Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK.B)

[gfp927z]

On the subject of stock picking vrs indexing, here are some of the other unexpected landmines that went off within my own stock picks over the years -


Teva (TEVA) - the big generic drug company. After experiencing the biotech casino first hand, I viewed the generic drug sector as a safe haven of relative stability, Wrong, stock crashes from 70 to 12.


Stericycle (SRCL) - another seemingly safe stock, in the boring but profitable medical waste disposal area. A reliable steady performer for years, it proceeded to crash and burn from 150 to 35 over a 3 year period.


General Electric (GE) - not a particular favorite of mine (of the conglomerates I always preferred United Technologies and Danaher), but my dad owned a little GE for old times sake (he had worked in their Space/Defense division), and down she went, from 30 to 7. Buffett wisely got out at 30.


Orchids Paper Products (TIS) - paper products, what can go wrong? After years of relatively steady performance (for a microcap), down she goes, from 30 to sub-dollar.