In its annual report for 2011, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) reported common stock investments in eleven companies that each had a market value exceeding $1 billion. However, there has been only one of these companies that Warren Buffett has been adding to every year since 2005. That company is Wells Fargo (WFC). Berkshire further added to its stake in Wells Fargo during the first quarter of 2012. Currently, Wells Fargo is Berkshire�� second largest investment, valued at $13.7 billion. (Berkshire�� largest common stock investment is in Coca-Cola (KO), with a market value of $15.6 billion. Berkshire�� third largest investment is in IBM (IBM), which has a market value of $12.6 billion.)
In 1990, Berkshire Hathaway made an initial investment in Wells Fargo of $289 million (5 million shares). That position was relatively stable from 1990 through 2004. (In 1998, Wells Fargo merged with Norwest and each share of Wells Fargo was converted into 10 shares of the ��ew��Wells Fargo.) Beginning in 2005, Warren Buffett has added to his stake in Wells Fargo, as shown in the table below:
Top 5 Valued Stocks To Buy Right Now: Dollar Tree Inc.(DLTR)
Dollar Tree, Inc. operates discount variety stores in the United States and Canada. Its stores offer merchandise primarily at the fixed price of $1.00. The company operates its stores under the names of Dollar Tree, Deal$, Dollar Tree Deal$, Dollar Giant, and Dollar Bills. Its stores offer consumable merchandise, including candy and food, and health and beauty care, as well as household consumables, such as paper, plastics, household chemicals, in select stores, and frozen and refrigerated food; variety merchandise, which includes toys, durable housewares, gifts, party goods, greeting cards, softlines, and other items; and seasonal goods, such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas merchandise. As of April 30, 2011, it operated 4,089 stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as 88 stores in Canada. The company was founded in 1986 and is based in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lawrence Meyers]
As a convenience store, it doesn’t have direct competition from�Dollar Tree (DLTR) or Family Dollar (FDO) because these dollar stores aren�� exclusively focused on food (and they have no gasoline or cigarette sales), and they��e targeted at the folks who are trying to save money over convenience, not vice versa. The convenience angle is another reason why�Walmart (WMT) and Costco (COST)�aren’t competitors, since those behemoths are about a total shopping experience.
Top 5 Valued Stocks To Buy Right Now: Schlumberger N.V.(SLB)
Schlumberger Limited, together with its subsidiaries, supplies technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas exploration and production industries worldwide. The company?s Oilfield Services segment provides exploration and production services; wireline technology that offers open-hole and cased-hole services; supplies engineering support, directional-drilling, measurement-while-drilling, and logging-while-drilling services; and testing services. This segment also offers well services; supplies well completion services and equipment; artificial lift; data and consulting services; geo services; and information solutions, such as consulting, software, information management system, and IT infrastructure services that support oil and gas industry. Its WesternGeco segment provides reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services; and operates data processing centers and multiclient seismic library. This segment also offers variou s services include 3D and time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multi-component surveys for delineating prospects and reservoir management. The company?s M-I SWACO segment supplies drilling fluid systems to improve drilling performance; fluid systems and specialty tools to optimize wellbore productivity; production technology solutions to maximize production rates; and environmental solutions that manages waste volumes generated in drilling and production operations. Its Smith Oilfield segment designs, manufactures, and markets drill bits and borehole enlargement tools; and supplies drilling tools and services, tubular, completion services, and other related downhole solutions. The company?s Distribution segment markets pipes, valves, and fittings, as well as mill, safety, and other maintenance products. This segment also provides warehouse management, vendor integration, and inventory management services. Schlumberger Limited was founded in 1927 and is based in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dr. Kent Moors]
That's why some of the biggest OFS providers - like Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB), Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) and Weatherford International (NYSE: WFT) - have been buying up oil and gas equipment companies.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Schlumberger�(SLB) has become the latest company to say that it will get hit by Russian sanctions on U.S. companies today.
