Buffett's letters taught me more about investing than any business school ever could.
Even after investing for 14 years, I uncover new insights every time I reread his letters.
Recently, I reread his letters from 1977 to 2020 for a third time.
Here are my key insights:
Even after investing for 14 years, I uncover new insights every time I reread his letters.
Recently, I reread his letters from 1977 to 2020 for a third time.
Here are my key insights:
1. Moat is NEVER stagnant
A company's competitive position either grows stronger or weaker each day.
Widening the moat must always take precedence over short-term targets.
A company's competitive position either grows stronger or weaker each day.
Widening the moat must always take precedence over short-term targets.
2. Commodity businesses
A business without moat will have its returns competed away.
Regardless of improvement, your competitors will quickly copy your advantage away.
Where returns on capital is dismal, reinvestment will only destroy value.
A business without moat will have its returns competed away.
Regardless of improvement, your competitors will quickly copy your advantage away.
Where returns on capital is dismal, reinvestment will only destroy value.
3. The flywheel effect
Buffett was preaching about the flywheel effect before it became cool.
Back then, newspapers were similar to today's platform businesses like Amazon, Meta, and App Store.
More readers beget more advertisers beget more readers.
Buffett was preaching about the flywheel effect before it became cool.
Back then, newspapers were similar to today's platform businesses like Amazon, Meta, and App Store.
More readers beget more advertisers beget more readers.
4. Operating leverage
Companies with high fixed costs and low variable costs will see earnings rise faster than revenue.
However, it cuts both ways.
It becomes a disaster when revenue is declining.
Check out my article on how operating leverage works: shorturl.at/cnJUY
Companies with high fixed costs and low variable costs will see earnings rise faster than revenue.
However, it cuts both ways.
It becomes a disaster when revenue is declining.
Check out my article on how operating leverage works: shorturl.at/cnJUY
5. Fundamentals of investing
•Know your circle of competence
•Focus on future cash flows
•Refrain from price speculation
•Ignore volatility
•Macro is a waste of time
•Know your circle of competence
•Focus on future cash flows
•Refrain from price speculation
•Ignore volatility
•Macro is a waste of time
6. Mr. Market
Everyday Mr. Market will show up to name a price to buy or sell.
When optimistic, he sees only favorable factors and names a high price.
When pessimistic, he sees nothing but trouble and names a low price.
Mr. Market is here to serve you, not to guide you.
Everyday Mr. Market will show up to name a price to buy or sell.
When optimistic, he sees only favorable factors and names a high price.
When pessimistic, he sees nothing but trouble and names a low price.
Mr. Market is here to serve you, not to guide you.
7. What is risk?
Risk does not come from price volatility.
Nor could it be managed away by simply diversifying.
Focus on whether after-tax proceeds generated by the investment provide at least as much purchasing power as the investor started with, plus a modest interest rate.
Risk does not come from price volatility.
Nor could it be managed away by simply diversifying.
Focus on whether after-tax proceeds generated by the investment provide at least as much purchasing power as the investor started with, plus a modest interest rate.
8. Growth vs Value Investing
Thinking that stocks with low PE, PB or high dividend yield is a value stock is erroneous thinking.
Likewise, a high PE, PB or low dividend yield might be a value purchase.
Instead, focus on the return on capital vs the cost of capital.
Thinking that stocks with low PE, PB or high dividend yield is a value stock is erroneous thinking.
Likewise, a high PE, PB or low dividend yield might be a value purchase.
Instead, focus on the return on capital vs the cost of capital.
9. Durable businesses
Similar to Jeff Bezos, Buffett like to focus on what doesn't change for a business.
For Amazon's customers, it is low prices.
For Sees' candies, it is for the premium brand.
Technology changes, but motivations less so.
Similar to Jeff Bezos, Buffett like to focus on what doesn't change for a business.
For Amazon's customers, it is low prices.
For Sees' candies, it is for the premium brand.
Technology changes, but motivations less so.
10. Investing in "The Inevitables"
Between fast growth or a more certain growth, Buffett will always choose the latter.
Without durability, fast growth in the early years are less ideal investments.
Between fast growth or a more certain growth, Buffett will always choose the latter.
