What Does Warren Buffett have in Common with Vice?

There is a mutual fund called the Vice Fund (VICEX), which invests in what it calls 'vice' oriented company that are in the business of either aerospace and defense, gambling, tobacco and alcoholic beverages. According to the company's web site, the fund says that "these industries tend to thrive regardless of the economy as a whole. In fact, they may have the potential to perform better when times are uncertain, leading many to view investment in 'Vice' industries as a solid strategy during recessionary periods." As of the end of November, the fund was up an amazing 9.62% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 generated a slightly above break-even return of only 1.08% during the same period.

It is interesting to note that many of the stocks in the Vice Fund have high yields, partially due to what I call the 'bad company discount'. Since many institutions and individual investors avoid these types of stocks, the buying arena is smaller than other stocks, causing the discount in price compared to other income stocks. This is especially true with tobacco and cigarette stocks, such as Altria Group Inc. (MO) which yields 5.5%, Lorillard, Inc. (LO) yielding 4.5%, and Philip Morris International, Inc. (PM) at a 3.9% yield, all of which are owned by Vice.

The alcohol stocks have yields but not as high as tobacco. Brown-Forman Corporation (BF-B), producer of Jack Daniel's and Southern Comfort, provides investors with a yield of 1.7%. Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD), maker of Budweiser, yields 1.6%.

So getting back to the big question, what is the 'vice' stock that Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B) owns? The stock is General Dynamics Corp. (GD), which makes combat vehicles, weapons systems, munitions, and military ships. The stock trades at nine times forward earnings, and yields 2.8%. The company generated a very slight profit increase of 0.30% for the latest quarter, on a 2% revenue increase.

To see free lists of these stocks, WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has lists of Beer Stocks, Wine and Liquor Stocks, and Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway Stocks, which can be downloaded, sorted, and updated.

Disclosure: Author didn't own any of the above at the time the article was written.
By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Liked by both Warren Buffett and Renaissance Technologies

Everyone knows who Warren Buffett is, top investor and trader and either the richest, second richest, or third richest man in the world, depending on what day of the year it is. One technique that investors use is piggybacking on Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B) portfolio. Yet Buffett owns over thirty stocks in the portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway, according to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. So what is an investor to do?

Investors can look at what top hedge funds are investing in, and compare that list to Buffett's stocks. One of the top hedge funds is Renaissance Technologies, founded in 1982 and run by James Simons. Renaissance's Medallion fund was the most profitable hedge fund with profits of over $1 billion in 2009. Also, the Medallion Fund has had an average annual return after fees of 35% since 1989. Renaissance charges the highest fees in the industry with a management fee of 5% and a profit participation of 44%.

Now lets look at the stocks that are preferred by both Berkshire Hathaway and Renaissance Technologies. Both own Intel (INTC), the world's largest semiconductor chip maker by revenues. The stock trades at ten times forward earnings and pays a decent yield of 3.5%. Latest quarterly earnings were up 17.4% on a 28.2% rise in revenues.

Another stock in common is Procter & Gamble Co. (PG), known for such brands as Head & Shoulders, Olay, Gillette, Mach3, Crest, Oral-B, Iams, Pringles, Dawn, Downy, Duracell, Gain, Tide, Bounty, Charmin, and Pampers. The stock has a forward price to earnings ratio of 14.6 and provides investors with a yield of 3.2%. Revenues for the latest quarter were up 8.9%, but earnings were down 1.9%.

Buffett and Simons also own Costco (COST), the third largest retailer in the United States. The stock trades at 19 times forward earnings and yields 1.1%. Latest quarterly earnings were up 2.6% on a 12.4% increase.

One more stock owned by both: General Dynamics Corp. (GD). The stock has a favorable forward PE of 9 and pays a yield of 2.9%.

And of course, Renaissance Technologies owns shares of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B).

If you want to see a free list of the stocks owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Disclosure: Author didn't own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

3 Great Gift Ideas for the Investor

The book Steve Jobs has been a best seller before it was even released. As a matter of fact, this book, written by Walter Isaacson,is the number one best seller at Amazon (AMZN) at the time this article is being written.

