Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Warren Buffett's Big Four - What he looks for in an Investment Opportunity




The Big Four – Principles in investing do not change.

         

                                                                        1975                2006

Market price per share                     $100                $109,000

Per share investments:                      $159                $80,636

            Pre-tax earnings per share:               $4                    $3,625


In 1977, Warren Buffett laid out his investment philosophy in his letter to the shareholders.


We select our marketable equity securities in much the same way we would evaluate a business for acquisition in its entirety.  We want the business to be (1) one that we can understand, (2) with favorable long-term prospects, (3) operated by honest and competent people, and (4) available at a very attractive price.  We ordinarily make no attempt to buy equities for anticipated favorable stock price behavior in the short term.  In fact, if their business experience continues to satisfy us, we welcome lower market prices of stocks we own as an opportunity to acquire even more of a good thing at a better price.


In 2007 on CNBC – The Billionaire next door.  Warren Buffett reiterated the big four.  30 years later the principles remain the same.


1.      Something he can understand.  Something in his “circle of competence”.


He doesn’t understand what Car Company, software or chemical company will win 10 years from now.  But he does understand that Snicker’s Bar will be the number one candy bar in the U.S. just as it has been for the last 40 years.


2.      Durable Competitive Advantage


A business that will dominate for what appears to be forever.


3.      An Honest and Able management.

4.      A price that he wants to pay.




Others interpretation of Buffett’s investment principles:


                  From:        The Warren Buffett Way by Robert G. Hagstrom


Business Tenets


1.      Is the business simple and understandable from your perspective as an investor?

2.      Does the business have a consistent operating history?

3.      Does the business have favorable long-term prospects?

Management Tenets


1.      Is management rational?

2.      Is management candid with its shareholders?

3.      Does management resist the institutional imperative?

Financial Tenets


1.      Focus on return on equity, not earnings per share.

2.      Calculate “Owner Earnings”.

3.      Search for companies with high profit margins.

4.      For every dollar of retained earnings, has the company created at least one dollar’s extra market value?

Value Tenets


1.      What is the value of the business?

2.      Can the business currently be purchased at a significant discount to its value?




                  From:        How to Build Wealth Like Warren Buffett by Robert P. Miles



There’s four areas of interest when Warren looks at a business on main street.


1.      Business

a.       Is it simple?

2.      Management

a.       Are they candid?

b.      What are their expansion plans?

c.       Are they fanatics?

3.      Financials

a.       Is it a high profit margin business?

b.      What is its return on equity?

4.      Market Price

a.       What is the business value and can it be purchased at a discount to intrinsic value?



         





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