On multiple occasions, Warren Buffett has bluntly admitted that�Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK-A ) (NYSE: BRK-B ) enormous market capitalization will make it impossible for the company to duplicate its past rates of return going forward. That's no wonder, especially when we note by the end of 2012 he had grown Berkshire's per-share book value by 586,817% over the previous 48 years.
But that certainly doesn't mean Berkshire can't continue to beat the market going forward.
What it does mean, however, is that investors can expect the role of small acquisitions to continue playing an ever-increasing role in expanding Berkshire's moat, even as the company continues to snap up relatively large businesses.
Remember, in March, I highlighted�the fact that Buffett told investors 2012 was a record year for "bolt-on" purchases, as Berkshire quietly spent around $2.3 billion for 26 companies to be absorbed into its existing operations.
With an average cost per company of around $88 million, we're talking about seriously small businesses when considered by themselves. Together, however, their collective positive influence in contributing profitable growth to Berkshire's book shouldn't be underestimated. After all, Buffett also said he and Charlie Munger love these types of acquisitions because they are usually "low-risk, burden headquarters not at all, and expand the scope of [their] proven managers."
Hot Bank Stocks To Invest In 2015: BPZ Resources Inc (BPZ)
BPZ Resources, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, focuses on the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas in Peru and Ecuador. It owns rights and license agreements for oil and gas exploration and production covering approximately 2.2 million acres in 4 blocks in northwest Peru and off the northwest coast of Peru in the Gulf of Guayaquil. The company also owns a 10% non-operating net profits interest in an oil and gas producing property located in the southwest region of Ecuador. As of December 31, 2011, it had estimated net proved oil reserves of 34.7 million barrels (MMBbls) of crude oil or other liquid hydrocarbons, including 27.8 MMBbls were in the Corvina field and 6.9 MMBbls were from the Albacora field located in northwest Peru. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Lee Jackson]
BPZ�Resources Inc. (NYSE: BPZ) may be a small cap investor’s dream stock to buy. Its first well drilled�in the Corvina�field since 2010 was spudded in late July and likely will take about 12 weeks. It will take another week or so to achieve a stabilized flow rate before results are reported to the market, which means it will not expect to hear anything until November. The Raymond James price target for the stock is $4.50, the same as the consensus target.
Hot Warren Buffett Companies To Own For 2014: Magna International Inc (MGA)
Magna International Inc. (Magna), incorporated on November 16, 1961, is a diversified global automotive supplier. The Company designs, develops and manufactures automotive systems, assemblies, modules and components, and engineers and assembles complete vehicles, primarily for sale to original equipment manufacturers of cars and light trucks. Its capabilities include interior systems, exterior systems, seating systems, powertrain systems, closure systems, roof systems, body and chassis systems, vehicle engineering and contract assembly, vision systems, hybrid and electric vehicles/systems, electronic systems, and through its Magna E-Car Systems partnership (E-Car Systems). Magna operates in three geographic reporting segments: North America, Europe and Rest of World. In January 2011, the Company acquired Automobiltechnik Durbheim, a manufacturer of tapping plates, which assist in the fastening of bolts. The acquired business is located in Germany and has sales to various automobile manufacturers. In May 2011, it acquired a 51% interest in Wuhu Youth Tongyang Auto Plastic Parts Co., Ltd., a supplier of exterior products, mainly front and rear bumpers. In June 2011, it acquired Continental Plastics Co., a supplier of interior products, mainly door panel and seat back assemblies. In August 2011, it acquired Grenville Castings Ltd. In November 2011, Magna acquired ThyssenKrupp Automotive Systems Industrial do Brasil Ltda. In November 2012, the Company's Magna Powertrain operating unit had completed the transaction to acquire ixetic Verwaltungs GmbH (ixetic).