The Amazon review says it all: 'But the initial sadness in starting the book is soon replaced by something else, which is the intensity of the read--mirroring the intensity of Jobs’s focus and vision for his products. Few in history have transformed their time like Steve Jobs, and one could argue that he stands with the Fords, Edisons, and Gutenbergs of the world. This is a timely and complete portrait that pulls no punches and gives insight into a man whose contradictions were in many ways his greatest strength."

At 656 pages, Steve Jobs will keep you plenty occupied during the holidays.

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The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley Ph.D. and William D. Danko Ph.D., is a fascinating look into the lives of millionaires, reviewing the traits and tips of the wealthy, how they deal with risk, and how they live their lives. There are seven rules to becoming a millionaire, all spelled out in an easy-to-read format. The book has a thousand customer reviews, with more than 70% giving it a 4 star or 5 star rating.

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The classic investing book, The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham, has been updated to today's stock market situation by Jason Zweig, with Warren Buffett as Collaborator. Check out these reviews:

~ “By far the best book on investing ever written.” (Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway)

~ “If you read just one book on investing during your lifetime, make it this one” (Fortune)

~ “The wider Mr. Graham’s gospel spreads, the more fairly the market will deal with its public.” (Barron's)

If you don't own a copy of The Intelligent Investor, then you should. It is ranked number seven out of all investing books.

Stock Owned by both T. Boone Pickens and Warren Buffett

T. Boone Pickens, is chairman the hedge fund BP Capital Management. He was formerly involved in takeovers and was considered a corporate raider during the 1980s. He is ranked by Forbes as one of the 400 richest people in America. Born in Oklahoma, his first job was as a paperboy. After graduating from college, he started working for Phillips Petroleum, then became a wildcatter. He has recently been a supporter of windfarms.

Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK-A) (BRK-B) Warren Buffett is considered to be the top investor in the world and the world's third richest person. He started his career as a child selling various items door-to-door, running a paper route like Pickens, detailing cars, and selling golf balls. According to the latest list of Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, there is one stock that Buffett and Pickens agree on.

Pickens has decided to follow in the footsteps of Buffett by recently buying one of Berkshire's holdings, ExxonMobil (XOM). The stock trades at 9.5 times forward earnings and pays a favorable yield of 2.4%. In May of this year, the company raised its dividend by 6.8%. Regular quarterly dividends have been paid for over 40 years.

Earnings for the latest quarter were up 40.5% on a revenue increase of 31.5%. Selling at slightly less than $80 per share at the time this article was written, the stock has a mean price target by analysts of $90 per share. ExxonMobil currently holds over $11 billion in cash.

For a free list of stocks that Warren Buffett owns, which can be downloaded, sorted, and updated, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Owned by Both Warren Buffett and George Soros

The two top investors are Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK-A) (BRK-B) Warren Buffett and George Soros. Both of these billionaires have been investing in stocks for years, with very successful track records. Soros has reportedly returned 20% per year for his investors and Buffett's Berkshire averaged an annual growth in book value of 20.3% for the last 44 years. According to the latest list of Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, there are two stock that they agree on. As a matter of fact, they have been copying each other.

Soros is copying Buffett by recently buying one of Berkshire's holdings, Sanofi Aventis ADR (SNY), the Paris, France based health care company which produces prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, generics, vaccines, and animal health products. The stock trades at 8 times forward earnings and pays a decent yield of 3.8%. Earnings for the latest quarter were up 26.2% on a revenue increase of 11.1%.

Buffett has done the same thing. Soros has owned IBM (IBM) for a while and Buffett decided last quarter to jump on the bandwagon and buy some. IBM has a forward price to earnings ratio of 13 and provides a dividend of 1.6%. Quarterly earnings rose by 7% on a 7.1% rise in revenues.

For a free list of stocks that Warren Buffett owns, which can be downloaded, sorted, and updated, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

Warren Buffett Invested $10.7 Billion in IBM

Warren Buffett just announced that Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B) has purchased 64 million shares of International Business Machines (IBM) for a total of $10.7 billion. Buffett started buying in March and now owns 5.5 percent of IBM.

IBM trades at 15 times current earnings and 13 times forward earnings. The dividend, which was raised by15% in May, provides a decent yield of 1.2%. For the latest quarter ending September 30, earnings rose by 7% on a 7.8% growth in revenues. Two research firms initiated coverage on IBM on October 14. Macquarie gave the company a Buy rating and ISI Group gave it a Hold.

