Group 1: Company Overview - Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett has announced his resignation after 65 years, during which the company achieved a 20% compound annual return since 1965 [1] - American Express is a significant asset in Berkshire's portfolio, currently trading 15% below its 52-week high, presenting a buying opportunity [2] Group 2: Market Position and Competition - American Express processed $1.7 trillion in credit card purchase volume in 2023, capturing a 9% share of global purchase volume, significantly lower than Visa's 33% and Mastercard's 21% [3] - Unlike Visa and Mastercard, American Express operates a closed-loop payment system, managing both transaction processing and credit risk [4] Group 3: Target Market and Strategy - American Express focuses on affluent consumers, which helps maintain lower default rates and provides revenue stability during economic downturns [5] - The brand's strength is emphasized by Buffett, who highlighted the importance of the brand and customer aspirations [6] Group 4: Financial Performance - In Q1, American Express reported a network volume of $439.6 billion, a 5% increase from the previous year, and net interest income rose 11% to $4.2 billion [10] - The company's credit quality remains stable, with only 1.3% of card loans more than 30 days past due and net write-offs at 2.4% [11] Group 5: Investment Outlook - The stock's P/E ratio has decreased from 23.2 to 19.3, creating an opportunity for long-term investors [12] - Buffett's long-standing belief in American Express positions it as an excellent stock for investors to consider, especially if market conditions worsen [13]

Core Viewpoint - Orix (IX) is currently positioned as a more attractive investment option compared to American Express (AXP) for value investors based on various financial metrics and rankings [1][3]. Valuation Metrics - Orix has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a stronger earnings outlook compared to American Express, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3]. - The forward P/E ratio for Orix is 7.83, significantly lower than American Express's forward P/E of 18.69, suggesting Orix is undervalued [5]. - Orix's PEG ratio stands at 0.79, while American Express has a PEG ratio of 1.39, indicating Orix's expected earnings growth is more favorable relative to its price [5]. - Orix's P/B ratio is 0.83, contrasting sharply with American Express's P/B of 6.37, further highlighting Orix's relative undervaluation [6]. - Based on these metrics, Orix holds a Value grade of A, while American Express has a Value grade of C, reinforcing the view that Orix is the better investment choice for value investors [6].

Group 1: Berkshire Hathaway's Portfolio Overview - Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio includes blue chip stocks that are generally considered safe long-term investments, although some are currently struggling [1][2] - Top holdings such as Apple, American Express, and Occidental Petroleum have all seen declines of at least 5% this year, with some experiencing drops over 20% [2] Group 2: Apple Inc. (AAPL) - Apple remains the top holding in Berkshire's portfolio, known for its strong financials, high margins, and significant free cash flow [4] - The company reported a 5% increase in net sales to $95.4 billion for the first three months of the year, generating nearly $54 billion in cash from operations over the past six months [5] - Despite a 20% decline in stock price this year due to concerns over its artificial intelligence strategy, it is viewed as a solid long-term investment, trading at 32 times trailing earnings compared to over 41 at the beginning of the year [6] Group 3: American Express (AXP) - American Express, the second-largest holding in Berkshire's portfolio, has seen its stock rally recently but was still down more than 5% entering the week [7] - The company reported a 7% increase in revenue and a 9% rise in earnings per share, alleviating concerns about slowing growth [8] - With a price-to-earnings multiple of less than 20, American Express is considered a reasonably priced investment, especially given its affluent customer base [8] Group 4: Occidental Petroleum (OXY) - Occidental Petroleum, the seventh-largest holding in Berkshire's portfolio, has faced a 21% decline this year amid lower commodity prices [9] - The company has experienced significant earnings volatility, with operating profits ranging from $4.7 billion to $13.7 billion over the past four years [10] - Investing in Occidental now could be advantageous for exposure to oil and gas, especially with a dividend yield of 2.4%, which surpasses the S&P 500 average of 1.4% [11]

Core Viewpoint - Capital One and American Express are significant players in the U.S. financial services sector, focusing on credit card issuance and consumer lending, with their revenues primarily derived from interest income, transaction fees, and customer spending [1][3]. Group 1: Company Strategies and Market Position - Capital One targets consumer and small business segments with a traditional banking approach, while American Express focuses on affluent, premium cardholders with a closed-loop payments network [2]. - Capital One's strategic acquisition of Discover Financial Services for $35 billion aims to enhance its market position and expand its payment network capabilities, making it the largest U.S. credit card issuer by balances [5][6]. - American Express leverages its dual role as a credit card issuer and network operator, allowing it to capture a larger share of transaction economics, contributing to a more profitable business model [14]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Projections - Both companies are affected by macroeconomic factors such as interest rates, consumer spending, and inflation, with recent stock declines reflecting cautious investor sentiment—Capital One down 6.6% and American Express down 11.2% over the past three months [3]. - Capital One's revenues have a five-year CAGR of 6.5%, while net loans held for investment recorded a CAGR of 4.3%, indicating encouraging revenue prospects [8]. - American Express anticipates revenue growth of 8-10% for 2025, with a three-year CAGR of 15.9% for revenues net of interest expenses [19]. Group 3: Financial Health and Valuation - As of March 31, 2025, American Express had $52.5 billion in cash and cash equivalents, indicating strong financial health, while Capital One's net interest income has been rising with a CAGR of 6% over the past five years [10][20]. - Capital One's current P/E ratio is 11.32X, higher than its five-year median, while American Express trades at a trailing P/TB of 17.24X, lower than its five-year median, reflecting differing growth trajectories [25][26]. - American Express has a return on equity (ROE) of 32.48%, significantly higher than Capital One's 9.63%, showcasing its efficient use of shareholder funds [26]. Group 4: Investment Outlook - Capital One's acquisition of Discover Financial may create synergies but poses integration challenges in the near term, making it less favorable for immediate investment [32]. - American Express appears better positioned to navigate current economic challenges, supported by its premium client base and strategic investments, making it a more attractive investment choice despite its higher valuation [33].

