Ever since 1965, I’ve witnessed Berkshire Hathaway consistently grow shareholder capital at an astonishingly high yearly rate, almost 20%. This extraordinary feat is largely due to the skilled guidance of Warren Buffett, a man often considered the greatest investor of all time.
In simpler terms, Warren Buffet’s most profitable venture, a consumer-focused business, has seen remarkable growth over the past decade. As of July 15, its shares have skyrocketed by an impressive 749%, resulting in substantial earnings for Berkshire Hathaway. Despite selling stocks over four consecutive quarters from late 2023 to early 2024, this company remains Berkshire’s largest investment, accounting for about 22% of their $290 billion portfolio, making it their largest position.
This is a wonderful business, but should investors buy the stock?
Passing Buffett’s filter is a valuable endorsement
In the first three months of 2016, Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway made an investment in Apple (AAPL). Given the high returns that followed, this move was a brilliant investment strategy. Reflecting on this decision now, investors can learn a lot about what aspects of Apple aligned with Buffett’s investment criteria.
Berkshire Holds Many Companies with Robust Brand Identities; Among Them, None Might Be More Dominant Than Apple, Whose Global Consumer Base Remains Loyal to Its Innovative Products and Services, Eagerly Anticipating Future Releases. Apple Operates at the Elite Level of the Consumer Electronics Market, Yet Its Commitment to Innovation Has Managed to Captivate Customers.
Additionally, this situation grants them the ability to exert control over pricing, a characteristic highly valued by Buffett. It’s worth noting that Apple earns a far greater proportion of the total smartphone industry profits compared to its percentage of device sales, suggesting the remarkable financial prosperity of the iPhone.
Buffet prefers investing in companies with exceptional financial health. For instance, Apple consistently produces substantial excess cash every quarter. Over the last five years, its average operating margin has been astoundingly high at around 30%.
As I stand by, it’s not always wise to invest in a thriving company. However, the crucial factor that catches my attention is valuation. For instance, during the first quarter of 2016, Apple shares were trading at an average Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of 10.6. Given the company’s strong brand, pricing power, and profits, it seems like a shrewd move for Buffett to have invested in Apple over nine years ago, looking back now with the advantage of hindsight.
Is Apple stock a buy now?
By March 31st, Berkshire Hathaway held approximately 300 million Apple shares. This substantial ownership suggests that Buffett and his team remain optimistic about Apple’s future, as they wouldn’t maintain such a large position if they weren’t bullish on the stock. However, whether individual investors should purchase shares now depends on their own investment strategies and market analysis.
Obtaining a well-rounded response often benefits from a new point of view. Certainly, some positive aspects remain constant, such as the strong reputation of the brand and its substantial earnings.
It’s worth considering that the “Magnificent Seven” stocks might find it challenging to surpass market performance during the next five or ten years. Apple’s growth trajectory is not particularly impressive, with analysts forecasting a yearly revenue expansion rate of 5.3% between fiscal years 2024 and 2027.
Criticism persists about Apple’s slow progress in artificial intelligence (AI) developments. The enhancements to Siri, their voice assistant, incorporating AI are not expected until the next year. Moreover, Apple has primarily depended on collaborations to introduce AI functionalities into its operating system. Ultimately, these efforts haven’t resulted in substantial growth.
Investors may not be happy to learn that the stock is currently trading at a P/E ratio of 32.9, which is three times what Buffett originally paid for it. Given this high valuation, it seems that Apple stock isn’t currently a good investment opportunity.
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2025-07-20 15:29