In the past, Buffett has shied away from tech stocks although he has owned a couple companies involved in technology in some way, according to the free list of Warren Buffett stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. For example, Berkshire Hathaway has owned Ingersoll-Rand Plc (IR), which makes temperature control products, electronic locks, portable security systems, remote home management products, and electronic and biometric access control systems and software. The stock has a current price to earnings ratio of 35 and a forward PE of 10. In June, the company raised its dividend by an amazing 71%, from 7 cents a quarter to 12 cents a quarter, giving a current yield of 1.5%.

Berkshire also owns Verisk Analytics, Inc. (VRSK), a provider of proprietary data, analytics methods, and embedded decision support solutions, It trades at 24 times current earnings and 20 times forward earnings, nd dos not pay a dividend.

To see other stocks owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com for a free list that can be downloaded and sorted.

Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above at the time the article was written.
By Stockerblog.com

Warren Buffett Invested $23.9 Billion for the Latest Quarter

Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B) and the third richest man in the world, at least this week, invested $23.9 billion during the third quarter. Apparently, Buffett is now very bullish as this is the most he has spent in a quarter in the last 15 years. According to the Berkshire's latest report, stocks identified as “commercial, industrial and other” increased by a substantial 62 percent for the latest quarter.

There is no denying that Warren Buffett is an outstanding investor, and he knows what he is doing. Much has been written about Buffett, which gives advice about how to invest by following in his footsteps. But one of the easiest and best ways to invest like Buffett is by buying what he is buying. Over a dozen of the Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway stocks pay dividend yields in excess of 2%, according to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Buffett has a fairly diversified portfolio. He owns large oil companies, ConocoPhillips (COP) yielding 3.5% and Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) which pays a yield of 2.1%. He also owns food and beverage companies, including Kraft Foods Inc (KFT) paying 3.8% and Coca Cola Co (KO) which pays 2.7%. Buffett is also bullish on financial stocks, considering the number of companies he owns, such as M&T Bank Corp (MTB) yielding 3.1%, American Express Co (AXP) 1.6%, Bank of New York Mellon (BK) 1.2%, US Bancorp (USB) 0.7%, and Wells Fargo & Co (WFC) 0.6%.

The health care related stocks owned by Buffett include GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK) which yields 6.4%, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) 3.6%, and Sanofi Aventis (SNY) 3.2%.

You can access a free list of two dozen of the stocks owned by Warren Buffett at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, which shows the PE ratio, the forward PE, the EG, and the yield.

Disclosure: Author didn't own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

Buffettology: The Previously Unexplained Techniques That Have Made Warren Buffett The Worlds Most Famous Investor

I have been doing a lot of traveling by car recently, and started to listen to audio books to utilize my time better. I have been listening to the audiobook of Buffettology: The Previously Unexplained Techniques That Have Made Warren Buffett The Worlds by Mary Buffett and David Clark. This book, which originally came out in 1999, is a great read for beginning investors and many intermediate investors.

The book covers how Warren Buffett researches and chooses stocks, and how he was originally able to build Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B) into a top investment. The books shows the types of companies that Buffett likes and doesn't like, giving specific examples.

It describes how he looks for companies with competitive advantages and advantages that are durable, in other words, maintaining the competitive advantages without spending significant amounts of money. The authors go into detail about finding companies with consistent products, that provide higher earnings, which can be used to expand the companies' market.

Get yourself, or a friend, or relative a gift of Buffettology: The Previously Unexplained Techniques That Have Made Warren Buffett The Worlds.

Books About Warren Buffett and Stock Trading

There are many books written about Warren Buffett, including general biographies, essay books, and books with just pictures of Warren Buffett. However, if you are looking for books on Buffett's investing and trading techniques, here are some of the top sellers:

Trade Like Warren Buffett

How to Pick Stocks Like Warren Buffett: Profiting from the Bargain Hunting Strategies of the World's Greatest Value Investor

The Buffettology Workbook: Value Investing The Warren Buffett Way

J. K. Lasser's Pick Stocks Like Warren Buffett

The Warren Buffett Portfolio: Mastering the Power of the Focus Investment Strategy

What Warren Buffett Says About Dale Carnegie

In case you didn't know it, Warren Buffett, head of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A), used to have a fear of public speaking. Then he took a Dale Carnegie course and got over his fear. Carnegie is the author of the best selling book How to Win Friends & Influence People.



