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Quarterly Contest: What Stocks Did Warren Buffett Buy?

gurufocus
gurufocus
In less than two weeks Warren Buffett will report his portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)(BRK.B). As a tradition, we are hosting a quarterly contest, asking our users to name the stocks Warren Buffett bought during the fourth quarter of 2011 [corrected].

We would like to invite everyone to participate in this contest. The winners will each win a copy of a great investment book selected from this list:


  1. Joel Greenblatt: The Little Book That Still Beats the Market (Little Books. Big Profits)
  2. Joel Greenblatt: You Can Be a Stock Market Genius: Uncover the Secret Hiding Places of Stock Market Profits
  3. Benjamin Graham: The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition)

  4. Martin Whitman: The Aggressive Conservative Investor
  5. Peter Lynch: Beating the Street
  6. Peter Lynch: One Up On Wall Street : How To Use What You Already Know To Make Money In The Market
  7. Benjamin Graham: Security Analysis: The Classic 1934 Edition
  8. David Dreman: Contrarian Investment Strategies - The Next Generation
  9. The Snowball: The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life
  10. Howard Marks: The Most Important Thing: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor (Columbia Business School Publishing)


If you have read all the books in the list, we can also buy any book that is below $20 for you if you win.

We understand that Berkshire’s new investment manager Tom Combs now manages part of Berkshire portfolio. The Mastercard Inc. (MA) purchase during the first and the second quarter was probably from him. Mastercard stock has done very well since the purchase. Buffett also added to his existing position in Wells Fargo (WFC). His largest recent purchase is IBM (IBM).

We also take this opportunity to announce the winner for the fourth quarter contest. The fourth quarter winners are Rrateike, Luishernadez, and Itznuthin1. Please contact us and let us know which book you want and where you want to the books be sent to. You will receive the book in 1-2 weeks.

Registered users may participate this contest by entering up to 3 stock symbols into the comment area of this post. Also state briefly the reasons for your guesses. If more than 3 symbols are entered, only the first three will be counted. The deadline for this contest will be when Warren Buffett releases information of Berkshire's holdings, which will be in two weeks. Write your answer to the comment area. If you are not registered, you need to register to participate.

After the contest, we will announce two winners. The prize book will be sent to winner directly from Amazon. We will host the contest again next quarter, so everyone will have another chance to win.

Make sure you do your homework! Good luck!

Tickers in the article:


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Warren Buffett
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Rating: 3.9/5 (9 votes)

Comments

kapil007
Kapil007 - Feb 02, 2012 at 1:04 PM
MA INTC CHK
cirros
Cirros premium member - Feb 02, 2012 at 1:52 PM

MA INTC MSFT
mohmand
Mohmand - Feb 02, 2012 at 2:22 PM
INTC WFC MA
noblepaladin
Noblepaladin - Feb 02, 2012 at 3:09 PM

BAC
The Science of Hitting
The Science of Hitting premium member - Feb 02, 2012 at 6:42 PM
WFC, TSCO, PG
kstein
Kstein premium member - Feb 02, 2012 at 7:11 PM
CAT, ITW, and BRK(A/B)
J Edward
J Edward - Feb 02, 2012 at 7:40 PM
DTV (it's the only purchase from last quarter that hasn't appreciated significantly)
WFC (a Buffet favorite, was available at a very cheap price in late November)
INTC (Buffet seems to be warming to tech, and INTC was available at good prices last quarter)
MARIANO7363
MARIANO7363 premium member - Feb 02, 2012 at 7:50 PM
Tsco wfc ma because it is what i would have bought if Buffet.
kfh227
Kfh227 premium member - Feb 02, 2012 at 8:55 PM
WFC - because he has room left to buy
JNJ - because I've said this for years now and he keeps refusing to pull the trigger.
TXI - long shot .... cement company in Texas.
fwentz
Fwentz - Feb 02, 2012 at 9:02 PM
AAPL, BBBY, ISRG because they were good values during that quarter.

adverseselection
Adverseselection - Feb 02, 2012 at 9:31 PM
WFC, TSCO, DTV
mo77
Mo77 - Feb 02, 2012 at 10:08 PM
ABB - Stated that he is currently by shares of a specific European stock. First class industrial company, large enough to be on his radar.

INTC - Will continue to add current holdings (typical Buffet/Munger stock, huge moat)

CME - Todd Combs has owned it in the past. Stock is cheap & is a very strong business
mo77
Mo77 - Feb 02, 2012 at 10:17 PM

ABB, INTC, CME
Arpan
Arpan - Feb 02, 2012 at 10:41 PM
Tesco, WFC, DTV
i888
I888 premium member - Feb 02, 2012 at 11:11 PM

INTC, TSCO
atanveer
Atanveer - Feb 02, 2012 at 11:18 PM
WFC-- Warren has been adding Wells Fargo to his portfolio every quarter for past few quarters. And both Warren and Munger love it. Given the stock prices in November around his previous purchase price, he is likely to add it
IBM- Recently became one the biggest holding in buffet's portfolio. A stock with huge moat so likely to add more
DTV- Typical warren and munger stock. Very good track record and has been trading lower than the last purchase price
vuasu
Vuasu - Feb 02, 2012 at 11:18 PM
WFC, DTV, CME
Liarspoker
Liarspoker - Feb 02, 2012 at 11:47 PM

I'll go international again: Tesco & Munich Re. :O)
Kevin Anderson
Kevin Anderson premium member - Feb 02, 2012 at 11:56 PM
WFC - an old Warren and Charlie fav for years. Did it get cheap enough to buy more?

tonyg34
Tonyg34 - Feb 03, 2012 at 12:29 AM
TSCO- this is cheating because he has already released info that he recently added to this position

DTV - continue to accrue existing position

GD - public opinion about defense stocks is wrong. budget cuts actually entrench position of largest vendors and suppliers. IT and other services providers are the ones who will take the biggest cuts along with small vendors.

