

Lessons From Warren Buffett: Grab Opportunities When They Come Around

Warren Buffett has noted that the opportunities that he has missed are as significant as the opportunities that he has taken. Recognizing opportunities and then being willing to “put out the bucket, not the thimble” is the key to investing success.

“So opportunities come around,” Buffett said at the 2010 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. “You have to be prepared to grab them when they come.”

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Occidental

Occidental Makes $1.1 Billion Acquisition of Carbon Engineering Ltd.

(BRK.A), (BRK.B), (OXY)

Just days after Occidental Petroleum subsidiary 1PointFive was awarded a portion of a $1.2 billion grant from the Biden administration for its commercial-scale direct air capture facilities in Texas, the Berkshire Hathaway-backed company has announced that the wholly owned subsidiary has entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire all the outstanding equity of Carbon Engineering Ltd.

The acquisition is for total cash consideration of approximately $1.1 billion, to be made in three approximately equivalent annual payments, with the first at closing.

This transaction is expected to close before the end of 2023, subject to Canadian court reviews, Canadian and U.S. regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Occidental has been working with Carbon Engineering on direct air capture (DAC) deployment since 2019. Acquiring Carbon Engineering aligns with Occidental’s integrated net-zero strategy and provides Occidental, through its 1PointFive subsidiary, the opportunity to rapidly advance DAC technology breakthroughs and accelerate deployment of DAC as a large-scale, cost effective, global carbon removal solution. Carbon Engineering’s DAC-based climate solutions utilize standardized processes and proven industrial equipment.

“We expect the acquisition of Carbon Engineering to deliver our shareholders value through an improved drive for technology innovation and accelerated DAC cost reductions. The technology partnership also adds new revenue streams in the form of technology licensing and royalties. Importantly, the acquisition enables Occidental to catalyze broader development partnerships for DAC deployment in the most capital efficient and valuable way,” said Occidental President and CEO Vicki Hollub.

“We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Carbon Engineering team, which has been a leader in pioneering and advancing DAC technology,” Hollub said. “Together, Occidental and Carbon Engineering can accelerate plans to globally deploy DAC technology at a climate-relevant scale and make DAC the preferred solution for businesses seeking to remove their hard-to-abate emissions.”

Upon closing, Carbon Engineering would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxy Low Carbon Ventures. Carbon Engineering’s personnel will continue to drive ongoing DAC technology development efforts and work closely with the Occidental and 1PointFive teams to bring DAC solutions to market. Carbon Engineering’s research and development activities and Innovation Center will remain in Squamish, British Columbia.

“We have always believed that global partnerships and cross-industry collaboration would be required to deploy DAC infrastructure at the scale required to make a climate-relevant impact. Carbon Engineering and Occidental have been working increasingly close together for the past five years to address the CO2 problem, making Occidental a trusted and committed partner for this next chapter in Carbon Engineering’s journey,” said Carbon Engineering CEO Daniel Friedmann. “At the core of this deeper relationship is the commitment to invest in the development of our technology here in Canada, and the global reach to accelerate implementation of DAC-based climate solutions in the U.S. and around the world.”

1PointFive is building Stratos, the world’s largest DAC plant, which is expected to be commercially operational in mid-2025, in Ector County, Texas. Occidental and Carbon Engineering are also adapting Stratos’ front-end engineering and design study for a DAC plant to be built at King Ranch in Kleberg County, which is part of the South Texas DAC Hub that was selected to receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and Occidental, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Kraft Heinz

Kraft Heinz Changing CEOs

The Kraft Heinz Company has announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has appointed Carlos Abrams-Rivera as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board, effective January 1, 2024. Until then, Abrams-Rivera will continue in his role as President of the North America Zone with the added responsibilities of becoming President of Kraft Heinz, effective immediately. Abrams-Rivera will take over as CEO from Miguel Patricio, who has served as the Company’s CEO since 2019 and Chair of the Board since 2022. Patricio will transition to the role of Non-Executive Chair of the Board on January 1, 2024.

In his role as EVP and President of the North America Zone, Abrams-Rivera has successfully overseen the Company’s U.S. and Canadian operations. “Carlos is the best person to lead the next phase of the Company’s transformation,” said Miguel Patricio, CEO and Chair of the Board. “His strategic and innovative mindset is ideal to continue to propel Kraft Heinz forward on our path to greatness. Since joining Kraft Heinz in 2020, he has consistently delivered strong results in the North American retail and Away From Home businesses. Carlos’ experience in both developed and emerging markets complements our ambition for growth. I feel privileged to entrust Carlos with the leadership of this great company, and I am confident that Kraft Heinz is poised for more growth in the years to come.”

