Core Insights - Warren Buffett has a long-standing preference for dividend stocks, despite Berkshire Hathaway not paying dividends itself [1][2] - In fiscal 2024, Berkshire Hathaway's dividend income decreased to $5.2 billion from $5.5 billion in 2023 and $6.0 billion in 2022, attributed to selling equity holdings and reallocating funds to U.S. Treasuries [1] - Dividend stocks can provide significant total returns over the long term, with regular increases potentially leading to double-digit yields on initial investments [2] Berkshire Hathaway's Dividend Strategy - Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio includes a substantial number of dividend-paying stocks, generating over $5.2 billion in dividend income, primarily from its top five holdings [4] - BNSF Railway, a Berkshire-owned business, has paid a total of $41.8 billion in dividends, adhering to a conservative policy that ensures business needs and a cash balance of $2 billion are met before dividends are distributed [3] Selection of Dividend Stocks - The best dividend stocks from Buffett's portfolio are those yielding at least as much as the S&P 500's current yield of 1.2%, excluding stocks like Apple, which yields 0.5% [5] - The selected stocks are characterized by attractive dividend yields and strong fundamentals, contributing to impressive income streams for Berkshire Hathaway [5]