Depending upon where your local elections are held, it looks like we are the half-way mark for most voting poll times today. What has been a 19- or 20- month ordeal is about to come to an end. If you trust the exit polls, it looks like Barack Obama is winning handily. The popular vote is much closer than the electoral vote count, but the electoral vote count is looking like a blowout victory in favor of Obama.
Huffington Post has its result numbers and Intrade has its result numbers looking that way.
Investors have been making bets which stocks would win and lose under a McCain or Obama administration. The election can impact issues for investors in just about every sector including health care, energy and financials. Of course, much will depend upon how many seats are won by parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
There is one likely winner if the current predictions for an Obama administration come true: Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK-A, BRK-B). Mr. Buffett has been a key endorser of Obama (and Hillary Clinton) and he has been anointed by the media as a potential (and hopeful) candidate for Treasury Secretary. What is more likely is that he will be on a key advisory team. Either way, Berkshire Hathaway would be considered a winner. Even if McCain shows that the preliminary results were just wrong and pulls out a surprise victory, he has said that he'd tap Buffett for advice. If McCain would get it, is another issue, but that has been thrown out there.
Many have said that Hank Paulson leaving Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS) and becoming Treasury Secretary helped keep Goldman Sachs's interests alive and thriving. Who thinks the pendulum only swings one way?
If you believe in the "if you help me, we'll help your team" theory, then about the only thing Mr, Buffett and his friends at Berkshire Hathaway will really have to properly forecast is the rates that they need to charge for homes and businesses that are in the way of future hurricanes each summer.
Now, for the other big question under this theory: Will Buffett's own holdings hold up well in harder times during the coming soft economy?
- He recently added to his position in Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. (NYSE: BNI).
- Here is our list of predictions we think Buffett added to.
- He has even personally endorsed Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) with his own money.
- Buffett is also back to about even on his General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) investment.
- And don't forget about his investment made into Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS).
- Here is a link list to his full public company holdings as of last quarter.
Berkshire shares are actually lagging the DJIA and S&P 500 performance today as shares are up only 0.35% at $117,900.00. Its 52 week trading range is $102,010.00 to $151,650.00. Buffett and friends are set to report earnings after the close on this Friday.
Too bad that "The Blue Fund" recently liquidated.
You can keep up with the latest Buffett news, hear about other mergers,private equity, IPO's, and previews to our subscriber newsletters via our open email distribution list we send emails to once or twice per week.
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The Partnership: The Making of Goldman Sachs by Charles D. Ellis
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The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder
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