The Company�� North American production sales accounted for approximately 49% of its consolidated sales during the year ended December 31, 2011. Its primary customers in North America in 2011, included BMW, Daimler, Fiat/Chrysler Group, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai-Kia Group, Mazda, Renault-Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen Group. Its European production and vehicle assembly sales accounted for approximately 39% of its consolidated ! sales during 2011. Magna�� primary customers in Europe in 2011, included Aston Martin, BMW, Daimler, Fiat/Chrysler Group, Ford, Geely Group, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai-Kia Group, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault-Nissan, Tata Motors, Toyota, and Volkswagen Group. The Company�� Rest of World production sales accounted for approximately 5% of the Company�� consolidated sales in 2011, respectively. Its primary customers in Rest of World in 2011, included Brilliance Auto, BMW, Chery Automobile, Daimler, Fiat/Chrysler Group, First Automobile Works, Ford, Geely Group, General Motors, Great Wall Motor Company, Guangzhou Automobile, Honda, Hyundai-Kia Group, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault-Nissan, Shanghai Automotive, Suzuki, Tata Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen Group and Yulon Motors.
Interior Systems
The Company designs, engineers and manufactures interior components and systems for the global automotive industry. The primary technologies and processes involved in the manufacturing of interior components and systems include low pressure and injection molding, compression molding, vacuum forming, slush molding, spray urethane and manual and automated assembly and sequencing. Its capabilities include sidewall and trim systems, overhead systems, cargo management systems and cockpit systems.
Seating Systems
It develops and manufactures seating solutions and seat hardware systems for the global automotive industry. Its capabilities range from market and consumer research, full concept development, design and engineering, testing and validation to manufacturing. Its capabilities include complete seating systems, seat structures and mechanisms and foam and trim products. The technologies and processes used in the manufacture of seating and seat hardware systems include traditional cut and sew technology; manual and automated assembly, as well as its Multi-Material Mold-In-Place technology.
Closure Systems
Magna engineers and manufactures cl! osure sys! tems and modules for the global automotive industry. Its capabilities include door modules, window systems, power closure systems, latching systems, driver controls, electronic features and handle assemblies. The primary processes involved in the manufacture of closure systems and modules include light stamping; injection molding, as well as manual and automated assembly.
Body and Chassis Systems
The Company provides metal body systems, components, assemblies and modules, including complete vehicle frames, chassis systems and body-in-white systems, as well as related engineering services, for the global automotive industry. Magna employs a number of different forming technologies, such as hydroforming; stamping; hot stamping; roll forming; aluminum casting; draw bending; advanced welding technologies; as well as finishing technologies such as: e-coating; heat treating, and high temperature wax coating.
Vision Systems
The Company designs, engineers and manufactures vision systems for the global automotive industry. Its vision systems capabilities include interior mirrors, exterior mirrors, electronic vision systems and actuators. The primary processes involved in the manufacture of its vision products include electronics integration; injection molding; painting, as well as manual and automated assembly.
Electronic Systems
The Company designs, engineers and manufactures electronic components and sub-systems for the global automotive industry. Its capabilities include driver assistance and safety systems, engine electronics and sensors, body systems and human-machine interfaces (HMI), intelligent power systems and industrial products. The primary processes involved in the manufacture of electronics products include surface mount placements of electronic components on printed circuit boards, as well as manual and automated assembly of electronic modules.
Exterior Systems
Magna designs, engineers and ma! nufacture! s various exterior components and systems for the global automotive and commercial truck product markets. Its capabilities include front and rear fascia systems, class a composite panels, structural components, sealing systems, modular systems, under hood and underbody components, exterior trim, engineered glass and sheet molding compound material. It utilizes a number of different technologies and processes in connection with these products, including molding technologies, such as injection molding, structural reaction injection, reaction injection, compression and thermoset molding; metal forming processes, such as metal stamping, roll forming, tube forming and stretch bending; extrusion processes, such as co-extrusion, thermoset and thermoplastic extrusion; and finishing processes, including painting, hardcoating, chrome plating, vacuum metallization and anodizing, and manual and automated assembly and sequencing.
