2022 has just arrived.
This year, Warren Buffett will celebrate his 92nd birthday.
Buffett is widely acknowledged as one of the most successful investors of our generation.
Between 1965 and 2020, Buffett grew the per share market value of his firm, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B), by 20.0% per year.
Keeping it simple
There are many things to admire about Buffett.
But Buffett may be best-loved for his ability to present investing ideas in the simplest terms, making investing accessible — something that we, at The Smart Investor, hold dear in our hearts.
As we look to 2022, here are 10 of the greatest quotes from Buffett:
1. In predicting the future, uncertainty is almost always a certainty (from Buffett’s 1994 letter to shareholders)
“We will continue to ignore political and economic forecasts, which are an expensive distraction for many investors and businessmen.
Thirty years ago, no one could have foreseen the huge expansion of the Vietnam War, wage and price controls, two oil shocks, the resignation of a president, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a one-day drop in the Dow of 508 points, or treasury bill yields fluctuating between 2.8% and 17.4%.”
Saying the past two years have been uncertain would be an understatement.
We don’t have to remind you of the multiple unprecedented events that have occurred over the past two years.
Even with a high vaccination rate, Singapore’s attempt to reopen its borders is being threatened by the Omicron variant.
Yet, during this time, The Smart Dividend Portfolio, which was launched in January 2020, scored a return of 26% as of 30 November 2021, during a period when the Straits Times Index (SGX: ^STI) was down 4.2%.
2. On predicting where the stock market will end up next month or next year (written in October 2008, during the depths of the Global Financial Crisis)
“Let me be clear on one point: I can’t predict the short-term movements of the stock market. I haven’t the faintest idea as to whether stocks will be higher or lower a month — or a year — from now.”
If Buffett doesn’t predict, you shouldn’t either.
3. Instead of forecasting where the economy is headed, spend more time studying companies …
“To my memory, I can’t recall us ever making or turning down an acquisition
based on a macro factor. We focus on what’s likely to be the average profit, the moat. Any company that has an economist has one employee too many.”
4. Remember, you’re buying a business, not a stock symbol
“Nobody buys a farm to make a lot of money next week or next month. They buy it to make money over the long term. They don’t get a quote every day. That’s a better way to look at stocks.”
5. Be smart by looking to keep it simple
“I don’t look to jump over 7-foot bars, I look for 1-foot bars I can step over.”
6. The one thing that a business should have is …
“The single most important decision in evaluating a business is pricing power. If you’ve got the power to raise prices without losing business to a competitor, you’ve got a very good business.
And if you have to have a prayer session before raising the price by a tenth of a cent, then you’ve got a terrible business.”
7. Meanwhile, have you heard that Buffett hates airlines? (2013 annual shareholder’s meeting)
“Investors have poured their money into airlines and airline manufacturers for 100 years with terrible results. It’s been a death trap for investors.”
8. … but by the end of 2016, he poured almost US$10 billion into airlines
“It’s true that the airlines had a bad 20th century. They’re like the Chicago Cubs. And they got that bad century out of the way, I hope.”
As an update, Buffett sold out on all his airline stocks in 2020.
No, I don’t think that Buffett was being hypocritical. If you learn something new and critical about a company or industry, then your opinion should change too.
9. Politics in the US is becoming more partisan. But here’s what Buffett said about the 45th US President, Donald Trump.
“I mean, the American economy, you know, we’re up to number 45 or so and we’ve done awfully well. If you mix your politics with your investment decisions, you’re making a big mistake.”
10. As always, think beyond 2022 and for the long-term …
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
From all of us at The Smart Investor, we wish you good luck in investing for 2022, and we hope you will live a long and bountiful life as Buffett has.
How do you decide if a growth stock is worth your money? There is no shortage of stock ideas today, but is a particular stock suitable for you? Find out more in our latest FREE report, How To Find The Best US Growth Stocks For Your Portfolio. Click HERE to download the report for free now!
Follow us on Facebook and Telegram for the latest investing news and analyses!
Disclosure: Chin Hui Leong owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway.
