Does Warren Buffett invest in gold?
The answer to whether Warren Buffett invests in gold is a simple “no.” This probably doesn't surprise the “Oracle of Omaha” followers, as he's been very outspoken and open regarding his investment style, strategies and ownership.
Gold makes pretty jewelry, but it is by and large without practical uses. 7 In Buffett's opinion, since it has virtually no inherent value, it is not a good financial asset. The metal commodity that glitters for Buffett is silver, not gold.
| Company | Shares held | Holding value |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) | 43,000 | $18,782,400 |
| SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF (SPY) | 39,400 | $18,727,214 |
| Jefferies (JEF) | 433,558 | $17,520,079 |
| Liberty Latin Americ Class C (LILAK) | 1,284,020 | $9,424,707 |
It can (still) diversify your portfolio
It's never a bad idea to diversify your portfolio. The start of a new year is an opportune time to do just that by investing in gold. That's because gold tends to hold its value and even increase in value when other assets look shaky (as the above 2023 price range demonstrates).
| Company name & symbol | Percent change in share count over quarter | Value of investment at end of quarter |
|---|---|---|
| Sirius XM (SIRI) | 316% | $220,129,000 |
| Chevron Corp. (CVX) | 14% | $18,808,080,000 |
| Occidental Petroleum (OXY) | 9% | $14,552,270,000 |
A lot of billionaires are starting to invest in gold. They're seeing a record low interest rate environment, and many investors are choosing not to put their money into bonds, stocks or cash. Instead, these billionaires are investing in gold, which is the safest investment on the market.
The Pueblo Viejo gold mine in the Dominican Republic. Source: Barrick Gold Corp. Barrick Gold Corp.
Top Warren Buffett Stocks By Size
Bank of America (BAC), 1.03 billion. Apple (AAPL), 905.6 million. Coca-Cola (KO), 400 million.
- American Express: 20.6% stake. ...
- Ally Financial: 9.6% Stake. ...
- Bank of America: 13% Stake. ...
- Capital One: 3.3% Stake. ...
- Citigroup: 2.9% Stake. ...
- Nu Holdings: 2.3% Stake.
| Ticker | Company | % Portfolio |
|---|---|---|
| MSFT | Microsoft Corp. | 33.98% |
| BRK.B | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | 16.80% |
| CNI | Canadian National Railway Co. | 16.29% |
| WM | Waste Management Inc. | 14.92% |
What will gold be worth in 5 years?
Gold Price Predictions for the Next 5 Years
However, they maintain a bullish outlook on the price of gold for the long term. Traderindo's Laksono has maintained its forecast that gold could trade at between $2,550 to $3,000/oz. He said: “Many things could happen in five years, including global economic crises.
Con: It doesn't give you passive income or steady returns
Unlike some investments that yield passive income (e.g., rental properties, some stocks and bonds), physical gold doesn't provide passive income, dividends or interest. You will only earn once you sell your gold.
Silver could be a good option if you're considering investing a small amount of money, as it has more upside potential due to its industrial uses. On the other hand, if you plan to invest a larger sum, gold might be a better choice due to its scarcity and potential for higher gains.
Over 30 years ago, Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, made his first purchase of silver in anticipation of the metal's demonetization by the U.S. Government. Since that time he has followed silver's fundamentals but no entity he manages has owned it.
These were the stocks Buffett had in his portfolio heading into 2024. Some top picks of Berkshire are Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO) and Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX).
"My three children are the executors of my current will as well as the named trustees of the charitable trust that will receive 99%-plus of my wealth pursuant to the provisions of the will," Warren Buffett said in the letter.
Gold has lackluster returns over time
If you're buying gold because you expect to get rich, just stop today. The returns on gold pale in comparison to those on stocks or stock funds over time. While gold may outperform over periods of time, the performance of stocks has been vastly superior – here are the numbers.
Central banks purchase gold to diversify their reserves and gain liquidity from a ubiquitous asset without credit risk. For institutions and governments with long time horizons, gold's unique characteristics make it a natural option as a reserve asset and store of value.
So, how much is one tonne of gold precious metal worth? A tonne, in 2022, would be priced at its highest over $65,000,000 and the lowest just under $52,000,000.
Warren Buffett bought an approximate stake of US$565 million in Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX)(NYSE:ABX) in Q2 2020. As the Berkshire Hathaway's 13F filing revealed this Tuesday, he had exited the gold position altogether by the end of 2020. US$565 million is a lot of money to most people.
Why did Buffett sell Barrick Gold?
It is clear that Warren Buffett doesn't like gold investments. And the common reason he portrayed is that gold earns nothing if you hold it. The investment decision in Barrick Gold was broadly considered to be made by Berkshire's investment managers Todd Combs or Ted Weschler.
Warren Buffett's investment firm sold all its stake in Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX)(NYSE:GOLD) in the last quarter. Let's explore the key possible reasons for his decision to sell this Canadian mining company's shares.
| Stock | Number of Shares Owned | Value of Stake |
|---|---|---|
| Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) | 400,000,000 | $23.8 billion |
| Chevron (NYSE:CVX) | 126,093,326 | $18.9 billion |
| Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) | 248,018,128 | $15.1 billion |
| Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC) | 325,634,818 | $11.3 billion |
- Palo Alto Networks Inc. (ticker: PANW)
- Nvidia Corp. (NVDA)
- Apple Inc. (AAPL)
- Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)
- Alphabet Inc. (GOOG)
- Tesla Inc. (TSLA)
- AllianceBernstein Holding LP (AB)
- Walt Disney Co. (DIS)
When he goes down a track that doesn't make sense, he does not pay attention to anything, which is a weakness for a big business leader like him. His biggest weakness is greed. He loves money too much that it interfered with his relationship with his family for a long time.
