Did Warren Buffett listen to four
University of Nebraska at Omaha students who recommended that he invest in John
Deere & Co.?
Actually, no.
But last week's disclosure of a
Deere investment by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. shows the students had the right
idea when they completed their final exam for adjunct instructor Robert Miles,
who teaches an executive MBA class at UNO.
Gretter Ramirez, James Bowen,
Chandrakanth Are and Vincent Wong wrote in their 20-page research paper that
Deere would fit Berkshire's criteria — good earnings, a strong brand name, a
“moat” to protect against competitors and growth prospects given the world
demand for food.
They turned in the paper Oct. 13.
Last week, Berkshire reported that it had purchased about $330 million worth of
Deere shares sometime before Sept. 30.
“Bingo, they got it,” said Miles,
who has written books about Buffett. “It made me feel good.”
The MBA students are a diverse
group: Ramirez is a native of Cuba, Are a native of India and Bowen a native of
Nebraska. Wong, from Seattle, took the class as a “lifelong learner.”
Miles said the students' correct
reasoning about Deere shows that one can study Buffett's principles and past
investments and come up with ideas that would fit into Berkshire's investment
portfolio. The purchase likely was not by Buffett but rather by one of his two
like-minded money managers, Ted Weschler or Todd Combs, who handle most
“smaller” investments.
During the three semesters Miles
has been teaching the Buffett-oriented class, students have made a couple of
dozen such recommendations, and this is the first one to nearly coincide with
an actual Berkshire investment.
2011.03.17 > For Immediate Release
contact: Charley Reed - University Relations
phone: 402.554.2129 - email: cdreed@unomaha.edu
Mammel Hall to host Value Investor Conference
on April 28-29>
Omaha - The University of Nebraska at Omaha’s
(UNO) College of Business Administration (CBA)
will be hosting the 8th Annual Value Investor Conference at Mammel
Hall, 6708 Pine St., on April 28 and 29.
The Value Investor
Conference, organized by Warren Buffet expert Robert P. Miles,
provides a chance for value-minded investors to meet with the CEOs
of many of Berkshire Hathaway’s subsidiaries just days before the
company’s annual shareholders meeting.
There will be eight presenters at the conference, including David
Sokol, chairman of NetJets, Charles Brandes, founder and chairman
of Brandes Investment, and Bill Child, chairman of RC Willey.
Other events include a networking lunch and reception for distinguishes
authors who have written books related to Warren Buffett. Those
who attend the conference can expect to learn tips, tricks and
cautionary advice from those who work closely with Buffett and
can provide insight into his investment strategies.
Miles, a biographer of Warren Buffet and long-term shareholder
of Berkshire stock, will also be speaking at the conference; a
preview for the semester-long course he will be teaching for CBA
in the fall of 2011
Space for the conference is limited to 100 participants and the
cost is $1095.
Comments, questions, suggestions,
please email: Robert
P Miles
or write to:
Robert Miles
Value Investor Conference
℅ UNO EMBA Program
6708 Pine St. MH100
Omaha, NE 68182-0048
USA
