Mon, 4 May 2020
Berkshire Hathaway's 2020 Shareholder Meeting
The billionaire investor said Berkshire Hathaway Inc completely exited its stakes in the four major US airlines. The sales of shares of Delta Air Lines Inc, Southwest Airlines Co, American Airlines Group Inc and United Airlines Holdings Inc made up most of the company’s US$6.5bil in equity sales in April.
During his live-streamed annual meeting, Buffett said the business has fundamentally changed following the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. He declined to blame the performance of the airline executives, saying they’ve done a good job of raising money to get through the crisis.
“The world changed for airlines and I wish them well, ” Buffett said Saturday. He clarified that he made the decision and that he lost money on his investments. “That was my mistake.”
Buffett’s had a complicated relationship with the airline industry over the years. After a troublesome investment in USAir, Buffett joked that he would call an 800 number to declare he was an “air-o-holic” if he ever got the urge to invest in airlines again.
Then in 2016, Berkshire dove into the industry again, amassing stakes in the four largest US airlines. At the end of 2019, those stakes amounted to almost US$10bil. Buffett’s renewed faith in the industry prompted speculation that he might one day own one of the carriers.
But now, he’s cut those investments again. Berkshire disclosed in April that it had at least trimmed its Delta and Southwest stakes, both of which had previously been above a 10% ownership level.
“The airline business - and I may be wrong and I hope I’m wrong - but I think it’s changed in a very major way, ” Buffett said. “The future is much less clear to me.”
The disclosure was among the most significant at the annual meeting, which was notable for its different feel this year as the event that usually draws tens of thousands was done was hosted virtually.
Buffett, 89, shared the stage with a top deputy, Greg Abel, who runs Berkshire’s non-insurance operating units. Vice-chairman Charlie Munger, 96, didn’t join, though Buffett said his long-time business partner was in good health.
Buffett said he didn’t know how consumer travel habits will change after the pandemic subsides, but any reduction in travel could leave airlines with higher-than-necessary fixed costs. Any impact could filter down to suppliers like Boeing Co.
- Bloomberg
Berkshire Hathaway's 2020 Shareholder Meeting
The billionaire investor said Berkshire Hathaway Inc completely exited its stakes in the four major US airlines. The sales of shares of Delta Air Lines Inc, Southwest Airlines Co, American Airlines Group Inc and United Airlines Holdings Inc made up most of the company’s US$6.5bil in equity sales in April.
During his live-streamed annual meeting, Buffett said the business has fundamentally changed following the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. He declined to blame the performance of the airline executives, saying they’ve done a good job of raising money to get through the crisis.
“The world changed for airlines and I wish them well, ” Buffett said Saturday. He clarified that he made the decision and that he lost money on his investments. “That was my mistake.”
Buffett’s had a complicated relationship with the airline industry over the years. After a troublesome investment in USAir, Buffett joked that he would call an 800 number to declare he was an “air-o-holic” if he ever got the urge to invest in airlines again.
Then in 2016, Berkshire dove into the industry again, amassing stakes in the four largest US airlines. At the end of 2019, those stakes amounted to almost US$10bil. Buffett’s renewed faith in the industry prompted speculation that he might one day own one of the carriers.
But now, he’s cut those investments again. Berkshire disclosed in April that it had at least trimmed its Delta and Southwest stakes, both of which had previously been above a 10% ownership level.
“The airline business - and I may be wrong and I hope I’m wrong - but I think it’s changed in a very major way, ” Buffett said. “The future is much less clear to me.”
The disclosure was among the most significant at the annual meeting, which was notable for its different feel this year as the event that usually draws tens of thousands was done was hosted virtually.
Buffett, 89, shared the stage with a top deputy, Greg Abel, who runs Berkshire’s non-insurance operating units. Vice-chairman Charlie Munger, 96, didn’t join, though Buffett said his long-time business partner was in good health.
Buffett said he didn’t know how consumer travel habits will change after the pandemic subsides, but any reduction in travel could leave airlines with higher-than-necessary fixed costs. Any impact could filter down to suppliers like Boeing Co.
- Bloomberg
