Warren Buffett, through his company Berkshire Hathaway, has invested in numerous companies across various sectors over the years. He is known for his value-investing strategy, which involves buying shares of companies that he believes are undervalued and holding onto them for the long term. Here’s a summary of some of Warren Buffett’s notable investments, based on information available up to 2022:
What Did Warren Buffett Invest In
- Consumer Goods & Retail:
- Coca-Cola: Buffett has held this investment for decades and has been very vocal about his admiration for the brand.
- Kraft Heinz: Berkshire Hathaway partnered with 3G Capital to acquire Heinz, which then merged with Kraft.
- Financial Services:
- American Express: Another long-term holding, Buffett has held American Express since the 1960s.
- Bank of America: Buffett made a significant investment during the financial crisis and has held onto the stake.
- Wells Fargo: Berkshire Hathaway has been a significant shareholder for many years.
- Technology:
- Apple: Berkshire Hathaway became one of the largest shareholders of Apple in the mid-2010s, marking a significant move into the tech sector.
- IBM: Although Buffett started investing in IBM in 2011, he later sold a significant portion of his stake.
- Transportation:
- Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway: Berkshire Hathaway acquired this railway company in 2010.
- Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and other airlines: Buffett took stakes in several major U.S. airlines, although he sold all his airline stocks in early 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Media:
- The Washington Post: This was one of Buffett’s early notable investments.
- DirecTV: Berkshire Hathaway held a stake but eventually sold it.
- Insurance:
- GEICO: Berkshire Hathaway acquired this insurance company in the mid-1990s.
- Munich Re: Buffett has held a stake in this reinsurance giant for many years.
- Energy:
- Phillips 66: Berkshire Hathaway has held a stake in this energy company.
- Occidental Petroleum: Berkshire played a role in Occidental’s bid to acquire Anadarko Petroleum, providing financing.
- Healthcare:
- Teva Pharmaceuticals: Berkshire Hathaway took a stake in this generic drugmaker.
- Miscellaneous:
- Clayton Homes: Berkshire Hathaway acquired this home builder and financier.
- Pilot Flying J: Berkshire agreed to acquire a significant minority interest in this truck stop operator.
- Cash & Short-Term Investments: It’s also worth noting that Berkshire Hathaway often holds significant amounts of cash or short-term investments, which Buffett has referred to as a “war chest” for potential acquisitions.
Buffett has made many other investments over the decades, and these are just some highlights. His investment style focuses on understanding a company’s business, believing in its long-term prospects, and buying at a fair price. He tends to avoid sectors he doesn’t understand, although, as shown with Apple, he’s been willing to adapt over time.