Without durability, fast growth in the early years are less ideal investments.
11. Investing in quality
Over the long-run, the returns of your investment will mirror the underlying business return on capital.
Even if a business is slightly overvalued, Buffett will rather hold on to it than to switch for a cheaper, lower-quality business.
Over the long-run, the returns of your investment will mirror the underlying business return on capital.
Even if a business is slightly overvalued, Buffett will rather hold on to it than to switch for a cheaper, lower-quality business.
12. Deep value investing
Investing in ugly businesses simply because of its price is foolish.
Time is the friend of the wonderful business, the enemy of the mediocre.
Unless you are able to liquidate the company, you'll slowly see value evaporate.
Investing in ugly businesses simply because of its price is foolish.
Time is the friend of the wonderful business, the enemy of the mediocre.
Unless you are able to liquidate the company, you'll slowly see value evaporate.
13. Leverage
Don't do it.
Don't expose yourself to the possibility of being wiped out.
In investing, a settled mind is crucial for making decisions.
Don't do it.
Don't expose yourself to the possibility of being wiped out.
In investing, a settled mind is crucial for making decisions.
14. Share buybacks
Makes sense only when:
•The company has enough fund to maintain competitive position
•There's no where else to reinvest at attractive returns
•The company's stock is selling below intrinsic value
Makes sense only when:
•The company has enough fund to maintain competitive position
•There's no where else to reinvest at attractive returns
•The company's stock is selling below intrinsic value
15. Not all earnings are created equal
An asset heavy business that requires frequent reinvestment to maintain its competitive position doesn't have "real earnings".
Bulk of its returns will be set aside simply to maintain its competitive positioning and cannot be distributed.
An asset heavy business that requires frequent reinvestment to maintain its competitive position doesn't have "real earnings".
Bulk of its returns will be set aside simply to maintain its competitive positioning and cannot be distributed.
16. EPS is misleading
When evaluating an acquisition, management often justify it with EPS accretion.
But near-term EPS is of no significance.
What really counts is whether a merger is dilutive or anti-dilutive in terms of intrinsic business value.
When evaluating an acquisition, management often justify it with EPS accretion.
But near-term EPS is of no significance.
What really counts is whether a merger is dilutive or anti-dilutive in terms of intrinsic business value.
17. Inflation
Asset-light companies that have pricing power will benefit from inflation.
On the other hand, companies that have to invest in machineries, plants and properties to stay relevant will suffer in periods of high inflation.
Asset-light companies that have pricing power will benefit from inflation.
On the other hand, companies that have to invest in machineries, plants and properties to stay relevant will suffer in periods of high inflation.
This is the end of my key takeaways from Buffett's letters!
I hope you enjoyed it.
If you like this, follow me here @SteadyCompound
I write about investment concepts, business breakdowns and growth philosophies.
I hope you enjoyed it.
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You can read all of Buffett's letters here for free! berkshirehathaway.com/letters/letter…
Personally, I prefer reading from @CunninghamProf book The Essays of Warren Buffett because of its neat categorization.
Get it here: amzn.to/3sSXtg6
Personally, I prefer reading from @CunninghamProf book The Essays of Warren Buffett because of its neat categorization.
Get it here: amzn.to/3sSXtg6
Thanks for letting me know the short url on operating leverage isn't working!
Here is the article on operating leverage: steadycompounding.com/investing/oper…
Here is the article on operating leverage: steadycompounding.com/investing/oper…
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The research is only for long-term investors who want to gain a deeper understanding of businesses, their competitive advantages, risks, and valuations.
steadycompounding.com/membership/?123
Buffett's 2021 letter incoming!
Here are the key insights:
Here are the key insights:
https://twitter.com/SteadyCompound/status/1497740620756099072
New thread:
How Buffett generates income and float on $KO by using options!
How Buffett generates income and float on $KO by using options!
https://twitter.com/SteadyCompound/status/1506649385458831364
Great to see that $BRK AGM has returned to Ohama!
Check out my key takeaways from $BRK 2022 AGM:
Check out my key takeaways from $BRK 2022 AGM:
https://twitter.com/SteadyCompound/status/1520771802091380738
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