Volatility has returned to the financial markets. The prices of many stocks declined in recent weeks, as traders grew more fearful of tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and a potential downturn in the economy. Those words should perk up your ears. Students of Warren Buffett's priceless teachings know that fear creates opportunities for long-term investors. If you would like to take advantage of the current commotion in the stock market to make some smart investments, here are two outstanding Buffett stocks for ...

Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway's cash balance has reached an all-time high of $334.2 billion, raising questions about the company's outlook amid current market conditions [4][10][14] Group 1: Market Context - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite have started the year poorly, with declines of 3% and 7% respectively, following double-digit gains in 2023 and 2024 [1] - Investors are facing uncertainty due to new tariff policies, ambiguous Federal Reserve communications, and mixed economic indicators [2] Group 2: Historical Analysis - Historical trends show that during previous recessions, such as the dot-com crash and the Great Recession, Berkshire Hathaway increased its cash position before deploying it as market conditions worsened [6][7][9] - In the early 2000s, leading up to the dot-com crash, Berkshire's cash balance increased, but began to decline as the recession started, indicating a strategy of investing during market sell-offs [7][8] Group 3: Current Strategy - Currently, Berkshire has not made significant new portfolio additions, opting instead to accumulate cash and invest in Treasury bills, reflecting a cautious approach in a market perceived as inflated [13][14] - Buffett's philosophy of being greedy when others are fearful is evident in Berkshire's historical actions, but the current strategy suggests a lack of attractive valuations rather than an outright fear of recession [11][14]

Group 1: Investment Strategy - Bill Gates favors a concentrated investment portfolio, focusing on a few key titles rather than a diversified list [1][2] - The Gates Foundation Trust's portfolio is heavily weighted towards Microsoft, Berkshire Hathaway, and Waste Management [2] Group 2: Microsoft - Microsoft is the largest holding in the Gates Foundation Trust, with approximately 28.5 million shares valued at nearly $12 billion [4] - The company has shown consistent profitability and impressive growth rates, particularly in the AI sector, where it has made significant investments in OpenAI [5][6] Group 3: Berkshire Hathaway - Berkshire Hathaway is the second-largest holding, with nearly 19.7 million shares worth over $8.9 billion [8] - The company follows a buy-and-hold investment philosophy and has a diverse equity portfolio, including long-term positions in American Express and Coca-Cola [9][10] Group 4: Waste Management - Waste Management is the third-largest holding, with over 32.2 million shares valued at more than $6.5 billion [11] - The company is the largest in its sector by revenue, with a full-year 2024 revenue exceeding $22 billion and a net income of approximately $2.75 billion [12] - Waste Management has a strong history of paying dividends, with a yield of 1.5%, making it attractive for investors [13]

Core Viewpoint - Tesla's market capitalization is currently $888 billion, reflecting a year-to-date drop of 38%, attributed to vehicle quality issues and CEO Elon Musk's controversial actions [1] Group 1: Tesla's Current Situation - Tesla's brand and reputation have suffered, potentially impacting stock growth over the next decade [2] - The company reported revenue of $98 billion for the year, which is lower than BYD's record revenue of $107 billion [4] Group 2: Competitors with Growth Potential - BYD, a Chinese clean energy vehicle manufacturer, has a market value of $162 billion and reported a 29% year-over-year revenue increase in 2024 [5] - BYD delivered 4.25 million vehicles last year, nearly matching Ford's output [4] - If BYD's market value grows at 20% annually, it could reach approximately $1 trillion in a decade, and at 25%, it could approach $1.5 trillion [5] Group 3: Intuitive Surgical - Intuitive Surgical, a leader in robotic surgical equipment, has a market value of around $182 billion and reported a 25% year-over-year revenue increase [6] - The company installed 493 da Vinci surgical systems in the last quarter, increasing its global installed base by 15% [6] - If Intuitive Surgical's market value grows at 20% over the next decade, it could reach $1.1 trillion [8] Group 4: Berkshire Hathaway - Berkshire Hathaway has a market value of $1.1 trillion, already surpassing Tesla [9] - The company has seen a total revenue growth of 30% from 2019 to 2024 and has roughly doubled its revenue over the past decade [11] - If Berkshire Hathaway's market value grows by 80% in the next decade, it could reach near $2 trillion [11]

