Earlier this week, I decided to sell my investment in Bank of America (NYSE:BAC). It’s one of the largest investments Warren Buffett owns in the Berkshire Hathaway stock portfolio.
Despite this, I figured there was a better opportunity available. And the stock I’ve been buying just so happens to be another Berkshire investment.
Why sell?
First things first – I can’t see anything wrong with Bank of America shares. But with the stock up 42% since October, I don’t think they offer the same value they once did.
Buffett also pointed out a significant risk with the stock at the last Berkshire Hathaway meeting. Concerns over US banking regulation caused him to sell shares in JP Morgan and other banks.
I held my shares a bit longer, since I thought there were still attractive returns on offer. A 3.6% dividend plus share buybacks averaging 2.6% a year looked attractive to me.
A higher share price changes things somewhat – the dividend yield comes down and share buybacks have less effect. That’s why I decided to sell the stock to buy something else.
What to buy?
I’ve been adding to my stake in Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC) with some of the cash I generated from the BofA sale. The stock is down 10% over the last 12 months and I think I see an opportunity.
My investment thesis for the company has been the same for a while. I’m not expecting significant revenue growth from the business, but I think it can improve profitability by reducing its debt.
So far, that thesis seems to be playing out. Back in November, the firm announced it had met its balance sheet targets and was therefore going to spend $3bn on share buybacks by the end of 2026.
At today’s prices, that’s about a 7% return – or 2.4% a year. By itself, that’s not eye-catching, but adding it to a dividend currently yielding 4.6% makes for a more interesting proposition.
Looking for opportunities
Investing, as Buffett notes, isn’t about predicting what share prices will do. It’s about working out how much cash a business is likely to be able to pay out over time.
It’s not so long since I thought I could get a 6.2% return from BoA. But at today’s prices, I think I have a better chance of achieving this kind of return with Kraft Heinz.
The biggest threat to my thesis is a resurgance in inflation. That would be a nuisance for a number of reasons, but in this context it would be bad for the company’s margins.
Kraft Heinz is investing heavily into its brands though. They’re its main defence against increasing costs and I think these will prove a valuable asset over time.
Buffett stocks
I’m a big fan of the Berkshire CEO and I’m always interested in what the company has been selling. But I always make sure I have my own investment thesis.
By itself, the fact that someone else bought (or sold) a stock isn’t a good enough reason for me to do the same. While I’m buying and selling Buffett stocks, I’m making sure I stick to my own ideas.
The post I just sold this Warren Buffett stock… and bought this one instead appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.
Should you buy Kraft Heinz Intermediate Corporation Ii now?
Don’t make any big decisions yet.
Because Mark Rogers — The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing — has revealed 5 Shares for the Future of Energy.
And he believes they could bring spectacular returns over the next decade.
Since the war in Ukraine, nations everywhere are scrambling for energy independence, he says. Meanwhile, they’re hellbent on achieving net zero emissions. No guarantees, but history shows…
When such enormous changes hit a big industry, informed investors can potentially get rich.
So, with his new report, Mark’s aiming to put more investors in this enviable position.
Click the button below to find out how you can get your hands on the full report now, and as a thank you for your interest, we’ll send you one of the five picks — absolutely free!
Grab your FREE Energy recommendation now
setButtonColorDefaults(“#5FA85D”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43A24A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#FFFFFF”, ‘color’, ‘#FFFFFF’);
})()
More reading
What’s going on with the Tesla share price?
The 2024 stock market recovery looks imminent!
How to try and build a £1,000,000 SIPP with just £500 a month
FTSE shares: is March a once-in-a-decade chance to get rich?
1 brilliant FTSE 100 stock to consider buying in March
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Stephen Wright has positions in Berkshire Hathaway and Kraft Heinz. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