Sterne Agee’s Stephen Gengaro and Ivan Suleiman assess the potential impact:
Schlumberger�expects that the economic sanctions in Russia will have a small financial impact on Schlumberger’s Russian operations. The company estimates that it could be up to $0.03 per share due to a short-term impact in operational efficiencies and costs in Russia.
Schlumberger�remains confident that it can support its Russian clients without material disruption and will continue to work closely with its Russian customers.
Although other large-cap service companies have exposure to Russia, we believe the effect is also minimal. Specifically, Weatherford (WFT) has noted that the Russian sanctions are not a concern as this is a very small portion of its business. In addition, this business is not impacted by the sanctions which are against Arctic and shale-related technologies. We estimate that Weatherford’s revenue in Russia is less than 3% of our estimated 2014 revenue.
Other companies with large exposure to Russia include Nabors Industries (NBR), Halliburton (HAL) and Baker Hughes (BHI).
RBC’s Kurt Hallead and Robert Pinkard use the occasion to assess the potential impact on�Schlumberger from Iraq instability:
We estimate roughly $600mn in annual Iraq revenue ($0.06-$0.08 in EPS) for�Schlumberger with operating margins of ~20%. The situation due to political unrest is still very fluid in the country and EPS impact at this point is unknown.
We are risk adjusting the next 6 quarters which we believe could be characterized by activity disruptions, higher security expenses and unabsorbed fixed costs.
Hallead and Pinkard lowered their 2014 earnings-per share forecast to $5.56 from $5.64, and cut their 2015 prediction to $6.63 from $6.70. They did, however, leave their pric
- [By David Smith]
I noted in Part 1 that Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB ) , easily the largest participant in the oilfield services space, is appropriate for subsea investing. The same can be said of seismic. The company's WesternGeco unit leaves its competition in the dust -- or water -- from the perspective of both size and technological sophistication.
Top 10 Energy Stocks For 2015: Tupperware Corporation(TUP)
Tupperware Brands Corporation operates as a direct seller of various products across a range of brands and categories through an independent sales force. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of kitchen and home products, and beauty and personal care products. It offers preparation, storage, and serving solutions for the kitchen and home, as well as kitchen cookware and tools, children?s educational toys, microwave products, and gifts under the Tupperware brand name primarily in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Asia Pacific, and North America. The company provides beauty and personal care products, which include skin care products, cosmetics, bath and body care, toiletries, fragrances, nutritional products, apparel, and related products principally in Mexico, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, and Uruguay. It offers beauty and personal care products under the Armand Dupree, Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics, Nuvo, and Swissgar de brand names. The company sells its Tupperware products directly to distributors, directors, managers, and dealers; and beauty products primarily through consultants and directors. As of December 26, 2009, the Tupperware distribution system had approximately 1,800 distributors, 61,300 managers, and 1.3 million dealers; and the sales force representing the Beauty businesses approximately 1.1 million. The company was formerly known as Tupperware Corporation and changed its name to Tupperware Brands Corporation in December 2005. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP) is expected to report its Q3 earnings at $1.03 per share on revenue of $623.34 million.
Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) is projected to post its Q4 earnings at $1.12 per share on revenue of $779.02 million.
- [By Brian Pacampara]
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, household products company Tupperware Brands (NYSE: TUP ) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.
- [By James Brumley]
CSCO stock might be one of the market’s dark-horse stories of 2014; the dividend yield is the icing on the cake.
