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The week's question
In March 2025, in the thread "Re: OT, out", Umm asked the members: "Do you think it is because America is made up of magical soil that makes businesses based in America magically profitable?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Stocks A to Z / Stocks B / Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)
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Author: very stable genius ✶  😊 😞
Number: of 22353 
Subject: Re: SNOW down a lot today
Date: 03/01/24 10:21 AM
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No. of Recommendations: 19
WEBspired: "Warren & Charlie have really spoiled us and treated us as respected limited partners with their paltry $100K annual comp for 40+years compared to the typical CEO with their extra friendly board and adoring comp. consultants who love to keep the boss happy with expensive options. Chris Bloomstran has mentioned the majority of most buybacks in S&P 500 cos. essentially serve to try to make up for all of the dilution from stock options granted."

Yes indeed! From 1978 to 2021, CEO pay grew by 1,460%, far outstripping S&P stock market growth (1,063%). In contrast, compensation of the typical worker grew by just 18.1% from 1978 to 2021.

Bloomstran had this to say in last years Semper Augustus annual report, "At least 40% of S&P 500 aggregate net income over the last two decades has not been used for outside shareholder benefit,
but instead was paid to management. Makes 2 and 20 look like a discount. There is a better word than pirates, but this is a G-rated letter.
With such a large percentage of the income of the S&P500 going into the pockets of management, that much less is left for us shareholders in the way of dividends,
buybacks and investing in growing the businesses. Which will (theoretically at least) result in lower returns going forward."

Todays buyer of the S&P500 is getting an earnings yield of 3.61%, 40% of which is going into the pocket of management.

I think Disney Heiress Abigail Disney summed it up best, "If your CEO's salary is 500, 600, 700 times your median workers' pay, there is nobody on Earth, Jesus Christ himself isn't worth 500 times his median workers' pay."


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This community has written 21,861 posts about Berkshire Hathaway. The article-length ones it recommended most:
BRK: Why Not XOM? · 62 recs · 2024
Second quarter comments · 60 recs · 2023
Berkshire's Profit Contributors · 58 recs · 2023
Summary of 2Q 2026 · 55 recs · 2026
3Q Summary · 53 recs · 2024
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