Buffett encourages investors to bet on American economy

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire Warren Buffett says the company he built through decades of acquisitions continues to perform well even though he hasn't found any major deals at attractive prices recently.

Buffett released his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. shareholders on Saturday. He wrote that investors should continue betting on the American economy because Berkshire has prospered by doing so, but that they shouldn't forget about the rest of the world.

"There are also many other countries around the world that have bright futures. About that, we should rejoice: Americans will be both more prosperous and safer if all nations thrive," Buffett wrote. "At Berkshire, we hope to invest significant sums across borders."

Buffett's letter is always well-read in the business world because of his remarkable track record, his habit of dissecting the economy or other topics and his talent for explaining complicated subjects in plain language.

But in recent years he has simplified his letters and focused mostly on Berkshire's businesses. The sage advice and wit that used to make Buffett's letters must-read publications is now reserved mostly for the company's annual meeting and interviews.

"To me, it's becoming less of an event," Edward Jones analyst Jim Shanahan said of the letter.

Buffett wrote that the two potential successors he promoted last year to oversee most day-to-day operations are doing well, but the 88-year-old tycoon made no mention of retiring.

Longtime Berkshire executives Greg Abel and Ajit Jain joined the company's board last January and took on additional responsibilities. Jain now oversees all of the conglomerate's insurance businesses while Abel oversees all of the conglomerate's non-insurance business operations.

"These moves were overdue," Buffett said. "Berkshire is now far better managed than when I alone was supervising operations. Ajit and Greg have rare talents, and Berkshire blood flows through their veins."

Buffett wrote that Berkshire continues to hold roughly $130 billion in cash and short-term investments because he hasn't found any reasonably-priced acquisitions in recent years, so he'll likely continue investing more in stocks.

"Prices are sky-high for businesses possessing decent long-term prospects," he wrote.

Shanahan, the Edward Jones analyst, said he was disappointed that Berkshire didn't use more of its cash to repurchase its own shares or invest in other stocks, especially when the market declined near the end of the year.

Berkshire reported a $4 billion profit for last year as most of its eclectic mix of businesses — including BNSF railroad, Geico insurance and several large utilities — performed well. But that was significantly lower than the previous year $45 billion because Berkshire had to write down the paper value of many of its stock holdings.

Still, Andy Kilpatrick said the results were better than he expected.

"Berkshire's operating businesses are doing great," said Kilpatrick, a retired stockbroker and author who wrote "Of Permanent Value: The Story of Warren Buffett." ''I'm glad to see there's no talk of retirement."

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. owns more than 90 companies, including the railroad and clothing, furniture and jewelry businesses. Its insurance and utility businesses typically account for more than half of the company's net income. The company also has major investments in such companies as Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola and Wells Fargo & Co.

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