Patricio will transition to a new role as Non-Executive Chair of the Board. Since 2019, when Patricio joined the Company, he has led Kraft Heinz through a period of fundamental change in consumer trends, unprecedented business and global challenges, and consistent periods of top and bottom-line growth.

“We are extremely grateful for Miguel’s leadership over the past four years. He has a deep understanding of marketing and consumers, which was instrumental to the Company’s turnaround,” said Jack Pope, Lead Director of the Board. “The transition from Miguel to Carlos reflects the Board’s thoughtful succession planning and we are confident that the Company will continue to accelerate growth with Carlos assuming the role of CEO. He is an experienced leader with a long tenure in the food and beverage industry who has shown consistency and excellence in execution. Carlos’ leadership in transforming North America with innovative partnerships, tech-enabled solutions and developing and attracting world class talent will serve the Company well into the future. We look forward to continuing to work with him.”

“I am humbled and honored to be appointed as the new CEO of Kraft Heinz. I would like to thank Miguel for his mentorship, all he has done to rekindle the spirit of Kraft Heinz and our culture, and for his partnership, now and in the future,” stated Abrams-Rivera. “I would also like to thank the Board of Directors for placing its trust in me. Finally, to the thousands of colleagues across Kraft Heinz that have welcomed and trusted me, I am excited to go into a bright future together.”

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and Kraft Heinz, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Business Wire

BYD Beats Tesla to 5 Million Vehicles

Tesla make get the lion’s share of the attention, but it is Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD that is first to pass the five million new energy vehicles produced mark. BYD produced its 5 millionth new energy vehicle (NEV), a DENZA N7, on August 9th, making it the first automaker in the world to achieve this milestone.

“Today marks a historic moment for BYD as we witness our 5 millionth new energy vehicle rolls off the production line”, said Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of the company, at the ceremony held at BYD’s global headquarters to celebrate this momentous achievement. “On this special occasion, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to our customers across the globe for their trust in our products, our partners in the industry for this journey shared together, and every one of our employees whose hard work and dedication have made this landmark possible.”

BYD spent 13 years for the first million new energy vehicles, another 18 months to reach three million, and today astoundingly, just 9 more months to hit the five million mark. In 2022, BYD’s new energy vehicles saw remarkable growth, with total sales surpassing 1.86 million. The momentum continued in 2023, as the company reached an impressive cumulative sales volume of 1.5 million units from January to July, including a notable 92,469 units sold overseas which exceeded the total overseas sales for the entire year of 2022. As of July 2023, BYD’s global new energy vehicle sales have soared beyond 4.8 million units accumulatively, another testament to the company’s commitment to sustainable transportation solutions.

BYD has been actively expanding its global presence since 2010, strategically introducing new energy buses and taxis for public transit electrification. With a decade of dedicated efforts, BYD’s electric public transport solutions are now operational in over 400 cities across more than 70 countries.

Meanwhile, BYD’s new energy vehicles have now made a mark in over 54 countries, with the BYD ATTO 3, one of its standout models, leading NEV sales in Thailand, Israel, and Singapore for several months.

In a significant move in July 2023, BYD announced plans for three new factories in Brazil, reinforcing its role as a driving force in the industry.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: The Best Protection from Inflation

One of the best safeguards against the erosive tides of inflation extends beyond the mere amalgamation of assets within one’s investment portfolio, notes Warren Buffett. Equally if not surpassingly pivotal, lies the endeavor to enhance one’s own intrinsic value to the utmost degree conceivable.

“The best thing you can do is to be exceptionally good at something. If you’re the best doctor in town, if you’re the best lawyer in town, if you’re the best whatever it may be, no matter whether people are paying you with a zillion dollars, they’re going to give you some of what they produce in exchange for what you deliver,” Warren Buffett said at the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting. “And if you’re the one they pick out to do any particular activity, sing, or play baseball, or be their lawyer, whatever it may be, whatever abilities you have can’t be taken away from you, they can’t actually be inflated away from you.”

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
NetJets

NetJets Competitor Struggles to Stay in Business

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s NetJets, the world’s largest private jet operator, may end up with one less competitor as Wheels Up, a membership model private aviation provider, struggles to stay in business.

Wheels Up has given notice to the Securities and Exchange Commission that “there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern for any meaningful period of time.”

Wheels Up recently received a cash infusion from its 20% equity partner Delta Air Lines, but that looks to be insufficient to sustain the company long term.

Wheels Up is third behind NetJets and Flexjet in the private aviation market.

Wheels Up also signed a non-binding letter of intent sell its aircraft management business to Airshare, which is currently ninth in the private aviation market.

© 2023 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.