The Top 10 Investments of Warren Buffett

Aman Bhatia
5 min readApr 1, 2023

Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor, and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway are widely regarded as one of the greatest investors of all time. Over the years, he has built a reputation for investing in companies with strong fundamentals, long-term growth potential, and a competitive advantage in their respective markets.

In this blog, we’ll explore the top 10 investments of Warren Buffett and discuss why he decided to invest in these companies.

1. Coca-Cola (KO)

Buffett’s love affair with Coca-Cola began in 1987 when he purchased a 6.2% stake in the company. Today, Coca-Cola remains one of Berkshire Hathaway’s largest holdings, with a market value of over $20 billion. Buffett loves the company’s brand, distribution network, and cash-generating ability. Coca-Cola is one of the most recognized brands in the world, with a portfolio of over 500 non-alcoholic beverage brands. The company has a global distribution network that spans over 200 countries, making it a dominant player in the beverage industry. Coca-Cola is also a cash cow, generating significant amounts of free cash flow that can be reinvested in the business or returned to shareholders through dividends or share buybacks.

2. Apple (AAPL)

Buffett first invested in Apple in 2016 and has since added to his position, making it one of Berkshire Hathaway’s largest holdings. He loves the company’s strong brand, loyal customer base, and ecosystem of products and services. Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world, with a market capitalization of over $2 trillion. The company’s brand is synonymous with innovation, quality, and premium pricing. Apple has a loyal customer base that is willing to pay a premium for its products, and the company has been able to build an ecosystem of products and services that keep customers within its ecosystem. Buffett has also praised Apple’s management team and its focus on innovation.

3. American Express (AXP)

Buffett has been a shareholder in American Express since the 1960s. He loves the company’s business model, which involves charging merchants a percentage of each transaction, and its ability to generate significant amounts of cash. American Express is one of the largest credit card issuers in the world, with a strong brand and a loyal customer base. The company generates significant amounts of cash, which it uses to reinvest in the business or return to shareholders through dividends or share buybacks.

4. Moody’s Corporation (MCO)

Buffett first invested in Moody’s in the early 2000s. He was attracted to the company’s dominant position in the credit rating industry and its ability to generate stable cash flows. Moody’s is one of the largest credit rating agencies in the world, with a dominant position in the industry. The company generates stable cash flows from the fees it charges for rating bonds and other debt instruments. Moody’s is also a beneficiary of the growing debt market, which has led to an increase in demand for credit ratings.

5. Wells Fargo (WFC)

Buffett has been a shareholder in Wells Fargo since the 1990s. He loves the company’s focus on traditional banking activities, its strong brand, and its ability to generate significant amounts of cash. Wells Fargo is one of the largest banks in the United States, with a strong brand and a focus on traditional banking activities, such as lending and deposit-taking. The company has a large customer base and generates significant amounts of cash, which it uses to reinvest in the business or return to shareholders through dividends or share buybacks.

6. The Washington Post Company (now Graham Holdings Company) (GHC)

Buffett invested in The Washington Post Company in the early 1970s, attracted by the company’s strong brand and its dominance in the newspaper industry. The Washington Post Company was also diversified, with interests in education, television broadcasting, and other businesses. In 2013, the company sold its flagship newspaper to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and the remaining businesses were rebranded as Graham Holdings Company. While the newspaper industry has struggled in recent years, Graham Holdings Company has continued to thrive, thanks to its diversified business model and a strong focus on education and healthcare.

7. Bank of America (BAC)

Buffett first invested in Bank of America in 2011, during the height of the financial crisis. He was attracted to the company’s strong brand, its large customer base, and its potential for growth. Bank of America is one of the largest banks in the United States, with a strong brand and a large customer base. The company has also been focusing on cost-cutting and efficiency measures, which have helped to improve profitability.

8. Procter & Gamble (PG)

Buffett first invested in Procter & Gamble in 1989 and has since added to his position. He loves the company’s strong brands, which include household names such as Tide, Crest, and Pampers, and its ability to generate significant amounts of free cash flow. Procter & Gamble is one of the largest consumer goods companies in the world, with a portfolio of over 65 brands. The company generates significant amounts of free cash flow, which it uses to reinvest in the business or return to shareholders through dividends or share buybacks.

9. Visa (V)

Buffett first invested in Visa in 2011, shortly after the company went public. He was attracted to the company’s dominant position in the credit card industry and its ability to generate significant amounts of cash. Visa is one of the largest credit card companies in the world, with a dominant position in the industry. The company generates significant amounts of cash from the fees it charges for transactions made with its credit and debit cards.

10. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)

Finally, it’s worth noting that Warren Buffett’s largest investment is in his own company, Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett has been the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway since 1965 and has built the company into a conglomerate with interests in insurance, energy, manufacturing, and more. Berkshire Hathaway is also a holding company, meaning that it owns significant stakes in other companies such as Coca-Cola, Apple, and American Express. The company has a strong focus on value investing and generating long-term returns for its shareholders.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Warren Buffett’s top 10 investments reflect his investment philosophy of investing in companies with strong fundamentals, long-term growth potential, and a competitive advantage in their respective markets. By studying Buffett’s investment choices, investors can gain valuable insights into how to identify and invest in great companies that have the potential to generate significant returns over the long term.

--

--

Aman Bhatia

2X Top Writer on Medium. Books, Life Lessons, Money, Self Improvement. Follow for inspiration and growth. Mail: amanbhatiakkr@gmail.com