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Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: The Biggest Risk to a Company is the One They Never List

There are a lot of risks that businesses list in their prospectuses and annual reports, but Warren Buffett points out that the number one risk factor to a business is the one that they never list. And that risk is bad management.

“The number one risk factor, you never see it, the number one risk factor is that this business gets the wrong management. And you get a guy or a woman in charge of it that are — they’re personable, the directors like them. They don’t know what they’re doing, but they know how to put on an appearance,” Warren Buffett said at the 2021 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting. “That’s the biggest single danger that a business — and that that person stays and runs it for ten or fifteen years, and either stays in the textile business or department store business and expands. And, you know, I’ve looked at a lot of businesses. And that’s what’s caused the number one problem. And it isn’t the kind of thing where they list them all because the lawyers tell them to list them.”

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© 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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BYD

BYD Motors and Cox Automotive Join Forces to Provide Support for Electric Fleets in the U.S.

In a move that underscores the accelerating shift towards electric vehicles in the United States, BYD Motors, backed by Berkshire Hathaway, and Cox Automotive have recently announced a service agreement for EV fleet maintenance. This partnership bolsters the support network for BYD customers, particularly those operating class 6 and class 8 trucks, by offering round-the-clock roadside assistance and access to a nationwide cadre of EV-trained service technicians.

“This agreement with a nationally respected fleet services leader in Cox Automotive bolsters the confidence of our customers and gives new customers assurance their service needs will be addressed by the top professionals in the business,” said Audrey Li, BYD Vice President Operations. “We’re very excited by this announcement.”

Cox Automotive, a renowned player in the fleet industry, is equally committed to leading the charge in the electrification of America’s fleets. With a shared vision of creating a more sustainable future for fleet operations, Cox Automotive brings its expertise and a network of trusted, skilled EV technicians into this partnership. Kevin Clark, AVP of Vehicle Operations at Cox Automotive Fleet Services, remarked, “Cox Automotive is driven to lead America’s fleet industry in the electric vehicle transformation, working alongside innovative companies like BYD Motors with a shared mission to create a more sustainable fleet future. Our trusted and skilled EV technicians keep America moving safely and efficiently.”

BYD Motors’ global reach continues to expand, with over 85,000 heavy-duty battery electric vehicles deployed worldwide, including more than 25,000 trucks. In the U.S., BYD has made significant inroads, with more than 500 of these electric trucks already serving customers from coast to coast. Operating from nearly 40 locations across the country, Cox Automotive Fleet Services boasts a team of over 1,400 elite technicians, making it the nation’s largest provider of 24/7 emergency repair and towing services.

© 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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Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: Earnings Expectations Become Impossible Over Time

The unreasonable expectation that businesses will report ever increasing earnings quarter after quarter is something that Warren Buffett warns against because it incentivizes managers to cheat, or face getting punished by investors.

“Businesses do not meet expectations quarter after quarter and year after year. It just isn’t in the nature of running businesses. And, in our view, people that predict precisely what the future will be are either kidding investors, or they’re kidding themselves, or they’re kidding both,” Warren Buffett noted at the 2005 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting. “Charlie and I have been around the culture, sometimes on the board, where the ego of the CEO became very involved in meeting predictions which were impossible, really, over time. And everybody in the organization knew, because they were very public about it, what these predictions were and they knew that their CEO was going to look bad if they weren’t met. And that can lead to a lot of bad things. You get enough bad things, anyway, I mean. But setting up a system that either exerts financial or psychological pressure on the people around you to do things that they probably really don’t even want to do, in order to avoid disappointing you, I mean, I just think that it’s a terrible mistake.”

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

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© 2021 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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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Adds Ana Fuertes as Head of Energy and Construction in Spain

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has named Ana Fuertes as Head of Energy and Construction in Spain.

“Energy and construction are among the most dynamic and vital sectors in Spain, and we are committed to being a long-term partner to the energy industry, including the burgeoning renewables sector, and to infrastructure and other major construction projects across Spain,” said Tomás Blas, Head of Property, Spain, BHSI. “I’m so pleased to have Ana leading our efforts, bringing BHSI’s solutions-focus to these sectors and enabling customers to seize opportunities with the assurance of stable protection in place.”

