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Case Study: Warren Buffet

In: Business and Management

Submitted By olbrantz
Words 1277
Pages 6
Matt Olbrantz
ENGM 5550
2/08/2011
Interim Assignment #2-Case Study; Warren Buffett

It was apparent at a young age that Buffett was destined for success. His parents, grandparents knew he was a gifted as a child and eventually would turn into something great. He had something that no one else had, a savvy for business ethics and profit. It is incredible to me that by the time Buffett finished high school he had $6,000 in savings. And even more incredible to have almost $10,000 by the time he got out of college. Buffett took what he learned as a young boy about selling everyday items like gum and used the same philosophy in making billions in the stock market.

As a young boy shades of brilliance were apparent, selling lemonade, bubble gum, then the purchase of pin ball machines for use in barber shops and then selling them for a profit. Buffett began trading stocks at a young age with success. It was obvious Buffett knew what he was doing as an adolescent and I think this set the foundation’s for his strategies later in life. It also shows that he would not invest something he was not familiar with. Who is not familiar with gum, lemonade and pin ball as a kid??

Warren Buffett was first exposed to formal training in investing at Columbia University, where Buffett studied under Prof. Ben Graham. Graham developed a method that identified undervalued stocks and this was Buffett’s cornerstone approach of what is now called “valued investing”. From 1962 up through the 80’s Buffett really made his mark on the financial institutions across the US. In 1965 Buffett took a risk with Berkshire Hathaway, at first did not pan out but in 1967 with the purchase of stocks in two separate companies it showed how Buffett’s patience has paid off. In 1970 when he became CEO of Berkshire, this was the mark that changed investing for everyone in

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