Core Insights - Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is leveraging the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) despite not being tech-savvy, with significant investments in AI-related companies and sectors [1][20] Investment Strategy - Buffett's investment philosophy focuses on value stocks, strong management, and long-term growth, with a history of investing in profitable, dividend-paying businesses like Coca-Cola and American Express [2] - Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio includes nearly 24% in AI-related stocks, primarily through investments in Apple and Amazon, totaling $67.1 billion and $2.06 billion respectively [5][6] AI Market Potential - The AI revolution is projected to boost global GDP by $15.7 trillion by 2030, indicating substantial growth potential in the sector [3] Specific Investments - Berkshire Hathaway's "secret" portfolio, managed through New England Asset Management, holds $586 million in assets, including stakes in AI-focused companies like NXP Semiconductors, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Broadcom [10][13] - Broadcom is recognized for its AI-networking solutions, enhancing computational capacity for AI systems [14] Subsidiary Involvement - Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE) is strategically positioned to benefit from AI's energy demands, as AI data centers require significant electricity, potentially increasing revenue and profits [15][17] - BHE is investing in battery storage and smart grid technology to optimize energy management and reduce long-term generation costs [18] - The subsidiary has utilized AI and machine learning to enhance energy production, achieving a 2% increase in wind-generated electricity through partnerships with AI-driven software providers [19]

Group 1: Investment Strategy - Warren Buffett plans to hold eight stocks "indefinitely" and has recently increased his stakes in six of these companies [1][5] - Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio is valued at $285 billion, and Buffett is constantly looking for good deals within this portfolio [4][6] Group 2: Key Holdings - Two of the indefinite holdings are Coca-Cola and American Express, which have been held since 1988 and 1991 respectively [6][7] - Buffett has added to his position in Occidental Petroleum, spending approximately $35.7 million to acquire over 763,000 additional shares [9] Group 3: Oil Market Insights - Buffett's significant investment in Occidental Petroleum, totaling $12.7 billion in common stock and over $8 billion in preferred stock, indicates confidence in the stability or increase of crude oil prices [10] - The bullish outlook for oil is attributed to reduced capital spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it challenging to ramp up production to meet rising demand [11] Group 4: Japanese Trading Houses - Buffett has identified five Japanese trading houses—Mitsubishi, Itochu, Mitsui, Sumitomo, and Marubeni—as indefinite holdings, increasing stakes in all by more than one percentage point [14][15] - These trading houses are integral to Japan's economy, involved in diverse sectors such as energy, food resources, and healthcare, which mitigates risks from industry-specific downturns [16][17] Group 5: Valuation and Market Conditions - The current stock market is considered historically expensive, with the S&P 500's Shiller P/E ratio at 35.28, significantly above its 154-year average of 17.22 [19] - In contrast, the trailing-12-month P/E ratios for the Japanese trading houses range from 9 to 12, presenting attractive valuation opportunities amid a pricey market [20]

Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio is highly diversified, owning 44 publicly traded stocks and numerous private companies, yet Warren Buffett continues to concentrate investments in his strongest convictions [2] Group 1: Berkshire Hathaway's Portfolio - Berkshire Hathaway holds $283 billion in publicly traded equities, with 47% concentrated in three stocks [2] - The company has evolved since Buffett's earlier statements about stock ownership, now taking advantage of various investment opportunities [2] Group 2: Apple Inc. - Apple constitutes 22.7% of Berkshire's invested assets, remaining the top equity holding despite a reduction in stake [3][4] - The stock price has increased approximately tenfold since Berkshire's initial investment in 2016, with significant earnings and free cash flow growth [3][5] - Apple's stock price appreciation has largely been driven by multiple expansion rather than earnings growth, trading around 30 times forward earnings [7] - The company's capital return program supports shareholder value, justifying a premium valuation [8] Group 3: American Express - American Express represents 14.3% of invested assets, with Berkshire's position valued at approximately $40.5 billion [9] - The company has a unique business model that allows it to retain a larger share of transaction economics compared to traditional banks [10] - Interest income grew by 18% last year, contributing to a quarter of total revenue, with a focus on affluent consumers driving future growth [11][12] Group 4: Bank of America - Bank of America accounts for 10.1% of invested assets, with Berkshire's initial investment dating back to 2011 [13] - The bank has shown strong growth in various sectors, including consumer checking accounts and commercial banking [15] - Recent interest rate increases have impacted net interest income, but the bank is positioned to outperform as rates decline [16][17] - The stock has appreciated over 50% in the past year, with a current valuation of nearly 1.6 times its tangible book value [18]

Group 1: Market Overview - The U.S. equity market has experienced significant growth, with the S&P 500 index rising nearly 53% over the past two years due to a favorable macroeconomic environment and the adoption of AI technologies [1][2] - Recent weeks have seen a decline in U.S. stocks amid concerns over a potential trade war and economic uncertainty, presenting an opportunity for investors to acquire high-quality stocks at reasonable valuations [2] Group 2: Broadcom - Broadcom's shares are currently down approximately 21% from their 52-week high of $249.3, making it an attractive investment for 2025 [3] - The company reported strong fiscal Q1 2025 results, with revenue increasing 25% year over year to $14.9 billion and adjusted EBITDA rising 41% to $10.1 billion, alongside free cash flows of $6 billion, resulting in a free cash flow margin of 40% [4] - Broadcom's AI business is a key growth driver, generating $4.1 billion in revenue in Q1, a 77% increase year over year, and is projected to reach $4.4 billion in Q2, indicating a 44% year-over-year growth [5] - The company is well-positioned in the AI infrastructure market, with a serviceable addressable market projected to be between $60 billion and $90 billion by fiscal 2027, and global AI infrastructure spending expected to exceed $200 billion annually by 2028 [6] - The semiconductor solutions segment, including AI, saw revenue growth of 11% year over year to $8.2 billion, while the infrastructure software segment revenue surged 47% to $6.7 billion, enhancing revenue visibility and margins [7] - Broadcom is trading at a forward P/E multiple of 30, significantly lower than its five-year average of 69, suggesting a favorable entry point for long-term investors [8] Group 3: Berkshire Hathaway - Berkshire Hathaway's shares have increased by 15.9% in 2025, reflecting solid performance [9] - The company reported a 27% year-over-year increase in operating earnings to $47.4 billion, with the insurance business contributing significantly through a 66% rise in underwriting earnings to $9 billion and a 42.8% increase in investment income to $13.7 billion [10] - Berkshire Hathaway held $334.2 billion in cash at the end of 2024, providing flexibility for acquiring high-quality assets [11] - The company has increased its investments in Japanese trading companies, with an aggregate cost of $13.8 billion and a market value of $23.5 billion at the end of 2024, indicating a strategic focus on international market expansion [13] - Berkshire Hathaway's balanced growth profile and robust financials make it an appealing investment for long-term investors [14] Group 4: Eli Lilly - Eli Lilly's growth has been driven by the rapid adoption of its GLP-1 receptor agonist therapies, with the global GLP-1 market expected to grow from $49.3 billion in 2024 to $157.5 billion by 2035 [15][16] - Mounjaro's sales reached $11.5 billion in 2024, a 124% increase year over year, while Zepbound contributed $4.9 billion, together accounting for 36.5% of Eli Lilly's total revenue [17] - The company has committed over $23 billion to expand manufacturing capacity for its drugs, achieving production targets that significantly increase saleable doses of GLP-1 therapies [18] - Eli Lilly's overall revenue grew 32% year over year to $45 billion, with net income jumping 106% to $10.6 billion in 2024, showcasing the strength of its diversified drug portfolio [19] - Despite its successes, Eli Lilly trades at a forward P/E ratio of 35.6, lower than its historical average of 74.8, indicating a potential buying opportunity for long-term investors [20]

