Warren Buffett Once Got Permission From the SEC to Hide His Trades for a Year to Buy 1 Stock: Decades Later, Is It Still a Buy?

Core Insights - Warren Buffett's investment strategy in Coca-Cola has been a significant contributor to Berkshire Hathaway's returns, showcasing the impact of long-term investment decisions [6][8] - The investment in Coca-Cola, initiated in the late 1980s, has yielded substantial dividends, with Berkshire receiving $816 million annually, reflecting a strong return on investment [5][7] Investment History - In the late 1980s, Buffett sought permission from the SEC to keep his trades confidential, believing that his reputation could influence market movements [1][2] - Buffett invested $600 million in Coca-Cola when its stock price fell to $38 per share due to a pricing war with Pepsi, eventually acquiring 400 million shares at an average cost of $3.25 per share [3][4] Financial Performance - Coca-Cola's share price has increased by over 2,000% since Buffett's initial investment, and the annual dividend income from this position has grown from $702 million in 2022 to $816 million [5][7] - Buffett highlighted Coca-Cola as part of the "secret sauce" behind Berkshire's impressive returns of 3,787,464% since 1965, emphasizing the importance of dividend growth [6][8]