Warren Buffett Shares Some Thoughts About the Pandemic

Warren Buffett is known for making fortunes during tough economic times, and his thoughts on the pandemic and its potential aftereffects are worth listening to.

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

Image source: The Motley Fool

Warren Buffett has shared his thoughts about the pandemic and its uneven economic impact. He also made a grim prediction that “there will be another pandemic.” And based on what happened in this pandemic, where a situation could definitely have been handled better in various parts of the world, we might not fare well in the coming pandemic as well. Buffett’s words also augment this notion; he said, “I learned that people don’t know as much as they think they do.”

The wizard of Omaha also reflected the uneven impact of the pandemic on the economy. He said, “many hundreds of thousands or millions of small businesses have been hurt in a terrible way, but most of the big companies have overwhelmingly done fine.”

Buffett also pointed out that many nuclear, chemical, biological, and cyber threats might be lurking and could have dire possibilities.

Lessons to learn

What can we learn from Buffett’s thoughts on the pandemic? As one of the greatest investors who’s ever lived, Buffett undoubtedly has the ability to see the big picture, and he can see businesses in the context of how the economy has changed and is changing. And since he found the pandemic “unpredictable” and didn’t buy as actively as he did in the aftermath of the Great Recession, there is an important lesson to be learned here.

And it’s that we cannot treat every market crash the same. Buffett teaches that investors should be “greedy when others are fearful,” but he also says that you should invest in what you understand. If the post-pandemic stocks and the market is something you can’t navigate, it might not be a good idea to tie your capital to companies just because they are discounted.

A stock that didn’t perform very well after the pandemic

Waste Connections (TSX:WCN)(NYSE:WCN) was a decent growth stock before the pandemic-driven market crash. Including its after-crash recovery and growth, the stock has grown over 135% in the last five years. But where several other growth stocks from multiple sectors (which indicates that it wasn’t a sector-specific phenomenon) rose to new heights after the pandemic, Waste Connections became almost stagnant.

Its growth in 2021 is 16%, which isn’t terrible per se, but it’s a far cry from the company’s potential. And this relatively modest growth comes with an expensive valuation tag, a price-to-earnings ratio of 143, and a price-to-book ratio of 5.6. Ironically, Waste Connections, by its very nature, is a business that shouldn’t have been affected by the pandemic at all. It’s a necessary service, and the fact that people spent more time in their homes during the pandemic shouldn’t have made a difference.

A stock that thrived after the pandemic

Another growth stock you should consider is BRP (TSX:DOO). It had been an even more robust growth stock before the pandemic, and it really took off after the pandemic-driven market crash. The overall five-year returns have been 377%, and even though the year-to-date growth is quite similar to Waste Connections’s, growth from Jan. 2021 to its yearly spike was quite aggressive.

And the best part is that despite being a more potent growth stock, it comes with a significantly lighter price tag. As a recreational product company, it’s also a fantastic recovery stock, since people might try to get back to their normal lives, take vacations, and do as much as they can to make up for the lost time.

Foolish takeaway

Whether you are just learning how to invest or are a seasoned investor, there is a lot you can learn from Warren Buffett’s words as well as his actions. Even if you disagree with him and don’t emulate his investment decisions, you can learn about the potential of different sectors just from Buffett’s attention on them. Similarly, you might consider avoiding some sectors and industries that Buffett is avoiding during (and after) market crashes.

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. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

More on Dividend Stocks

Train cars pass over trestle bridge in the mountains
Dividend Stocks

Is CNR Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold for 2025?

Can CNR stock continue its long-term outperformance into 2025 and beyond? Let's explore whether now is a good time to…

Read more »

coins jump into piggy bank
Dividend Stocks

The Smartest Dividend Stocks to Buy With $500 Right Now

These top dividend stocks both offer attractive yields and trade off their highs, making them two of the best to…

Read more »

Middle aged man drinks coffee
Dividend Stocks

Here’s the Average TFSA Balance at Age 35 in Canada

At age 35, it might not seem like you need to be thinking about your future cash flow. But ideally,…

Read more »

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund
Dividend Stocks

How to Invest Your $7,000 TFSA Contribution in 2024

Here's how I would prioritize a $7,000 TFSA contribution for growth and income.

Read more »

a man relaxes with his feet on a pile of books
Dividend Stocks

CPP Pensioners: Watch for These Important Updates

The CPP is an excellent tool for retirees, but be sure to stay on top of important updates like these.

Read more »

Technology
Dividend Stocks

TFSA Investors: 3 Dividend Stocks I’d Buy and Hold Forever

These TSX dividend stocks are likely to help TFSA investors earn steady and growing passive income for decades.

Read more »

four people hold happy emoji masks
Dividend Stocks

Love Dividend Growth? Check Out These 2 Income-Boosting Stocks

National Bank of Canada (TSX:NA) and another Canadian dividend-growth stock are looking like a bargain going into December 2024.

Read more »

An investor uses a tablet
Dividend Stocks

A Dividend Giant I’d Buy Over Enbridge Stock Right Now

Enbridge stock may seem like the best of the best in terms of dividends, but honestly this one is far…

Read more »