Economic Policy - China will implement multiple measures to boost consumption, including childcare subsidies and labor wage policies, with the central bank collaborating with financial regulators to support consumption expansion [2] - The Ministry of Commerce will enhance the implementation of consumption upgrade policies, including a trial for automobile circulation reform [2] - The National Bureau of Statistics reported that in the first two months of this year, industrial value-added, service production index, retail sales, and fixed asset investment grew by 5.9%, 5.6%, 4%, and 4.1% year-on-year, respectively [2] Real Estate Market - The National Bureau of Statistics released housing price data, indicating that new home prices in first-tier cities continued to rise, while second-tier cities remained stable [2] - In February, 18 cities saw new home prices increase month-on-month, with Nanjing leading for three consecutive months [2] Stock Market - A-share indices showed mixed performance, with the Shanghai Composite Index rising by 0.19% and the Shenzhen Component Index falling by 0.19% [11] - The Hong Kong Hang Seng Index increased by 0.77%, driven by gains in public utilities, finance, and consumer stocks [11] - The stock buyback and increase loan policy has seen 400 A-share companies disclose plans for stock buybacks, with a total proposed loan amount of 803.04 billion yuan [11] Corporate Developments - BYD's stock rose by 1.15%, surpassing CATL's market value for the first time since June 2018 [12] - WuXi AppTec reported a slight decline in net profit to 9.45 billion yuan for 2024, with plans for a special dividend [12] - JD Group's delivery service has expanded to 126 cities, with over 300,000 restaurants onboard [14] International Market - U.S. stock indices closed higher, with the Dow Jones up 0.85% and the S&P 500 up 0.64% [4] - The Nasdaq China Golden Dragon Index rose by 4.03%, marking a new closing high since February 2022 [29] - Tesla announced a limited-time experience for its FSD smart driving feature in China [29] Commodity Market - International oil prices saw a slight increase, with WTI crude oil rising to $67.48 per barrel [4] - Domestic commodity futures showed a general decline, particularly in energy and agricultural products [36] Financial Sector - The central bank emphasized the need for a secure and efficient financial infrastructure and the digital transformation of finance [17] - New regulations for IPO intermediary fees have been implemented, with 13 IPO projects starting their fundraising process [18]

Core Insights - Warren Buffett oversees a $281 billion portfolio at Berkshire Hathaway, with a record cash reserve of $334 billion available for new investments [1] - An investment of $1,000 in Berkshire stock in 1965 would be worth $44.7 million today, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [2] - Berkshire's long-term value investment strategy includes holdings in companies leveraging AI technology [3] Group 1: Amazon - Amazon constitutes 0.7% of Berkshire's portfolio, with a current value of nearly $2 billion [7] - AWS generated $107.5 billion in revenue in 2024, accounting for 16.8% of Amazon's total revenue but over half of its operating income [6] - AWS is enhancing its AI capabilities through proprietary chips and a platform offering over 100 large language models [4] - Amazon has developed an AI shopping assistant, Rufus, to improve customer purchasing decisions [5] Group 2: Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola represents 10.2% of Berkshire's portfolio, valued at $28.8 billion, with a total investment of $1.3 billion [11] - The company is investing $1.1 billion over five years in Microsoft's Azure for AI services to enhance marketing and supply chains [10] - Coca-Cola has utilized AI in marketing campaigns, including predictive models for new product development [9] Group 3: Apple - Apple is the largest position in Berkshire's portfolio, worth over $170 billion after a $38 billion investment [12] - The company has launched Apple Intelligence software, enhancing user interaction and integrating with OpenAI's ChatGPT for Siri [13][14] - Berkshire holds over $68 billion in Apple stock, poised for significant returns as Apple expands its AI offerings [15]