Kraft Heinz(US:KHC) 聪明投资者·2025-08-04 03:34Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett, continues to hold a significant cash position of $344.1 billion and has reported a net sale of $4.5 billion in stocks during the first half of 2025, indicating a cautious investment strategy amidst market volatility [2][3]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Berkshire's operating income decreased by 4% year-on-year, primarily due to a decline in insurance business profits [3]. - The company has not engaged in any stock buybacks despite a more than 10% drop in its stock price from historical highs [3]. - A notable impairment of $3.8 billion was recorded on its investment in Kraft Heinz, reducing its book value to $8.4 billion, reflecting concerns over the intrinsic value of its holdings [3][5]. Group 2: Investment History - In 2013, Berkshire partnered with 3G Capital to privatize Heinz for approximately $23.2 billion, with Berkshire investing $8 billion in preferred shares [8]. - The merger with Kraft Foods in 2015 created Kraft Heinz, making it the fifth-largest food and beverage company globally, with annual revenues of $27 billion [15]. - Post-merger, Berkshire's stake was diluted, but it remained the largest single shareholder with approximately 26.8% of the company [13]. Group 3: Challenges and Reflections - Since 2017, Kraft Heinz has faced stagnation in revenue and profitability, leading to significant impairments, including a $15.4 billion write-down in 2018 [20][21]. - The stock price of Kraft Heinz has declined over 60% since the merger, contrasting sharply with the S&P 500's 200% increase during the same period [25]. - Buffett has acknowledged the overvaluation of Kraft Foods and the negative impact of aggressive cost-cutting strategies on brand vitality [28][29]. Group 4: Financial Analysis - The total investment cost in Heinz and Kraft Heinz is approximately $17.51 billion, with returns from preferred shares and dividends amounting to about $16.38 billion [32][33]. - The current book value of Berkshire's Kraft Heinz shares stands at approximately $8.4 billion, indicating a theoretical profit of around $7.27 billion [34][35]. - If the funds had been invested in the S&P 500 instead, the theoretical returns would exceed $40 billion, highlighting the opportunity cost of the investment [35].