Carnegie's book just came out in its 75th Anniversary Edition:

High Yield Stocks Below $10 a Share

Most investors still believe that it is easier to get a better return on lower priced stocks than higher priced stocks. However, it really doesn't make a difference on a generalized basis. Just look at the performance of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) A shares. Fifteen years ago, Berkshire was trading at a high priced 32,150 per share. It has more than tripled in price to 104,000.

Even still, from a psychological standpoint, investors like lower priced shares. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com just updated its list of high yielding stocks under $10 a share. Many of the companies listed are closed end funds, such as the Blackrock Enhanced Dividend Achievers (BDJ), which sports a yield of 9.4% and the Putnam Premier Income Fund (PPT), which pays out a yield of 9.2%.

Yet there are also regular corporations, such as Alaska Communications (ALSK) which provides landline and wireless services to the 49th state, which happens to be the largest state by area. The stock sells for a little over $7 per share, has a forward price to earnings ratio of 19, and pays a yield of 11.8%. The company reports earnings on October 26.

Another example is Provident Energy (PVX) processes, transports, stores, and markets natural gas liquids in the United States and Canada. It sells for a bit over $8 per share, and yields 6.5%. It recently generated negative earnings.

Hercules Technology (HTGC) which is a private equity, venture capital, and venture debt firm, sells for less than $9 per share, has a forward PE of 7.5, and sports a yield of 9.9%.

For a list of more than a dozen stocks that pay yields in excess of 4% and sell for less than $10 per share, go to wsnn.com. Keep in mind, very high yields may not be sustainable and may be indicative of higher risk.

Disclosure: Author didn't own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Yield Stocks of Warren Buffett

Last month, eBay (EBAY) held an auction of a lunch with the famous billionaire investor Warren Buffett, head of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B). The high bid at the auction was $2,345,678. With Buffett's outstanding track record, and investors willing to pay millions to have lunch with him to pick his brain.

Many of the stocks that Buffett owns through Berkshire Hathaway pay dividends, according to the free list at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. Yields range from less than one percent to in excess of six percent.

Kraft Foods Inc (KFT) is one of the high dividend payers on the list, sporting a yield of 3.3%. It trades at 13.8 times earnings, however earnings were down over 57% for the latest quarter on an 11% increase in revenues. The company reports earnings August 4.

Another high yielder owned by Buffett is Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), yielding 3.4%. It has a forward price to earnings ratio of 12.4. The company just reported earnings, which were down about 20% on an 8.3 increase in revenues.

A couple other high yield Buffett stocks include ConocoPhillips (COP) yielding 3.5% and Sanofi Aventis (SNY) with a payout rate of 3.3%.

To see other high yield Warren Buffett stocks, you can download the free list at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, which can be updated and sorted.

Disclosure: Author owns EBAY.

By Stockerblog.com

Warren Buffett Lunch Hammered at $2,345,678

The lunch with Warren Buffett, head of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B) at Smith & Wollensky in New York City that was auctioned off on eBay (EBAY) went for $2,345,678, and the high bidder agreed to increase the top bid to $2.63 million to set a new record. The proceeds go to the Glide Foundation in San Francisco.

There were eight bids but most of the spirited bidding took place during the first couple days of the five day auction.

Warren Buffett Lunch Auction Now Bid at Over $2 Million

The Warren Buffett Lunch Auction, offered through eBay (EBAY), now has seven bids with the top bid at $2,345,678.00!!! And what is really amazing is that there are still four more days to go before the auction ends.

Here is the series of bids so far:

$25,000
$100,000
$1,000,011
$1,511,011
$2,000,011
$2,345,578
$2,345,678

Now is your chance to meet and eat with the head of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B). Don't forget, you can get a free downloadable list of Berkshire Hathaway stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

How You Can Have Lunch with Warren Buffett: For Real

How would you like to have lunch with Warren Buffett? Now is your chance.

The only catch is that you have to pay for the lunch through eBay (EBAY) and you have to be the successful bidder. Current bid is $25,000 and the auction closes on June 10. The winning bid is expected to be at least $1,000,000, and the winning bid last year was $2.6 million and the year before was $1.68 million.

