It’s no secret that Warren Buffett has had tremendous success investing in large, well-known companies, many of which appear in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. With earnings season upon us and the Dow in focus, here are Buffett’s three largest Dow positions, according to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.B)‘s latest 13-F filing. Keep in mind that Berkshire does not have to disclose all its stock holdings, so if you’re looking for Buffett’s entire portfolio, you’re out of luck. And while this article should not be taken as a buy list, it is always a useful exercise to consider Buffett’s investment decisions.
American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)
American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) faces a number of risks and has been trading lower recently after the European Commission proposed a transaction-fee cap of 0.2%, but the company stated during its second-quarter earnings that it did not expect the EC’s plans to have a significant impact. In fact, because American Express issues its own cards rather than just serving as a payment processor, its primary business line would not be affected by the caps. Long-term risks include similar efforts to cap charges in the U.S. and the growing awareness of the dangers of high-interest debt. Keeping up with innovations in mobile payments is also crucial to the company’s future success.
With roughly 85% of worldwide retail transactions currently conducted using cash or check, there is plenty of opportunity for growth. As consumers and merchants abroad continue to recognize the security and convenience of credit card purchases, American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) and its rivals will compete for market share. Therefore the two biggest areas to watch are international growth and developments in payment technology.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)
Buffett first bought shares of Coke in 1988. He and his business partner, Charlie Munger, have always appreciated the value of Coke’s brand. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) has been named the strongest brand in the world, and that brand gives Coke the pricing power that Buffett often cites as his primary reason for buying the stock. Despite its economic moat, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) has underperformed the S&P 500 over the last 15 years, so Buffett’s outsized gains of over 700% were mostly accomplished in the first decade of ownership.
Coke reported earnings earlier this week, citing weather as part of the reason its revenue missed analyst expectations. But there are greater risks than weather in the company’s future, namely the increasing health-consciousness of consumers. And with the majority of Coke’s sales being made internationally, weakness abroad hurts the company’s bottom line. Market saturation is another concern, but it also speaks to the size and strength of the company’s global distribution network. Coke has expanded its offerings to include healthier beverages, and its unmatched ability to distribute worldwide is perhaps its greatest advantage going forward. Investors can also appreciate the company’s dividend yield, which is currently around 2.7%.