Because Combs is still building up his portfolio positions will we also see additional purchases in existing small holdings like DG, INTC, &c.
Alex Garcia
Alex Garcia premium member - Feb 03, 2012 at 12:39 AM
Tesco and Munich Re
rrateike
Rrateike - Feb 03, 2012 at 1:14 AM
The real mystery is the stock that WEB is accumulating and per the SEC waiver has not yet publicly reported.. It may or may not be disclosed but if it is I'm guessing:

CAT


also add to

TESCO , WFC, DTV


reduce

MCO
clemo69
Clemo69 premium member - Feb 03, 2012 at 2:19 AM
JNJ WFC MA
ValueStockPicer
ValueStockPicer - Feb 03, 2012 at 2:29 AM
MSFT
BAC
TSCO
Maulik1981
Maulik1981 - Feb 03, 2012 at 6:23 AM
BAC
WFC
TSCO
parmenion
Parmenion - Feb 03, 2012 at 8:06 AM
GOOGLE
hainesr98
Hainesr98 - Feb 03, 2012 at 8:21 AM
Tesco, Wal-Mart and Posco. All companies he understands that are selling at a compelling value.
vdodla
Vdodla premium member - Feb 03, 2012 at 9:06 AM
MUV2.DE, TSCO.L,WFC,IBM,BRK.A,BRK.B
thinleyw
Thinleyw - Feb 03, 2012 at 9:38 AM
Tesco
yams4112
Yams4112 - Feb 03, 2012 at 10:06 AM
murgy
bac
dv
benedetti
Benedetti premium member - Feb 03, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Sanofi Aventis
cor7997
Cor7997 premium member - Feb 03, 2012 at 11:21 AM

AMZN - because the recent increasing amount of cash flow invested to fortify the business, irrespective of the short term view, represents exactly the kind of attitude WB is looking for Berkshire crown of jewels;
VALU - because is cheap, has no debt (and never had), has a new and intriguing internet based source of revenuews, was one of the few 'external sources' WB has used and is majority owned by the founder's company.
BCR - because has 8% free cash flow yield, manageable debt, in a boring and stable industry and a low but growing dividend (with ample margin to increase it, having an average 15% payout ratio)
Jamesho90
Jamesho90 - Feb 03, 2012 at 12:32 PM
MA
BAC
WFC
PG
V
5517ORA
5517ORA - Feb 03, 2012 at 1:44 PM
WFC IBM V
rbishnoi
Rbishnoi - Feb 03, 2012 at 3:54 PM
TEVA
BID
ORCL
BAX
WHR
GD
CPB
LMT
UTX
MRO
WLP
UNH
HUM
BHP
AAPL
Charlotte  K Varzi
Charlotte K Varzi - Feb 03, 2012 at 4:12 PM
Warren Buffet bought Bank of America, BAC because it has been badly beaten up and he must see long term value in it.
He also bought AAPL, Apple
chihin
Chihin - Feb 03, 2012 at 11:27 PM

WFC, CME, JNJ
flash_os
Flash_os - Feb 04, 2012 at 1:16 AM
CAT
BAC
MTB
BRK.B
parmenion
Parmenion - Feb 04, 2012 at 5:00 AM
GOOGLE
coda
Coda - Feb 04, 2012 at 8:02 AM
tesco,wfc regarding the next european stock I say it's Nestle and I think he bought it also selling a small part of Kraft,this is a strategy I discover he uses within the same industry.

Other stocks that he could consider in Europe include Astrazeneca(but he already owns Sanofi I doubt),Metro,eon and others related to beverages
luishernadez
Luishernadez premium member - Feb 06, 2012 at 6:44 PM
Tesco PLC - TSCO: He stated live that if Tesco would drop from current prices (then at 20% higher than now) he would be buying more. News came out that Berkshire increased its stake in the company to around 5%.

Wells Fargo - WFC: Most probably bought some shares at around book value ($24-$25).

DIRECTV - DTV: This one was probably bought by Todd Combs, given that it has not risen much and that their position is kind of small.
nemo17
Nemo17 - Feb 08, 2012 at 5:19 AM
WALT DISNEY
TESCO
RECKITT BENCKISER
5517ORA
5517ORA - Feb 08, 2012 at 1:49 PM
The above says this contest is for purchases Warren Buffett made for the 3rd quarter of 2011. Shouldn't it be for the 4th quarter of 2011?
batbeer2
Batbeer2 premium member - Feb 09, 2012 at 2:07 PM
Staples
Tesco plc
Marks & Spencer
mrabebe2
Mrabebe2 - Feb 10, 2012 at 1:20 PM
CLF, IBM,CMI

itznuthin1
Itznuthin1 - Feb 11, 2012 at 9:34 AM
V,WFC,DG

All minor accumulation of current holdings this quarter is my opinion
richday101
Richday101 premium member - Feb 12, 2012 at 4:25 PM
Tesco - UK:TSCO: He said he'd buy when it was selling for a higher price.

WFC: Warren likes WFC and keeps adding to his pile. Great company with financials improving for years to come. FCF yield of >20% in the last 12 months.

DTV: Todd Combs likes DTV and it is reasonably priced

GD: I'll add GD in case Tesco gets disqualified. GD was at a reasonable price, very steady 4.5 stars for business predictably. Was selling for a FCF yield of 10%.

richday101
Richday101 premium member - Feb 14, 2012 at 8:44 PM
WARREN BUFFET BUYS ANNOUNCED


www.gurufocus.com/news/161605/warren-buffett-buys-more-ibm-wells-fargo-dtv-cvs-sells-xom-and-jnj


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