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Minority Stock Positions

Berkshire Hathaway’s Paytm Investment Ends in a $140 Million Loss

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s foray into India’s payment platform, Paytm, has concluded on a sour note, as the conglomerate exits its position with a substantial $140 million loss.

Back in 2018, Berkshire made a strategic investment by acquiring a stake in One97 Communications Ltd, the parent company of Paytm.

In a recent development, Berkshire opted to sell its stake for $164.7 million (13.71 billion rupees) through a bulk deal on Friday. Notably, this investment reflected a departure from the traditional investment strategies championed by Warren Buffett, who has historically been averse to technology stocks, save for his large position in Apple.

The Paytm investment was orchestrated by Berkshire portfolio manager Todd Combs, signaling a potential shift in the next generation of Berkshire’s investment management towards a more diverse approach.

Expressing optimism at the time of the investment, Combs stated, “I have been impressed by Paytm and am excited about being a part of its growth story, as it looks to transform payments and financial services in India.” Unfortunately, the anticipated success of the venture did not materialize as Paytm encountered hurdles early on.

In 2020, Paytm faced a setback when it was removed from Google’s Play Store for violating gambling policies. The Play Store’s prohibition on unregulated gambling apps, including online casinos facilitating sports betting in India, led to Paytm’s removal. The challenges persisted into 2021 when Paytm’s initial public offering (IPO) underperformed expectations.

During its stock market debut, Paytm’s share price plummeted by 26 percent, with intraday trading pushing the stock down as much as 28 percent from its issue price. This turn of events underscores the volatility and challenges present in the dynamic fintech landscape, demonstrating that even strategic investments made by established entities like Berkshire Hathaway can face unforeseen obstacles.

© 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.

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Minority Stock Positions

Berkshire Hathaway Dives into Diageo: A New Addition to the Portfolio

(BRK.A) (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate led by Warren Buffett, has added Diageo plc to its ever-expanding portfolio. Diageo, a renowned liquor purveyor, boasts a vast array of over 200 brands, with a global presence in more than 180 countries.

In a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Berkshire disclosed its acquisition of 227,750 shares of Diageo. This investment represents a relatively modest 0.04% ownership stake in the company, but it signifies Berkshire’s interest in the liquor giant.

Diageo, a name synonymous with top-quality beverages, offers a stellar lineup of best-selling brands, including the iconic Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, Tanqueray gin, Smirnoff vodka, Guinness stout, and Baileys cream liqueur. These brands have long been favorites among consumers and have played a significant role in establishing Diageo as a leading player in the spirits industry.

Notably, Diageo has set ambitious goals for the future. Currently holding a 4.7% share of the global Total Beverage Alcohol (TBA) market, the company has its sights set on increasing that value share to an impressive 6% by the year 2030. This aspiration reflects Diageo’s commitment to growth and innovation within the dynamic world of beverages.

Moreover, Diageo recently announced a share buy-back program, demonstrating their dedication to creating value for their shareholders. This program aims to return up to $1.0 billion of capital to investors and is scheduled to be completed before June 26, 2024. The buy-back follows the successful completion of Diageo’s return of capital program during the second half of fiscal 2023, in which £0.5 billion of capital was returned to shareholders.

© 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.

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Minority Stock Positions

BYD’s DOLPHIN Wins Carbuyer.co.uk Top Honour

China’s fast-growing EV maker BYD, backed by Berkshire Hathaway, has been named Carbuyer.co.uk Best Small Electric Car and Carbuyer.co.uk Car of the Year in the 2024 Carbuyer New Car Awards.

The Carbuyer judges said:

Best Small Electric Car: BYD DOLPHIN

“Compact on the outside, capacious on the inside, the BYD DOLPHIN is efficient, good to drive, loaded with tech and, with the bigger of the two batteries, comes with a sensible real-world range. It might not be pocket change, but the BYD DOLPHIN costs a good chunk less than its mainstream rivals.”

Carbuyer Car Of The Year: BYD DOLPHIN

“It really is quite extraordinary how a brand you’ve probably never heard of – albeit one that sells millions of cars in its home market – can so drastically undercut the competition and still offer such a compelling package. The BYD DOLPHIN isn’t a cheap car, it’s a great-value car. There’s a difference.”

© 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.

