Warren Buffett Case Study

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Case Study #1 – Warren E. Buffett, 2005

Olena (Alyona) Gladyshko

1. What is the possible meaning of the change in stock prices for Berkshire Hathaway and Scottish Power plc on the day of acquisition announcement? Specifically, what does the $2.55 billion gain in Berkshire’s market value of equity imply about the intrinsic value of PacifiCorp?

Generally speaking, the change in stock prices on the day of the acquisition announcement means that the market approves or disapproves the acquisition. As the market value of Berkshire 's company went up, it demonstrates the market approval of it and created value of $2.55 billion for both buyers and sellers.

2. Based on the multiples for comparable regulated utilities, what is the range of possible …show more content…

According to Buffett, intrinsic value is an all-important concept that offers the only logical approach to evaluating the relative attractiveness of investments and businesses. Intrinsic value can be defined simply: It is the discounted value of the cash that can be taken out of a business during its remaining life.
The calculation of intrinsic value, though, is not so simple. As the definition suggests, intrinsic value is an estimate rather than a precise figure, and it is additionally an estimate that must be changed if interest rates move or forecasts of future cash flows are revised. Two people looking at the same set of facts, will almost inevitably come up with at least slightly different intrinsic value figures.
Accounting profit can serve as an alternative to intrinsic value. But Buffett states that “...we do not measure the economic significance or performance of Berkshire by its size; we measure by per-share progress.” Accounting reality was conservative, backward looking, and governed by GAAP (measures in terms of net profit), therefore Buffett rejects this alternative. According to the world’s most famous investor, investment decisions should be based on economic reality, not on accounting

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