Credit: Shutterstock photoThe last Saturday in April this year marks the beginning of another Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting. Held at Berkshire's hometown headquarters in Omaha, the Woodstock of Capitalism grows bigger and attracts more attention each and every year.
But beneath the spectacle is an opportunity to hear directly from one of the greatest investors in history. Every year, Buffett holds court with shareholders and the press, fielding questions and giving frank, honest answers with his trademark Midwestern wit.
I said this last year, but to put it simply, investors would be wise to pay attention to what Buffett says at this event. At 85 years old, this could be one of the last times we'll be able to hear straight from the "Oracle of Omaha" about his thoughts on the market, the U.S. economy, and what it means to be a successful investor.
Many of our analysts here at StreetAuthority have attended Berkshire meetings over the years, and they all spoke highly of their experience. But one thing that has always stuck with me about Warren Buffett is that while everyone wants to hear him speak, what often seems to be lost is what Buffett actually says... or more importantly, how few investors seem to actually take Buffett's lessons to heart and apply them.
Our own Andy Obermueller has been saying this for years. Here's what he told readers of his premium newsletter, Game-Changing Stocks :
Andy goes on:
Andy concluded by saying that if Buffett has taught us anything, it's that there simply is no "magic formula" for picking stocks. But if you want to be a better investor, then do what Buffett does -- forget about the bottom line of the income statement. Read every line of the balance sheet to see what a company will do in the future instead.
Keep this in mind as April 30 approaches. Keeping true to form with the ever-expanding spectacle, the meeting will be broadcast for the first time ever to the wider public via livestream on Yahoo! Finance. I'd suggest tuning in. More importantly, I'd recommend you read Buffett's annual shareholder letters. They give an unvarnished look at Buffett's thoughts, and come without all the distractions.
Andy has mentioned this before, and I agree: If you read each and every one of Buffett's shareholder letters and really study them, then it's a better value than getting an MBA. And unlike a graduate degree, this education is practically free. (You can read Berkshire's shareholder letters here . You can also buy an e-book on Amazon that collects all of Buffett's letters from 1965 to 2014 in one place . It only costs $2.99 and is worth downloading for the modest price.)
P.S. In 2010, after hearing Buffett's longtime confidant Charlie Munger say he was "immensely optimistic" about solar at the Berkshire shareholder meeting, StreetAuthority's Andy Obermueller quickly recommended a company called SunPower. Anyone who followed his advice booked a 303% gain in less than three years. Today, Andy is telling his readers about a new energy revolution that's quietly taking place -- and heavy-hitting investors like Bill Gates, Peter Thiel and Warren Buffett are all getting in on the action. To learn more about the mysterious device that could kill OPEC, coal and fracking, go her e.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
