On February 25, 2023, Warren Buffett released his annual shareholder letter for Berkshire Hathaway, which provided insight into his investment philosophy and perspectives on the current economic climate. While the letter was short on comments about his portfolio or the post-Buffett future of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett made a philosophical and political argument that emphasized his preference for share buybacks and his continued bet on America despite operating profits falling during Q4 due to inflationary pressures.
Buffett defended buybacks
One of the main highlights of the letter was Buffett's emphasis on share buybacks. He noted that Berkshire Hathaway reduced its share count by 1.2% from the 2021 annual report to the 2022 annual report. He also defended buybacks and criticized calls for increased taxes on them. Buybacks are a way for companies to use their cash reserves to repurchase their own shares, which can help boost the value of remaining shares.
Buffett's support for buybacks is not new. In fact, he has long advocated for them as a way to return value to shareholders. In his 2019 letter to shareholders, he wrote that "repurchases are an action that makes sense for many companies, depending on their circumstances" and noted that Berkshire Hathaway had repurchased $5 billion of its own shares in 2018.
In his latest letter, Buffett further defended buybacks by arguing that they are a more tax-efficient way of returning value to shareholders than dividends. He wrote, "it's hard for me to understand why shareholders of a corporation would prefer taxable dividends to nondeductible repurchases." By reducing the number of outstanding shares, buybacks increase the earnings per share and can ultimately lead to a higher stock price.
Buffett remains optimistic about the future of America
Despite the challenges posed by inflation, Buffett remains optimistic about the future of America. He wrote in his letter, "I have yet to see a time when it made sense to make a long-term bet against America. And I doubt very much that any reader of this letter will have a different experience in the future." This optimism is not new for Buffett, who has long been a proponent of investing in America.
Buffett's willingness to pay taxes was also highlighted in his letter. While it is unclear what follows the statement "At Berkshire we...," it is likely that Buffett was referring to the company's commitment to paying its fair share of taxes. This is in line with Buffett's previous statements about taxes. In a 2011 New York Times op-ed, he famously argued that he and other wealthy Americans should pay higher taxes.
Overall, Buffett's 2022 shareholder letter provides valuable insight into his investment philosophy and perspectives on the current economic climate. While his comments on his portfolio and the future of Berkshire Hathaway were limited, his philosophical and political arguments about buybacks and America demonstrate his continued commitment to long-term value creation.
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