Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK.B)

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>>> 7 ways to invest more like Warren Buffett


8-31-18

Motley Fool

by Keith Speights



https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/savingandinvesting/7-ways-to-invest-more-like-warren-buffett/ss-BBKPRi1?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout#image=1



What it takes to be a 'superinvestor'

Warren Buffett once wrote about the “superinvestors of Graham-and Doddsville,” referring to the successful investors who followed the investing approach taught by famed economists Benjamin Graham and David Dodd. Buffett himself became a “superinvestor” by following this approach, but he also added his own tweaks along the way.

1. Think like an owner

Perhaps the most important way to invest more like Warren Buffett is to think like an owner. That means viewing a stock as a part of a business -- not just a slip of paper with a dollar value. Before buying a given stock, ask yourself, “If I could own a business, would this be it?” That's the best way to decide whether a stock is a worthy investment.

Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A and BRK-B) often buys a business outright instead of buying only a stake in the company. But the mindset of thinking like an owner is the same whether Berkshire buys a percentage of shares or the entire business.

2. Understand the business

A key part of thinking like an owner is to first understand the business of any stock you buy. Warren Buffett sticks to buying stocks inside his “circle of competence.” This principle doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t buy a stock in an industry where you’re not an expert. It simply requires that you take the time to learn about the company’s business strategy, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

3. Find companies with moats

Medieval castles were encircled with water-filled moats to help fend off attackers. Warren Buffett likes to buy stocks of companies that have the equivalent of these moats -- competitive advantages that protect them from competitors. One example of a competitive advantage is operating at lower costs than competitors. Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway owns the stocks of several companies in this category, including Costco (COST), Southwest Airlines (LUV), and Walmart (WMT).

4. Buy at a fair price

Warren Buffett started out as a value investor looking only for bargain buys. Over time he modified his views somewhat, saying, “It’s far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.” But price is still very important. Buffett’s famous “Rule No. 1” of investing is to “never lose money.” Rule No. 2 is “never forget Rule No. 1.” The best way to keep both rules is to not pay too much for a stock when you buy it.

5. Take advantage of great buying opportunities

One of the best Warren Buffett quotes of all time is: “When it rains gold, put out the bucket, not the thimble.” In other words, take advantage of great opportunities to buy stocks. The best opportunities of all are when fear causes the valuations of great businesses to become very attractive. As Buffett said, “Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”

6. Think long-term

It’s become a cliché, but the key to successful investing really is to have a long-term perspective. Warren Buffett put it this way: “If you aren’t willing to own a stock for 10 years, don’t even think about owning it for 10 minutes.” The greatest advantage an individual investor has is time. If you’re patient -- like Buffett has been and still is -- you can beat the market over the long run.

7. Sell when the business loses its edge

Although Buffett always thinks long-term when he buys a stock, he also knows that some businesses don’t perform as well as he hopes they will. For example, he sold IBM stock after acknowledging that he underestimated the technology giant’s competition. The key is to admit your mistakes as quickly as possible and cut your losses. If you discover that the business doesn’t have the competitive advantages you initially thought it had, sell the stock.

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