Warren Buffett says investors should focus less on rigid formulas like price-to-earnings ratios and more on where a company is headed. Speaking at Berkshire Hathaway’s 1995 annual meeting, Buffett drew on advice from hockey great Wayne Gretzky: “Go where the puck is going to be, not where it is.”
“It’s the future that counts,” Buffett emphasized, “It isn’t a multiple of today’s earnings that are primarily determinative of things.” He underscored that long-term success in investing comes from anticipating future performance rather than relying solely on current metrics.
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© 2026 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.