Ana comes to BHSI with 20 years of insurance industry experience. Her career has included several leadership roles in construction, energy and technical lines at other global insurers in Spain.

In Spain, BHSI underwrites single projects as well as annual contractor works and can provide CAT-only capacity for construction customers. Coverages for energy and power generation customers include all risk property damage and business interruption, machinery breakdown, and property CAT insurance.

Ana is based in Madrid.

© 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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BNSF

BNSF Railway Reaches Agreement With Union on Paid Sick Days and More

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

BNSF Railway and The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, Transportation Division (SMART-TD) have reached a system-wide agreement that will significantly benefit ground service employees at BNSF.

The tentative agreement, which was announced on September 28, follows up on the mandatory local bargaining items from last year’s Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) and goes well beyond.

This breakthrough tentative agreement comes after several months of negotiations, and pending ratification by SMART-TD’s members at BNSF, it is expected to bring positive changes to both the professional and personal lives of these employees.

The agreement will allow for more predictable scheduling (with rest days available to all pool and extra board employees) and enables all ground service employees to take paid sick days, with many additional quality of work/life changes. These enhancements will not only benefit current employees, but they will also contribute to more consistent service for BNSF’s customers, and aid in the recruitment and retention of employees.

© 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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Lubrizol

Lubrizol Sells Idled Plant in Wales, UK

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Lubrizol Corporation has sold its idled Warwick Chemical Mostyn, Wales, UK, site to International Process Plants, a leading global provider of pre-owned and new process plants and equipment.

The Warwick Chemical Mostyn site, which formerly produced stain removal ingredients for detergent products, features a robust infrastructure ideally suited for various chemical applications. IPP plans to sustainably redeploy these assets to its client facilities globally, making the site and its basic infrastructure available for redevelopment to support the local community needs.

The Mostyn site is the second facility that Lubrizol has also sold this month. The company also sold its surfactant plant in Paso Robles, California, to Texas-based Coast Southwest.

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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Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: Staying Within Your Circle of Competence

For Warren Buffett, being a disciplined investor means staying within your circle of competence. How do you know the limits to your circle of competence?

“I would say this, if you have doubts about something being into your circle of competence, it isn’t,” Warren Buffett said at the 2002 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting. “If you get to something that your friend is buying, or that everybody says a lot of money’s going to be made, and you don’t, you’re not sure whether you understand it or not, you don’t. You know, I mean, and it’s better to be well within the circle than to be trying to tiptoe along the line. And you’ll find plenty of things within the circle. I mean, it’s not terrible to have a small circle of competence. I’d say my circle of competence is pretty small, but it’s big enough. You know, I can find a few things.”

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

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© 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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Jazwares

Jazwares Named Global Master Toy Licensee for Mermicorno: Starfall

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Jazwares has secured the exclusive global rights to produce figures, dolls, playsets, vehicles, plush, Squishmallows, Halloween costumes, pet costumes and accessories, everyday dress-up, role play, musical instruments, and novelty items based on the animated series Mermicorno: Starfall for all distribution channels, including mass-market, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer platforms.

Thunderbird Brands, the consumer products arm of Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc., announced the appointment of Jazwares as global master toy licensee for Mermicorno: Starfall.

The concept of Mermicorno: Starfall is drawn from tokidoki’s hit Mermicorno characters. The first Mermicorno debuted in 2015 and the Mermicorno character family launched worldwide with collectibles, apparel, accessories and more in 2016.

The initial Mermicorno: Starfall toy line is set to launch with a limited product assortment in spring 2025, followed by a larger rollout in fall 2025.

Warner Bros. Discovery has secured exclusive rights to the series in the U.S., now in production at Thunderbird’s Atomic Cartoons, which will debut on Max in early 2025.

© 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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Lubrizol

Lubrizol Sells Surfactant Manufacturing Facility to Coast Southwest

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Lubrizol Corporation, a global leader in specialty chemicals, has sold its surfactant plant in Paso Robles, California, to Texas-based Coast Southwest.

No price of the transaction was announced.

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Coast Southwest is a leading full-service, chemical distribution and ingredient technology company.

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.