Buffett’s Bets: A Few Good Stocks, By Gum

Old Warren, he’s stepped off the main stage, you see. No longer personally pickin’ the ponies, as it were. But a man’s fingerprints, they linger, don’t they? Especially when he’s been accumulatin’ wealth like a Mississippi riverboat captain pilin’ up nickels. Berkshire Hathaway, that’s still very much a reflection of his peculiar wisdom. And if you’re inclined to follow the lead of a feller who’s made a fortune simply by not losin’ money, well, there’s still time to mosey on over and take a look at what he’s been holdin’.

I reckon a sensible man might consider a few of these holdings. Not a guarantee of riches, mind you – Wall Street ain’t exactly known for its honesty – but a reasonable starting point, all the same. Let’s have a look, shall we?

1. American Express: A Card Sharp’s Game

Now, American Express, they had a bit of a stumble lately. Their numbers weren’t quite as shiny as some folks expected. A ten percent dip, they say. A mere flea bite for a company of its size, perhaps, but enough to send the worrywarts into a tizzy. Seems to me, folks get riled up over the smallest things these days. They fret over a penny saved, then throw away a fortune on foolishness.

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But don’t let that ruffle your feathers. The outfit still hauled in nine percent more revenue than last year, and their profits were up thirteen percent. Nine percent and thirteen percent, mind you – figures that’d make a gambler weep with joy. And they’re lookin’ ahead to even better days, predictin’ a tidy profit per share in 2026. Seems the well-heeled folks still like to spend their money, even when the news is full of gloom and doom. A temporary squall, I reckon, not a hurricane.

2. Apple: Polished Apples and Fool’s Gold

Apple, now there’s a spectacle. A company built on makin’ folks want things they didn’t even know existed. Down a bit from its peak, they say, mostly because it’s tangled up in this artificial intelligence craze. Everyone’s chasin’ the next shiny object, convinced it’ll solve all their problems. Seems a bit daft, if you ask me. But the company’s still doin’ right well, regardless.

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Their iPhone sales jumped twenty-three percent last quarter – a record, they claim. Twenty-three percent! Enough to make a man wonder if everyone’s got a new phone in their pocket. And they’re promisin’ even more wonders with this AI business. Folks are buyin’ these gadgets in anticipation of a future that may never arrive. A bit like payin’ for a bridge that ain’t been built, if you ask me.

3. Constellation Brands: A Tippler’s Tale

Now, Constellation Brands, that’s a curious one. A beer brewer. Warren Buffett buyin’ beer. It’s like seein’ a cat chasin’ a dog. One of Berkshire’s smaller holdings, and a recent addition, they say. The company’s been havin’ a bit of a dry spell, with beer sales slumpin’ for the past four quarters. Seems folks are drinkin’ less these days. A record low, they claim, with only fifty-four percent of Americans indulgin’.

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But Buffett and his lieutenant, they’re bettin’ on a turnaround. They reckon things’ll pick up when the economy gets back on its feet. A reasonable assumption, I suppose. And in the meantime, you can collect a respectable dividend yield of 2.5 percent. A little somethin’ to wet your whistle while you wait. It’s a gamble, of course, but then, ain’t life itself a gamble?

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2026-02-15 14:32