This article
was first published by Seeking Alpha on March 2, 2015.
By Sarfaraz
A. Khan
Warren
Buffett, one of the world's greatest investors who built Berkshire Hathaway
(NYSE:BRK.A) (NYSE:BRK.B) from nothing into one of the world's biggest
conglomerates with more than 80 businesses and a $117 billion stock portfolio
has recently released his highly anticipated letter to the shareholders along
with his company's fourth quarter results.
In the
letter, which marks Buffett's 50-years at the helm, the Oracle of Omaha laid
out the company's plans for the future. Buffett continues to look for
acquisition opportunities, which have been one of the key driving engines for
Berkshire Hathaway. Last year, Berkshire Hathaway spent nearly $8 billion on
making 31 acquisitions. But the company hasn't purchased an
"elephant" since 2013 when it acquired half of H.J. Heinz (NYSE:HNZ)
for $12.25 billion. With more than $63 billion of cash reserves, Berkshire
Hathaway has ample resources to make another major acquisition while
maintaining significant cash cushion.
As always,
Buffett's focus will be on investing in American companies, despite showing
greater interest abroad, particularly in Germany where Buffett has recently
agreed to acquire a motorcycle equipment retailer for $452 million and has
shown his interest in buying more German companies in the future.
Buffett also
said that Berkshire Hathaway is now a "sprawling conglomerate, constantly
trying to sprawl further." Those investors who purchased a single
Berkshire Hathaway share about five decades ago at $11 and kept it would have
seen phenomenal returns, with a single share priced at $221,180 when the
markets closed on Friday. However, the next fifty years ….. read full articleat Seeking Alpha.
