Warren Buffett Didn’t Know How Bad COVID-19 Would Get

A lack of any major purchases by Berkshire Hathaway and the wizard of Omaha’s continued restraint could indicate that the revered investor, like the rest of the market, is uncertain.

| More on:
close-up photo of investor Warren Buffett

Image source: The Motley Fool

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s premium investing services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

Earlier in March, Warren Buffett described the market crash as a one-two punch — a combo of pandemic and falling oil prices. It was before the market hit its lowest point. And now, the oil has hit rock bottom as well.

Warren Buffett is known to make a fortune in market crashes by buying amazing companies at low prices. His well-placed decisions and strategy of “being greedy when others are fearful” have allowed him to amass an empire of powerful investment. But despite the fact that his firm is sitting on a huge pile of cash, that he and the firm haven’t made any significant purchases might be a warning in itself.

One thing this “restraint” indicates is that it’s possible that Warren Buffett didn’t know how bad the pandemic would get. The wizard of Omaha might be seeing a clouded future, just like the rest of us. Some people are also speculating that Buffett is still waiting to make his move, that maybe the market hasn’t fallen hard enough yet. Meanwhile, Berkshire Hathaway’s current portfolio is also suffering heavy losses.

The airlines and financial elements of the company’s portfolio have been hit the hardest and are still taking a lot of time to recover. However, the one sector that has been working well for Buffett’s portfolio is technology.

A software company

If Buffett’s current moves and recent non-existent purchases do not offer a viable investment insight, we can look at some of his older decisions that are currently paying off, like investing in tech companies. One option that investors might want to consider is Kinaxis (TSX:KXS), which, at a price-to-earnings ratio of 117 for the last 12 months, might be one of the most overvalued stocks on TSX.

Kinaxis is a supply chain solution management. It provides cloud-based supply chain solutions to a wide variety of industries, usually major multinational organizations.

Some of the important clients of the company are Ford, Cisco, Avaya, Qualcomm, Nissan, and Yamaha. The company’s crown jewel product is RapidResponse — a cloud-based integrated supply chain planning platform.

Kinaxis’s current market capitalization is $3.5 billion, and its enterprise value is $2.29 billion. Its balance sheet is strong, with almost no debt, a large amount of cash and decent cash flows. When the market fell in March, Kinaxis’s share price went down 22%, but it’s already recovered and is currently at its five-year highest point. Its five-year returns are about 359%, and the CAGR is 35.6%.

Foolish takeaway

Even in this uncertain market, where many great companies have been run to the ground, some stocks are still performing well. But it’s hard to say if this streak will continue, especially if the world enters a new recession. If gurus like Warren Buffett are unable to predict the market and are exercising caution, other investors might benefit from staying their hand as well.

This might be a hard thing to do, especially with so many amazing stocks available at such discounted prices. But even if you do invest, make sure it’s in a company that you understand and has a reasonable chance of surviving the worst that’s yet to come.

Should you invest $1,000 in Bmo Mid-term Us Ig Corporate Bond Index Etf right now?

Before you buy stock in Bmo Mid-term Us Ig Corporate Bond Index Etf, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada analyst team just identified what they believe are the Top Stocks for 2025 and Beyond for investors to buy now… and Bmo Mid-term Us Ig Corporate Bond Index Etf wasn’t one of them. The Top Stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 ... if you invested $1,000 in the “eBay of Latin America” at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $21,345.77!*

Stock Advisor Canada provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month – one from Canada and one from the U.S. The Stock Advisor Canada service has outperformed the return of S&P/TSX Composite Index by 24 percentage points since 2013*.

See the Top Stocks * Returns as of 4/21/25

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Adam Othman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. David Gardner owns shares of Ford. Tom Gardner owns shares of Qualcomm. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Berkshire Hathaway (B shares). The Motley Fool owns shares of Qualcomm. The Motley Fool recommends KINAXIS INC and recommends the following options: long January 2021 $200 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), short January 2021 $200 puts on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), and short June 2020 $205 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares).

Confidently Navigate Market Volatility: Claim Your Free Report!

Feeling uneasy about the ups and downs of the stock market lately? You’re not alone. At The Motley Fool Canada, we get it — and we’re here to help. We’ve crafted an essential guide designed to help you through these uncertain times: "5-Step Checklist: How to Prepare Your Portfolio for Volatility."

Don't miss out on this opportunity for peace of mind. Just click below to learn how to receive your complimentary report today!

Get Our Free Report Today

More on Tech Stocks

data analyze research
Tech Stocks

Is BlackBerry (TSX:BB) a Buy in May 2025?

While its recent downturn might not look pretty, it might be the best opportunity to buy BlackBerry (TSX:BB) stock and…

Read more »

cloud computing
Tech Stocks

How I’d Allocate $14,000 in Tech Stocks in Today’s Market

These top tech stocks are perfect choices for investors looking for stable income, all from strong and growing industries.

Read more »

how to save money
Tech Stocks

If I Could Only Buy and Hold a Single Tech Stock, This Would Be it

Do you want long-term income? This tech stock is just getting started.

Read more »

Happy shoppers look at a cellphone.
Tech Stocks

Is Shopify (TSX:SHOP) a Screaming Buy Right Now?

Here’s why this e-commerce giant might be an excellent investment in the current market environment amid all the uncertainty.

Read more »

dividends can compound over time
Tech Stocks

Where I’d Put $10,000 in My TFSA for Long-Term Performance

Investors usually won't look to tech stocks for long-term investing, but in the case of this one they should!

Read more »

A microchip in a circuit board powers artificial intelligence.
Tech Stocks

Leading Canadian AI Contenders Every Tech Investor Should Consider

Smart tech investors might want to buy these two top Canadian AI stocks now and hold them for years to…

Read more »

A shopper makes purchases from an online store.
Tech Stocks

Shopify Stock Below $130: A Potential TFSA Accelerator for Tax-Free Capital Gains

Shopify stock has stabilized, and now it's looking like a strong top choice for investors.

Read more »

stocks climbing green bull market
Tech Stocks

Where I’d Invest $7,500 in These Top Undervalued Stocks With Potential for Appreciation

Investing in undervalued TSX stocks such as Electrovaya should help you deliver outsized gains in 2025 and beyond.

Read more »