Powertrain Systems
Magna designs, engineers and manufactures powertrain systems and components for the global automotive industry. Its capabilities are driveline systems, fluid pressure systems, metal-forming solutions and engineering services and system integration. It employs a variety of different manufacturing capabilities and processing technologies in its powertrain operations, including metal die-forming; flow-forming; stamping and spinning; synchronous roll-forming; die-spline rolling; precision-heavy stamping; fineblanking; aluminum die casting and precision machining; magnesium machining; plastic injection molding and plastic welding; soft and hard processing of gear wheels and shafts; rotary swaging; hardening; laser welding; manual and automated assembly, and end-of-line testing.
The Company y conducts some of its powertrain operations through joint ventures, including a non-controlling, 76.7% equity partnership interest in the Litens Automotive Partnership, which is a supplier of drive subsystems and components. Product offerings include! accessor! y drive systems and products, including auto tensioners and idlers, overrunning alternator decoupler assemblies, Torqfiltr crankshaft vibration control technology, isolating crank pulley assemblies and clutched waterpump pulleys and assemblies; timing drive systems and products, including tensioners (both for belt and chain) and idlers, SmartSprocket tuned sprockets and clutched waterpump pulleys and assemblies, and other specialty products, including vehicle start/stop subsystems. Litens has manufacturing operations in North America (Canada), Europe (Germany) and Rest of World (China, Brazil and India).
Roof Systems
The Company designs, engineers and manufactures vehicle roof systems for the global automotive industry. Its capabilities are retractable hard tops, soft tops and sliding folding and modular roofs.
Vehicle Engineering and Contract Assembly
Magna provides components, systems and vehicle engineering and contract vehicle assembly services for the automotive industry. It is also the brand-independent assembler of complete vehicles and an engineering and manufacturing partner in the field of fuel systems. Its capabilities include engineering services, contract manufacturing and fuel systems. Processes employed in its vehicle engineering and contract assembly operations include manual and automated welding; bonding and riveting; manual and automated painting/coating (dipped and sprayed) and sealing, as well as manual and automated assembly.
Hybrid and Electric Vehicles/Systems
Magna develops, manufactures and integrates hybrid and electric products and vehicle systems through E-Car Systems. Its capabilities under the Hybrid and Electric Vehicles/Systems include components, batteries and vehicle systems. Processes employed in its hybrid and electric vehicles/systems operations include manual and automated assembly; surface mount assembly; wave soldering and point-to-point solder assembly; automated servo changeover for! surface ! mount technology conveyance; stator winding, wire lead fusing, end turn blocking and lacing; rotor core assembly, magnetization and balancing; laser and ultrasonic welding, and dynamometer testing.
Tooling, Engineering and Other
Magna designs, engineers and manufactures tooling for our own use, as well as for sale to its customers. Additionally, the Company provides engineering support services, independent of particular production programs on which it may have production sales.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
At some point, there comes a time to pursue interests beyond your job. For Herbert Demel, chief strategy officer at auto parts supplier Magna International (NYSE: MGA ) , who turns 60 this year,�that time is now.
- [By Chad Fraser]
Another option is to invest in component makers like Magna International (NYSE: MGA), which makes a range of automotive components, including chassis, seats and electronics.
- [By Gordon Pape]
The company is not as well-known as competitor Magna International (MGA), but it is highly successful and employs 17,600 people in North America, Europe, and Asia. It has 40 manufacturing locations, five research and development centers, and 15 sales offices in 12 countries.
