Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has increased its stake in Mitsui & Co. to over 10%, becoming a major shareholder and signaling confidence in Japan's trading houses, which have shown resilience amid volatile commodity prices. The move may lead to further stake expansion, boosting the stocks of Mitsui and other Japanese trading firms.
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway increased its stakes in Japanese trading houses Mitsubishi and Mitsui, signaling confidence and prompting share price gains, with Berkshire's holdings approaching but not exceeding 10%, as the firms focus on shareholder returns and portfolio management.
Warren Buffett is increasing his investments in five Japanese trading companies that operate as conglomerates with strong dividends, while advising against investing in Charter Communications. These Japanese firms share similarities with Berkshire Hathaway and are valued for their prudent management and capital deployment. Buffett's career highlights the power of long-term, compounded returns, and his recent focus on these under-the-radar stocks presents potential opportunities for investors.
Warren Buffett has raised his stakes in each of the five major Japanese trading houses to 7.4%, citing their high earnings yield and potential for dividend growth. The Berkshire Hathaway CEO plans to hold the investments for 10 to 20 years and may consider further investments. The trading houses, known as sogo shosha, are conglomerates that trade in a wide range of products and materials, and have been criticized for their complex operations and growing exposure to risks overseas. However, for Buffett, their diversified operations and high dividend yields are part of the draw.
Shares of Japanese trading houses rose after Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, said he plans to increase his holdings in five major Japanese trading houses. The trading houses, known as sogo shosha, are conglomerates that import everything from energy and metals to food and textiles into resource-scarce Japan. Buffett currently holds a 7.4% stake in Itochu and plans to meet with the companies later in the week "to really just have a discussion around their businesses and emphasize our support."
Warren Buffett is considering additional investment in Japanese stocks and holds a 7.4% stake in each of five Japanese trading houses, including Itochu Corp. The other trading houses are Mitsubishi Corp, Mitsui & Co, Sumitomo Corp, and Marubeni. Berkshire Hathaway had more than a 6% stake in each of those five trading houses, according to regulatory filings made in November last year.