First, I explored the value of Buffett’s relatively hidden series of bolt-on acquisitions. After all, while it may seem crazy that any company could quietly spend $2.3 billion to absorb 26 distinct, profitable businesses into its existing operations in a single year, Berkshire managed to do just that in 2012.
Next, I noted Buffett’s propensity for outperforming the broader market over the long haul, thanks (in Buffett’s words) not just to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A)’s “outstanding businesses, a cadre of terrific operating managers, and a shareholder-oriented culture,” but also largely to the company’s incredible ability to effectively function as a defensive stock.
Let’s talk about the big boys
Now, we’re going to take a look at an excerpt from Buffett’s letter in which he highlights the strengths of some of Berkshire’s larger “outstanding businesses”:
Last year I told you that BNSF, Iscar, Lubrizol, Marmon Group and MidAmerican Energy — our five most profitable non-insurance companies — were likely to earn more than $10 billion pre-tax in 2012. They delivered. Despite tepid U.S. growth and weakening economies throughout much of the world, our “powerhouse five” had aggregate earnings of $10.1 billion, about $600 million more than in 2011. Of this group, only MidAmerican, then earning $393 million pre-tax, was owned by Berkshire eight years ago.
Buffett goes on to note the $9.7 billion gain in annual earnings delivered to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A) by the five companies was “accompanied by only minor dilution,” thanks to the fact that three of the five businesses were acquired on an all-cash basis. The fifth, of course, was Burlington Northern, of which 70% was paid for in cash with the remainder covered by newly issued Berkshire shares, which increased the amount outstanding by 6.1%.
Sure enough, here’s yet another example that Buffett knews what the heck he was doing when he acquired five huge, solidly profitable companies to the benefit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A) shareholders with little dilution. Of course, that’s not to mention Buffett has also been actively working to reverse at least some of that dilution, most notably through the company’s recent substantial share buybacks.
Even still, let’s put things in perspective by digging a little deeper to see just how effective these acquisitions have been. In addition to owning 89.8% of MidAmerican, here’s the skinny on Buffett’s remaining aforementioned purchases, circa the end of 2011:
- May, 2006: Purchased an 80% stake in Iscar for $4 billion in cash.
- December 2007: Acquired 64% of Marmon Holdings for $4.8 billion in cash.
- November, 2009: Acquired the remaining stake of BNSF for $26.3 billion in cash and stock.
- March, 2011: Acquired Lubrizol for $9 billion in cash, at the same time assuming $700 million of its debt.
- In “early” 2011: Acquired an additional 16% of Marmon for approximately $1.5 billion, bring Berkshire’s stake to 80%.
When we consider the fact that Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A)’s slice of net earnings from MidAmerican last year totaled more than $1.3 billion, that leaves nearly $8.4 billion in 2012 earnings achieved as a direct result of Buffett’s spending $46.3 billion over the past seven years for its stakes in Iscar, Marmon, BNSF, and Lubrizol — not a bad recurring return on investment by any measure, thanks to Buffett’s supreme demonstrations of patience and a long-term outlook. What’s more, Buffett later wrote that “unless the U.S. economy tanks — which we don’t expect — our powerhouse five should again deliver higher earnings in 2013.”