Hot Warren Buffett Companies To Own For 2014: Blyth Inc. (BTH)
Blyth, Inc. operates as a direct to consumer marketing company in North America, Europe, and Australia. The company operates in three segments: Health & Wellness, Candles & Home D茅cor, and Catalog & Internet. The Health & Wellness segment offers a suite of weight-management products, nutritional supplements, and energy drinks under the ViSalus Sciences, ViSalus, and Body by Vi Challenge brands primarily through its independent promoters. The Candles & Home D茅cor segment sells food and recipe products, candles, reed diffusers, and other home fragrance products and related decorative accessories under the PartyLite, GloLite by PartyLite, and Two Sisters Gourmet by PartyLite names through independent sales consultants. The Catalog & Internet segment develops and markets an array of decorative and functional household products, personalized cards, gifts, food products, and health and wellness products under the Miles Kimball, Walter Drake, As We Change, Easy Comforts, and Ex posures brands through its Websites, catalogs, and direct mail campaigns. Blyth, Inc. was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Udovich]
Small cap NYSE stocks Blyth, Inc (NYSE: BTH), ITT Educational Services, Inc (NYSE: ESI) and U.S. Silica Holdings Inc (NYSE: SLCA) had the highest short interest as of late September according to HighShortInterest.com with short interest of 56.80%, 55.73% and 40.22%, respectively. However, shorting a stock can be a dangerous business as the bears can and do sometimes get mauled by the bulls. With that in mind, let�� take a look at why the bulls or the bears may be right or wrong about these three shorted small cap NYSE stocks:�
Hot Warren Buffett Companies To Own For 2014: Strayer Education Inc (STRA)
Strayer Education, Inc. provides post-secondary education services. The Company offers a range of academic programs through its wholly owned subsidiary Strayer University, Inc. (the University), both in classroom courses and online via the Internet. Strayer University is an institution of higher learning that offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in business administration, accounting, information technology, education, health care, public administration and criminal justice at 92 physical campuses in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C., and online. As of December 31, 2011, the Company had opened 78 of its campuses. The Company has also developed a robust online education program.
Strayer University offers business, information technology and professional-oriented curricula to equip students with specialized and practical knowledge and skills for careers in business, industry and Government. Its Academic School Deans and Program Curriculum Committees regularly review and revise the University�� course offerings to improve the educational programs and respond to changes in job markets. Strayer University offers graduate programs in Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.); Jack Welch Executive Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Degree; Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree;Master of Health Services Administration (M.H.S.A.) Degree; Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) Degree; Master of Science (M.S.) Degree (Information Systems, Accounting, Human Resource Management and Management), and Executive Graduate Certificate Programs (Business Administration, Information Systems and Accounting).
Strayer University�� undergraduate programs include Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree (Accounting, Information Systems, Economics and Criminal Justice! ); Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) Degree;Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree (Accounting, Acquisition and Contract Management, Business Administration, Information Systems, Economics, Marketing and Criminal Justice); Diploma Programs (Accounting, Acquisition and Contract Management, and Information System), and Undergraduate Certificate Programs (Accounting, Business Administration and Information Systems). Each undergraduate degree program includes courses in oral and written communication skills, as well as mathematics and a range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. In addition to its degree, diploma and certificate programs, it offers classes to non-degree and non-program students wishing to take courses for personal or professional enrichment. Strayer University students may enroll in courses at more than one campus and take courses online.
Students can take classes online using either a synchronous (real time) or asynchronous (on demand) format. Students may take all of their courses online or may take online courses as a supplement to traditional, classroom-based courses. Tuition for online courses is the same as for campus courses. During the year ended December 31, 2011, Strayer University had over 32,000 students who took classes solely online.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Mark Hulbert]
The stocks are C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) �, a freight-transportation company; chip maker Cirrus Logic (CRUS) �; independent oil company Forest Oil (FST) �; investment bank Greenhill & Co. (GHL) �; Intrepid Potash (IPI) �, a fertilizer company; retailer J.C. Penney (JCP) �; Quest Diagnostics (DGX) �, a medical diagnostic company; Strayer Education (STRA) �, a for-profit college; Tower Group International (TWGP) �, an insurance company; and Windstream Holdings (WIN) �, a rural telecommunications firm.
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