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Minority Stock Positions

Surprising Turn of Events: Berkshire Hathaway’s Top Performer in 2023 is a Digital Financial Platform

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway, the renowned conglomerate helmed by legendary investor Warren Buffett, is not typically associated with high-tech investments. However, this year’s top-performing stock in Berkshire’s portfolio might raise a few eyebrows. It’s none other than NU Holdings, one of the world’s largest digital financial services platforms.

Based in São Paulo, Brazil, NU has rapidly risen to become one of the globe’s premier digital financial service providers. Remarkably, it ranks as the fifth-largest financial institution in Latin America, boasting an impressive number of customers. This unforeseen success in NU is a testament to the changing landscape of finance and technology’s growing role in the industry.

During the second quarter of 2023, NU experienced an impressive surge in its customer base. The platform added a staggering 4.6 million new customers, a testament to its widespread appeal and competitive offerings. In a year-over-year comparison, NU saw strong growth of 18.4 million customers, reaching an overall total of 83.7 million customers worldwide by June 30th, 2023. This surge represents a remarkable 28% growth when compared to the previous year.

What makes this story even more intriguing is Berkshire Hathaway’s substantial stake in NU. The conglomerate owns a substantial 107,118,784 shares of the company, valued at approximately $845 million. This strategic investment is a clear indicator of Berkshire’s confidence in the future of digital financial services.

NU Holdings’ place in Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio emphasizes the changing dynamics of the financial sector. Traditional investment giants are recognizing the potential of innovative digital platforms, which have demonstrated tremendous growth and resilience in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world. As the global economy continues to evolve, such investments may become an increasingly common occurrence, surprising investors and industry experts alike.

© 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.

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Minority Stock Positions

Berkshire Boosts Stakes in Japanese Trading Houses

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s subsidiary, National Indemnity Company, has announced an increase in its ownership stake in five prominent Japanese trading companies. The companies in question – Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, and Sumitomo – hold significant positions in Japan’s economic landscape. Berkshire Hathaway’s investments in these companies are currently the only publicly traded holdings it possesses in Japan, and their combined value surpasses that of any other publicly traded stocks owned by the company outside of the United States.

Berkshire Hathaway’s ownership interest in each of the five companies now averages more than 8.5%, excluding treasury stock shares. This disclosure aligns with how Berkshire Hathaway reports its ownership in publicly traded U.S. companies. The conglomerate intends to maintain its Japanese investments for the long term. While the company might consider increasing its holdings in these companies, it has set a self-imposed limit of 9.9% ownership. Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has assured that any additional purchases beyond this threshold will only occur with the explicit approval of the investee’s board of directors.

Earlier this year, Mr. Buffett, accompanied by Gregory E. Abel, Berkshire’s Vice Chairman for Non-Insurance Operations, visited Japan to meet with the CEOs of the five companies. The discussions were fruitful, leaving both Mr. Buffett and Mr. Abel extremely pleased with the progress made. Their vision for the future may involve gradually increasing Berkshire Hathaway’s stake in each of these companies to 9.9% ownership, if prices warrant it.

Berkshire Hathaway continues to demonstrate its long-term commitment to the Japanese market and its confidence in the potential of these esteemed trading companies.

© 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.

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Minority Stock Positions

No OXY Takeover in Berkshire’s Future, Says Buffett

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Rumors have been circulating that Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate headed by legendary investor Warren Buffett, is seeking to take over Occidental Petroleum. However, Buffett himself has dismissed these speculations, stating that his company is not looking to buy control of the oil producer.

At this year’s Berkshire annual meeting, Buffett made it clear that the rumors were unfounded. “There’s speculation about us buying control, we’re not going to buy control,” he said. “We wouldn’t know what to do with it.”

Despite this, Berkshire Hathaway has already purchased a significant stake in Occidental, after receiving regulatory approval to buy as much as 50% of the company. While Buffett has ruled out seeking control of the company, he has hinted that his company may add to their current 23.5% stake in the future.

In addition, Berkshire holds warrants that are exercisable for 83.9 million common shares for $5 billion. These warrants give the company the option to purchase more shares at a later date, potentially increasing their stake in Occidental even further.

