SAJ-99
Well-known member
BRK.A total return is pretty much inline with market over last 30yrs and has trailed over the last 15. I think your post shows how the perception of Buffet and Munger has been built into one of almost celebrity. The question of valuation in a break up is very interesting. Half of BRK.A is now public companies so there wouldn't be an impact of any breakup. Another 20% is cash. The question of what the privately held stuff is worth as publicly traded versus held by a person who thinks no company should ever be sold and isn't actively involve in management is the interesting part. BRK.A has a P/E of 10 and I tend to think the market has efficiently priced the holdings. I'm not sure that Dairy Queen is worth more as a public company than it is as a holding in BRK.A? I think the same can be said of a lot of companies held by Pvt Equity. There are a lot of overvalued stuff sitting in VC funds waiting to go public when the sentiment improves. The problem with making some of BRK holding public is they actually make money and have a more direct valuation. My guess is some would pop, others would fizzle. There is not a lot held by BRK that can be valued on overly optimistic future scenarios, but a lot would be immediate takeover targets.BRK has been a no brainer for decades. Buffet's succession plan (RIP Mr. Munger) will insure it remains so. My goodness and heaven forbid, but if there were ever a breakup can you imagine the rewards that shareholders would end up with? No idea here, but it they would be on a staggering scale.