Core Viewpoint - Warren Buffett has achieved an impressive return of over 55,000 times since taking over Berkshire Hathaway in 1965, with an annualized compound return rate of 19.9%, highlighting the power of long-term investing and the compounding effect [1]. Group 1 - Buffett emphasizes buying excellent companies with a "moat" at a "good price." The "good price" is determined by a method of calculating intrinsic value, which reflects the present value of future cash flows. On average, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 44 frequently mentioned investment targets was 14, with 68% of stocks having a P/E ratio below 15 [1]. - The "moat" includes unique barriers such as brand, product characteristics, business models, and special rights. Examples include brand-based moats for companies like Coca-Cola and Gillette, a unique business model for Apple, and special rights for Wells Fargo [1]. Group 2 - Buffett is known for concentrating his holdings in a few key companies, which has led to significant profit effects. Since 1976, Berkshire's annual reports have disclosed fewer than 100 major holdings. The top 10 stocks with the highest investment returns, including Apple, American Express, and Coca-Cola, have generated a total return of $255.8 billion, accounting for approximately 80% of the total investment gains [2].

Over multiple decades, legendary investor Warren Buffett has helped produce incredible returns for conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Inc BRK BRK, often times outperforming the S&P 500.With news that Buffett is stepping down as Berkshire CEO at the end of the year, here's a look at the top 10 stock holdings of the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio.Buffett Builds Berkshire Hathaway: Buffett has shaped Berkshire Hathaway from the early days of a textile maker into a conglomerate that owns companies like Duracell, Dai ...

Group 1 - The core point of the article is that as of March 31, Berkshire Hathaway's total fair value of equity investments is concentrated 69% in five companies: American Express, Apple, Bank of America, Chevron, and Coca-Cola [1]

Core Viewpoint - Warren Buffett's investment decisions are closely monitored due to Berkshire Hathaway's strong performance, with shares up nearly 18% year-to-date in 2025, which heightens investor interest in the company's portfolio moves [1]. Group 1: Berkshire Hathaway's Equity Holdings - Berkshire's 13F filing for Q1 2025 is expected by mid-May, with the latest filing from February 14 reflecting Q4 2024 data, providing insights into Buffett's major investments [2]. - The top five equity holdings of Berkshire reflect Buffett's disciplined, long-term investment strategy [2]. Group 2: Top Equity Holdings - **Apple**: Remains the largest holding with 300 million shares, accounting for nearly 28% of the equity portfolio, despite facing demand challenges and valuation concerns in 2025 [3][4]. - **American Express**: A long-term investment with around 152 million shares, representing nearly 17% of the portfolio, though down 10% year-to-date [7][8]. - **Bank of America**: Holds close to 680 million shares, about 11% of the portfolio, with strong fundamentals and a solid dividend yield [11][12]. - **Coca-Cola**: A 35-year holding with nearly 400 million shares, comprising about 9% of the portfolio, known for its defensive appeal and reliable dividends [13][14]. - **Chevron**: A newer addition with 114 million shares, representing roughly 6% of the portfolio, appealing for its strong balance sheet and dividend returns [17][18].

Group 1: Legislative Context - Bipartisan support is growing for legislation to ban U.S. senators and representatives from trading stocks while in office, with President Trump indicating he would sign such legislation if presented [1] Group 2: Amazon - Rep. Dwight Evans and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have recently purchased shares of Amazon, indicating bipartisan confidence in the stock [2] - Amazon continues to excel in e-commerce and cloud services, with generative AI providing significant support for Amazon Web Services; the stock's price-to-earnings ratio is near its lowest since the Great Recession [4] Group 3: American Express - Rep. Rick Larsen bought shares of American Express, which is one of Warren Buffett's longest-held positions and valued at over $40 billion in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio [5] - Despite a 10% decline in shares year-to-date, American Express is expected to deliver strong revenue and earnings growth this year [6] Group 4: Apple - Several Republican members of Congress have purchased Apple shares following a significant price drop of approximately 18% from its previous high [8] - While short-term investors may want to avoid Apple due to potential impacts from tariffs, the company is viewed as a strong long-term investment due to its iPhone-centric ecosystem [9] Group 5: Berkshire Hathaway - Only Rep. Greene has recently bought shares of Berkshire Hathaway, which has performed well in 2025 despite broader market challenges [10] - Berkshire Hathaway has a substantial cash reserve of over $334 billion, which could be utilized for future investments [11] - The lack of stock buybacks in the fourth quarter of 2024 may suggest that the stock is trading at a premium, yet it remains a strong investment option due to its management and diversification [12][13]

American Express Shareholder Meeting 2025 APRIL 29, 2025 2) Attributable to common shareholders. Represents net income less earnings allocated to participating share awards and dividends on preferred shares. FY'24 EPS reflects the sale of Accertify, which resulted in a gain of $0.66 per share. 2 Our Strategic Imperatives 1 Expand our leadership in the premium consumer space 3 Strengthen our global, integrated network 2 Build on our strong position in commercial payments 4 Build on our unique global position ...