Warren Buffett strategy is known worldwide for being one of the most successful at buying stock picks ever. His philosophy is based on the Benjamin Graham process of value investing. When he took control of Berkshire Hathaway in 1965 he invested $10,000, this investment today is worth nearly $30 million. If he has invested this amount in the S&P 500 it would have grown in value to $500 000!

The legend that is Warren Buffett has grown to such a degree as to almost appear mythical. His philosophy of value investing has him pursuing bargains, much like a bargain hunter might and this is how he makes his millions. He sees value in certain stocks which other people can’t. The products he purchases are under-valued, so they don’t attract other investors.

Securities with low intrinsic worth are grist for his mill. He identifies these and predicts their worth by analyzing the company’s fundamentals. The majority of buyers are unable to predict this and Warren Buffett seems to know that the market will eventually favor his investments.

Supply and demand do not concern him in the least, although traditionally this is what controls a market. Warren Buffett wants long term returns not capital gains. His famous quote „In the short term the market is a popularity contest; in he long term it is a weighing machine“ says it all.

He looks at stocks in terms of the company’s overall potential to make money. Because he seeks long term investment value, capital gain is of no consequence, and this is what makes value investing so different to other methods of investing.

When he looks at an investment opportunity and evaluates the relationship between its stock price against the level of the company’s excellence. He also asks himself certain questions, such as performance regarding return on equity, if the company avoids taking on excessive debt (we all know how he feels about debt), how long the company has been public and whether or not it relies on a commodity.

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