“We may or may not own more in the future but we certainly have warrants on what we got on the original deal on a very substantial amount of stock around $59 a share, and warrants last a long time, and I’m glad we have them,” Buffett explained.

It’s worth noting that Buffett has a history of making strategic investments in companies without necessarily seeking control. His approach is to invest in strong companies with a long-term outlook, and then let their management teams run the business.

This seems to be the case with Occidental Petroleum. While Berkshire Hathaway has a significant stake in the company, they are not looking to take over or interfere with the management team’s decisions. Instead, they are content to hold on to their shares and potentially increase their stake in the future.

© 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.

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Minority Stock Positions

Berkshire Hathaway Occidental Petroleum Stake Reaches 23.6 Percent

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

A dip in the price of Occidental Petroleum saw Warren Buffett adding more purchases of OXY shares on March 23 and 27.

In its latest Form 4 filing, Berkshire purchased 3,666,714 shares of OXY stock at prices ranging from $58.2862 to $59.6262 per share.

After these purchases, Berkshire holds 211,707,119 shares of OXY common stock, and raises Berkshire’s stake to 23.6 percent.

Berkshire also holds 100,000 series A preferred stock shares with an 8% dividend and warrants that Berkshire can exercise for roughly 84M shares of common stock at $59.624 per share.

© 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.

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Minority Stock Positions

BYD Brings Cloud Game Streaming to Its EVs With NVIDIA GeForce NOW

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD is working with NVIDIA to bring NVIDIA GeForce NOW cloud game streaming to its vehicles.

BYD demonstrated how technological innovation is enhancing the automotive smart cockpit and bringing users an immersive gaming experience during NVIDIA’s CES 2023 special address.

NVIDIA GeForce NOW can stream a real-time, full PC gaming experience to desktops, laptops, TVs, and mobile devices, and now to software-defined cars. GeForce NOW will enable occupants of these vehicles to stream games while parked or charging a NEV.

“We are excited to offer our customers the best in technology, comfort, and design from BYD and now the latest in gaming through NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW high-performance cloud gaming service. The experience of driving our cars is becoming increasingly sophisticated, entertaining, and sustainable”, said Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD Company Limited and CEO of BYD Americas.

© 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.

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Minority Stock Positions

BYD Ships 1,200 Cars to Colombia

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD has shipped 1200 units of BYD DM-i super hybrid vehicles to Colombia from Xi’an, China.

The exported fleet consists of 200 units of BYD QIN PLUS DM-i and 1000 units of SONG PLUS DM-i, marking an all-time high for individual export volume of DM-i hybrid vehicles from BYD. It marks another step in BYD’s expansion into the Latin American market.

The BYD QIN PLUS DM-i and SONG PLUS DM-i were first launched in the Colombian market in March 2022. The two models, equipped with DM-i hybrid technology, were favored by Colombian consumers for their high fuel efficiency, long cruising range, and premium exterior and interior designs.

Since 2020, BYD has cooperated with its local distributor Motorysa to introduce a series of BYD new energy passenger vehicles to Colombia, including the large- and mid-sized luxury flagship HAN EV, luxury pure electric TANG SUV, and high-end plug-in hybrid models such as the QIN PLUS DM-i and SONG PLUS DM-i.

BYD has delivered nearly 3,000 NEV models to Colombia to date. The company becomes one of the major new energy passenger vehicle brands in the local market, contributing to the green transformation of Colombia’s transportation.

BYD has launched its new energy products in major Latin American countries such as Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Uruguay.

The brand has earned a reputation for its eco-friendly and high-tech products as BYD continues to promote the electrification of transportation in Latin America. With an increasing number of its NEV models being introduced overseas, BYD will create a new wave of green travel in the region.

© 2022 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.

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Minority Stock Positions

Berkshire-Backed Paytm Announces Stock Buyback

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed financial Paytm Paytm has approved the repurchase of up to $127 million of its shares inclusive of all taxes and other expenses. The buyback was unanimously approved by the company’s board on Tuesday.

Paytm, which stands for Pay through mobile, is India’s largest mobile payments and commerce platform.

Paytm went public late last year at 2,150 Indian rupees ($26) but has lost some 60 percent of its value.

In 2018, Berkshire Hathaway made a $356 million investment for a 3-4% stake in One97 Communications Ltd, the parent of Paytm.

© 2022 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.