3M Company (MMM)

[bar1080]

Penny flippers hate Buffett's philosophy of buying/holding sensible blue chips. I suppose some of that antipathy comes from his liberal politics, although his father was a Republican Congressman long ago.

Buffett's average investment holding period is several years (hard to put an exact number on that) and he makes no effort of time the market's zigs and zags. He's always rather fully invested. His method is the 180 degree opposite of most IHUBers. Buffett's a thoughtful investor, not a slobbering stock addict chasing hundred-baggers for thrills.

There's more to Buffett's success. His magic sauce is the free leverage he gets from his many insurance holdings like GEICO. Still, the average investor can benefit from copying much of his style.

My own portfolio is very much like Berkshire Hathaway's, without the leverage. 3M is one of my biggest holdings.