Investing

Ten Strategies to Invest Like Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett is generally considered to be one of the great investors of modern history. After all, under his leadership, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A) has become worth more than $300 billion, putting Buffett’s own net worth at more than $60 billion.

Many investors chase Buffett’s stock investments each quarter, and there are numerous lessons that can be picked learned by understanding the Oracle of Omaha’s investment career. While you almost certainly will not be out striking a multi-billion dollar buyout of a railway, utility or food company, there are many relatable lessons in Buffett’s investment strategies.

Based on our own analysis, 24/7 Wall St. has identified 10 strategies that help ordinary speculators invest like Buffett. These strategies do not focus on chasing Buffett’s moves after he has made them. Instead, the aim of these strategies is to encourage a strategic approach to long-term wealth-building strategies, and to help you adapt as the the market evolves throughout your life.

Buffett thinks longer term than the bulk of investors. He also keeps his approach relatively straightforward and has formulas for what he thinks works. Buffett knows a few things about the business cycle of booms and busts. It is not by accident that the companies he picks do not go belly up in hard times.

Buffett also considers industry trends over a period of decades. His holding period is similarly long. You will see references to The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO), American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP), Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC), International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) and others throughout. Buffett has been a long-term investor in all of these companies.These four positions were 56% of the total fair value of his $116 billion in public equity holdings as of March 31, 2014.

Analyzing Warren Buffett is often harder than it seems. While Buffett is no stranger to talking up his own portfolio, he only speaks with the media when he wants to. And now he has two portfolio managers under him, not including his long-time friend and Berkshire vice chairman, Charlie Munger. Simply chasing new Warren Buffett stock picks is something guru-watchers often do. However, there is a long lag between when Buffett invests in a company and when the public gets to see the new holding in SEC filings.

Here are 10 strategies that all investors can use to invest like Warren Buffett.

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