Instead of waiting anxiously for Warren Buffett’s quarterly filed Form 13Fs to discover which stocks he’s buying and selling, there’s another stock that Buffett favors highly but won’t be found in these filings. Surprisingly, it’s not Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B), which Buffett has consistently sold more than it buys for more than a year. That stock is Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY), an energy stock that Buffett has added to his holdings with regularity over the past two years. Buffett recognizes that oil, a necessity for a growing U.S. And global economy, will remain in high demand due to the lengthy economic expansions that typically outlast economic downturns. Additionally, reduced capital investment from energy majors due to pandemic-related uncertainty has constrained the global oil supply, making it improbable that this commodity will be oversupplied anytime soon. Since Berkshire Hathaway’s share repurchase program was revamped in July 2018, Buffett has continued buying back Berkshire’s stock, increasing the total amount of capital deployed to buy back shares to over $77 billion in less than six years. Buffett strongly supports share repurchase programs because they enable long-term investors to gradually increase their ownership stakes as the number of outstanding shares decreases. As a result, businesses with stable or rising net income see their earnings per share rise, thereby becoming more attractive to fundamental investors. With Berkshire ending the March quarter with $189 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and U.S. Treasuries on its balance sheet, it’s almost certain that Buffett will continue buying shares of his preferred stock.
Before investing in Berkshire Hathaway, readers should know that Berkshire Hathaway wasn’t among the ten best stocks recommended by the Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team. These stocks, which include Nvidia, have the potential to deliver significant returns in the coming years. The Stock Advisor service provides investors with a straightforward roadmap for success, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock recommendations every month. Since 2002, the Stock Advisor service has outperformed the S&P 500 by quadrupling returns.
In summary, instead of eagerly awaiting Buffett’s quarterly filed Form 13Fs, investors may want to consider Occidental Petroleum, which Buffett has favored heavily but won’t appear in those filings. Buffett recognizes that oil, a necessary resource for a prosperous economy, will continue to remain in high demand, thanks to the extended durations of economic expansions relative to economic downturns. Furthermore, reduced capital investment from major energy firms over the past three years has limited the global oil supply, making it unlikely that this commodity will be oversupplied anytime soon. Since July 2018, Buffett has deployed over $77 billion in capital to buy back Berkshire’s stock, and with Berkshire finishing the March quarter with $189 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and U.S. Treasuries on its balance sheet, it appears probable that Buffett will carry on buying shares of his preferred stock. The Motley Fool Stock Advisor service offers investors with a clear pathway to success, regular updates from experts, and two fresh stock recommendations every month. Since 2002, the Stock Advisor service has surpassed the S&P 500 by quadrupling returns.
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