Dividend Stocks to Buy: Tupperware Brands (TUP)Dividend Yield: 3.2%
Top 5 Valued Stocks To Buy Right Now: Caterpillar Inc.(CAT)
Caterpillar Inc. manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives worldwide. It operates through three lines of businesses: Machinery, Engines, and Financial Products. The Machinery business offers construction, mining, and forestry machinery, including track and wheel tractors, track and wheel loaders, pipelayers, motor graders, wheel tractor-scrapers, track and wheel excavators, backhoe loaders, log skidders, log loaders, off-highway trucks, articulated trucks, paving products, skid steer loaders, underground mining equipment, tunnel boring equipment, and related parts. It also manufactures diesel-electric locomotives; and manufactures and services rail-related products and logistics services for other companies. The Engines business provides diesel, heavy fuel, and natural gas reciprocating engines for Caterpillar machinery, electric power generation systems, marine, petrol eum, construction, industrial, agricultural, and other applications. It offers industrial turbines and turbine-related services for oil and gas, and power generation applications. This business also remanufactures Caterpillar engines, machines, and engine components; and offers remanufacturing services for other companies. The Financial Products business provides retail and wholesale financing alternatives for Caterpillar machinery and engines, solar gas turbines, and other equipment and marine vessels, as well as offers loans and various forms of insurance to customers and dealers. It also offers financing for vehicles, power generation facilities, and marine vessels. The company markets its products directly, as well as through its distribution centers, dealers, and distributors. It was formerly known as Caterpillar Tractor Co. and changed its name to Caterpillar Inc. in 1986. Caterpillar Inc. was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dan Caplinger]
For the Dow to make another run higher of nearly 7% to get to 16,000, it'll need support from the same stocks that led it higher today. Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT ) soared 3.5%, the top gainer in the Dow, as investors applauded the prospects of stronger economic activity in the company's key U.S. market. Yet, even with today's gains, Caterpillar remains more than 10% below its recent highs, reflecting anxiety about the company's other key market: China. Fellow industrial component Alcoa (NYSE: AA ) , which climbed almost 2% today, faces the same general issue, as sluggishness in the Chinese economy has contributed to weak aluminum prices industrywide that have held down profits.
- [By Mike Deane]
Before the opening bell on Monday, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) announced its fourth quarter and full year earnings, posting lower revenue compared to last year’s quarterly and FY results.
CAT’s Earnings in Brief
Caterpillar reported fourth quarter revenues of $14.402 billion, down 10% from last year’s Q4 revenue of $16.075 billion. The company’s Q4 profit came in at $1 billion, up from last year’s Q4 profit of $697 million. SWK’s EPS for the quarter was $1.54, up from last year’s Q4 EPS of $1.04. CAT beat analysts’ estimates of $1.28 EPS on revenues of $13.64 billion. For the full year, CAT posted revenues of $55.565 billion, down from $65.875 billion, and profit of $3.789 billion versus last year’s $5.681 billion. For the FY2014, CAT expects EPS of $5.85.CEO Commentary
Caterpillar’s chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman had the following comments about the company’s earnings:�”In such a challenging environment, I am proud of the way our employees came together in 2013. Despite a sales and revenues decline of about $10 billion, we set a record for operating cash flow, strengthened our balance sheet and improved our overall market position for machines. We continued to improve safety in our facilities and the quality of the products we ship each day. Cost flexibility is critical to our strategy and was a significant focus in 2013 as we took substantial actions to help maintain profitability as sales declined. Excluding the impact of cost absorption our�manufacturing costs�and SG&A and R&D expenses were favorable by $1.2 billion compared with 2012. It wasn’t easy, especially for our employees who endured an incredibly tough year, but the actions we initiated helped us deliver strong operational performance in 2013.”
CAT’s Dividend and Stock Buyback
Caterpillar did not announced any changes to its dividend in its earnings report. The compa
- [By Charley Blaine]
Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT): Tuesday close: $107.15. RSI: 71.
Caterpillar is up 18 percent for the year and up 24.3 percent since early February.
- [By Jennifer Liberto]
Conservative Republicans groups like the Heritage Foundation and the libertarian Cato Institute have said the Ex-Im Bank is corporate welfare, because giant companies like Boeing, General Electric, Caterpillar (CAT) and Bechtel account for most of the dollars loaned by the bank.
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