The lunch will be held at Smith & Wollensky in New York City, and you can bring seven guests.

If you are not the high bidder, you can at least invest like Buffett. At WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, a list of all of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B) stock holdings are available as a free download that can be sorted and updated.

Warren Buffett Opinion of Real Estate

Warren Buffett, head of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A), gives his opinion of real estate in the following video.

If you want a list of the Warren Buffett stocks, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Buffett Bargains

Warren Buffett, head of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A) (BRK-B), has numerous fans, and a few critics. However, the critics don't have a much of a leg to stand on, especially when several of the stocks he owns traded at 52 week highs on Wednesday. If you look at the list of Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, you will notice that Coca-Cola (KO) traded at its one year high yesterday, along with Moody's (MCO) and Costco (COST).

So are there any Buffett stocks that haven't made their move? Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has traded between 56.86 and 66.20 during the last twelve months, closing at 59.66 yesterday. The stock trades at 11.6 times forward earnings, and pays a nice yield of 3.6%. Dividends have increased every year for many years.

Gannett Co., Inc. (GCI) at 15.20 per share, is trading about half way between the 52 week trading range of 11.65 to 19.69. The stock has a forward price to earnings ratio of 6.3 and pays a yield of 1.0%.

USG Corporation (USG) is another Buffett stock which is trading at the lower range of trading for the last 52 weeks. The stock closed at 16.14, with a range of 11.34 to 25.59. The stock has generated negative earnings and doesn't pay a dividend.

To see a list of all the Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway stocks, which can be downloaded, sorted, and updated, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

Odd Lots March 14

The official definition of odd lot is a group of shares amounting to less than 100 shares. For purposes of Stockerblog.com, it is a group of news snippets from various financial and business web sites. It has nothing to do with being 'odd'.

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The SEC is looking at hedge funds with repeated, above-market returns

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The US National Debt in real time, along with debt per citizen and debt per taxpayer.

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Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK-A) (BRK-B) Warren Buffett in a rock video.

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Check out mortgage brokers' backgrounds at Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.

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Zions Direct has set up an auction system where you can bid on corporate bonds, municipal bonds, and certificates of deposit. For example, a Wal-Mart 13 month bond is currently bid to yield 2.25% and a University of North Texas one month municipal bond is currently bid at 2.46%.

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Carl Icahn is giving back his investors' money.

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Three extra days to pay your taxes. Taxpayers will have until Monday, April 18 to file their 2010 tax returns and pay any tax due because Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, falls this year on Friday, April 15. By law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do; therefore, all taxpayers will have three extra days to file Federal taxes this year. Caution: this deadline extension probably doesn't apply to your state income tax.

What Warren Buffett Thinks of Gold

With the news about gold and silver making new recent highs, it is interesting to hear what Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK-A) (BRK-B) Warren Buffett says about gold, farmland, and ExxonMobil (XOM).

Odd Lots for February

The official definition of odd lot is a group of shares amounting to less than 100 shares. For purposes of Stockerblog.com, it is a group of snippets about various financial and business web sites. It has nothing to do with being 'odd'.

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Want to see a Risk Chart of your favorite stock? Check out RiskGrades.

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If you are a gold bug, you should buy the largest California Gold Rush Nugget in existence. The 100 troy ounce gold will be auctioned off by Holabird-Kagin Americana March 16 in Sacramento.

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I'm sure everyone reading this, won't be taken in by an online swindler. But maybe you know someone (a parent or child or friend?) who is not so Internet savvy. If so, have them check out Facecrooks which provides the latest up-to-the-second on online scams, especially relating to Facebook.

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"America’s First IPO” is an exhibit on the country’s first public company, the Bank of North America, and the origins of the US stock market, currently held at the Museum of Financial History until the end of March.

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Protect yourself from RFID crooks. Thieves can now use electronic pickpocketing to scan your credit card numbers from your new credit cards that have the RFID chips. The thieves can do this without even touching you. Identity Stronghold sells RFID blocking products.

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The perfect place to hide your gold, silver, and stock and bond certificates: A book safe you can make yourself.

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What would a $3 steak dinner be worth in today's dollars?

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Do you really think the government wastes money? Check out CAGW to substantiate your belief.

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The Warren Buffett Berkshire Hathaway letter to shareholders.