1/13/2012 @ 3:49下午 |2,732 viewsWarren Buffett's Big Earnings Week 
Image via Wikipedia With earnings season kicking into high gear, dozens of companies from across the market spectrum are slated to step up to the plate in the coming week. In their reports, these firms will provide important insights into how they fared over the past three months as well as what they expect to see as we progress further into 2012. Fans of Warren Buffett should have their eyes set on the earnings calendar in the coming days as a number of the investor’s top portfolio holdings take the spotlight. While, given his long- term investing horizon, a single quarter’s showing will likely do little to impact Buffett’s investment decisions, these showings will be interesting to watch for his followers. Wells Fargo (WFC) will kick off the week’s festivities when it releases its report on Tuesday. For decades, the California-based financial titan has been a staple of the Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) investment portfolio. Currently, the firm is the third largest holding, representing a nearly 15% slice of its assets. Related Articles
It has taken its lumps along with the rest of the financial sector as macroeconomic headwinds have continued to weigh heavily on investor confidence. However, the air surrounding Wells heading into next week appears relatively optimistic. A report from Bloomberg notes that the institution could see its 2011 profit growth more than quadruple the increase seen by JPMorgan (JPM). In the past, Wells Fargo has been praised by Buffett and others for its relatively risk-averse business strategy. For instance, the firm is unique in that it lacks a large investment banking division. This quality has boded well for the company as other banking institutions have battled against extreme market volatility. In the second half of the week, American Express (AXP) reports. AXP is a major Buffett holding, accounting for over 11% of the Berkshire portfolio. While AmEx has spent a long time in Buffett’s sights, the billionaire investor has increasingly expanded his exposure to card companies over the past year. Today, MasterCard (MA) and Visa (V) can also be found in his legendary portfolio. The final quarter of the year is traditionally a busy one for consumers as mobs head to shopping centers and log into online accounts in order to fulfill holiday wish lists. Analysts highlighted in a recent Wall Street Journal report note that improving confidence on the part of the consumer has helped boost revenue growth expectations for the credit card industry. During the second half of the week, investors will find out if AXP lives up to those expectations. On the same day that American Express releases its report, investors can expect to learn how Buffett’s newest and perhaps most surprising 2011 newcomer fared in the waning weeks of 2011. International Business Machines (IBM) is on tap for Thursday, along with fellow Berkshire Hathaway newbie Intel (INTC). Thanks to an $11 billion investment, the former has become the second largest Berkshire Hathaway position, trumped only by Coca-Cola (KO). Despite his recent interest in IBM and Intel, Buffett is far from a technophile. In the past he has expressed his concern with the information technology sector, claiming that this market corner boast contrasting qualities to the “sure-thing” industries he has relied on in the past. In explaining his unwillingness to venture into Apple (AAPL), Buffett noted that he struggles to confidently foresee what is ahead for the firm. |
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