"ITW - Illinois Tool Works

BDX - Becton Dickinson

I don't own either but they have been on my list and perpetually "too expensive"."

I have been looking at ITW for years. Like you said it always seems perpetually too expensive. Plus, it was hard to get a grasp on their expected future earnings because they were constantly buying and selling various lines of business. Combine those two factors and I ended up putting them into the too hard pile.

I owned 100 shares at one point (the old, buy a small amount so I force myself to pay closer attention to them), but I think I sold that when I cleaned out my IRA a few years ago and eliminated all of the little positions like that.

I haven't looked at them in a while (probably pre-COVID), maybe they are big enough now that the constant buying and selling of business lines isn't material enough to greatly affect future earnings estimates. Your post has inspired me to look at them again because I do love the business.

Berkshire Hathaway FAQ

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