{
}
Warren Buffett is making his March Madness bracket contest more accessible this year, offering a one-time $1 million prize for correctly predicting at least 30 of the first 32 games. If no one wins, a consolation prize of $250,000 will go to the employee with the most correct picks. Despite the odds of a perfect bracket being astronomically low, Buffett hopes the changes will finally lead to a winner among Berkshire Hathaway's 400,000 employees.
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has increased its stakes in five major Japanese trading firms—Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, and Sumitomo—to between 8.5% and 9.8%. This move comes as the company reduces its exposure to US equities, with Japanese holdings valued at $23.5 billion against a cost of $13.8 billion. Buffett has praised the firms' management and capital strategies, and has secured an agreement allowing Berkshire to exceed the 10% ownership cap.
Basketball fans can win a free trip to Mars, $1 million, and other prizes by submitting perfect March Madness brackets in various competitions, including those hosted by Warren Buffett and Elon Musk. While the odds of achieving a perfect bracket are astronomically low, the stakes are high, with additional prizes like cash and free meals offered by local restaurants. As March Madness kicks off, many are expected to engage in bracket predictions, potentially impacting workplace productivity.
Berkshire Hathaway has seen significant gains this year, with Class B shares up 16%, contrasting sharply with the S&P 500's 4.5% loss. The company now holds $334 billion in cash after selling over $134 billion in stocks, primarily from its major holdings in Apple and Bank of America. CEO Warren Buffett continues to emphasize a disciplined approach to equity investment, maintaining a modest salary of $100,000 for over 40 years, significantly lower than the average for public company CEOs.
Warren Buffett has revamped his 2025 March Madness Challenge, now offering a $1 million prize for correctly predicting 30 of the first 32 games, a shift from the previous perfect bracket requirement. With around 65,000 Berkshire Hathaway employees participating last year, the new rules may attract even more entrants. If no one wins the million, a $250,000 prize will go to the best overall bracket.
Constellation Brands, primarily known for its beer business, which accounts for over 80% of sales, is forecasting 4% to 7% sales growth for fiscal 2025 despite recent challenges in the alcohol industry. The company is focusing on premiumization and leveraging its substantial advertising budget to maintain market dominance. Warren Buffett recently invested $1.3 billion in Constellation, highlighting its long-term value potential, even as the stock faces pressures from tariffs and disappointing wine and spirits sales.
Warren Buffett invested $2.6 billion in six stocks for Berkshire Hathaway, focusing on smaller market cap companies amid a challenging investment landscape. The notable purchases include Constellation Brands ($1.3 billion) and Domino's Pizza (estimated $470 million), while Berkshire also increased its Japanese investments. Despite divesting over $143 billion in equities, Buffett emphasizes the importance of owning good businesses over cash-equivalent assets.
Goldman Sachs Group's share price has surged 308% over the past five years, despite a recent 17% decline. The company's earnings per share grew at 14% annually, slower than the 33% share price growth, indicating increased market confidence. Total shareholder return over five years reached 361%, bolstered by dividends, while the one-year TSR improved to 47%, suggesting a positive trend in the business's performance. However, investors should be aware of two warning signs related to risks.
Berkshire Hathaway's stake in Apple has significantly decreased from 906 million to 300 million shares, while its investment in Bank of America has dropped below $30 billion. With cash reserves at $334 billion, Warren Buffett expresses caution about the current market, indicating a lack of compelling investment opportunities and high valuations in large-cap stocks. The company's recent stock sales, totaling $134 billion in 2024, further reflect this defensive stance amid a market correction.
Domino's Pizza is positioned for significant growth, with potential to double global retail sales in the next decade through new store openings and profit margin expansion. Despite recent slowing sales, the company’s robust dividend and share repurchase program enhance its attractiveness, especially as it trades below its historical P/E ratio. With a strong international presence and a consistent return of capital to shareholders, Domino's remains a compelling investment opportunity.
Warren Buffett
People
The information provided herein is generated by experimental artificial intelligence and is for informational purposes only.
warren buffett simplifies march madness contest for employees this year
United States Dollar
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
SpaceXCoin USD
Quicken Loans Inc.
USA
Elon Musk
Warren Buffett
Show more
18:37 18.03.2025
Berkshire Hathaway increases investment in Japanese trading firms to 10 percent
Japanese Yen
Itochu Enex Co.,Ltd.
Sumitomo Corp
Marubeni Corp
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.
Mitsubishi Corporation
JPN
Warren Buffett
Show more
17:59 18.03.2025
billionaires offer massive prizes for perfect march madness brackets
17:14 18.03.2025
Berkshire Hathaway thrives as Buffett's strategy shields against market volatility
16:54 18.03.2025
warren buffett changes march madness challenge to offer million dollar prize
United States Dollar
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Precision Castparts Corp. Master Trust
SpaceXCoin USD
USA
Dwayne Johnson
Warren Buffett
Show more
16:08 18.03.2025
constellation brands navigates challenges while focusing on premium beer growth
Apple Inc.
Occidental Petroleum Corp
VeriSign, Inc.
Constellation Brands, Inc.
Domino's Pizza, Inc.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Bank of America Corporation
USA
MEX
Warren Buffett
Show more
15:15 18.03.2025
Warren Buffett invests 2.6 billion in six stocks for Berkshire Hathaway
15:15 18.03.2025
Goldman Sachs Group achieves strong long-term returns despite recent share price decline
14:00 18.03.2025
Warren Buffett signals caution as S&P 500 enters correction phase
13:17 18.03.2025
domino's pizza poised for growth despite recent sales slowdown
NVIDIA Corporation
Domino's Pizza, Inc.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
McDonald's Corporation
Netflix, Inc.
USA
Warren Buffett
Show more
12:05 18.03.2025
Trending
Subcategory
Stock Market Updates
Corporate News
Industry Trends
Banking Regulations
Finance Mergers & Acquisitions
Global Financial Events
Retail and Consumer Goods
CEO Changes
Central Bank Actions
GDP Growth & Recession Forecasts
Global Trade Developments
Financial Scams and Security
Industry Mergers & Acquisitions
Inflation and Monetary Impact
Market Analysis and Predictions
Government Policies
Government Economic Policies
Supply Chain Management
Startups & Entrepreneurship
Workplace Trends
Countries:
Companies:
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Tesla, Inc.
Apple Inc.
Bank of America Corporation
Barclays PLC
Wells Fargo & Company
Citigroup Inc.
Deutsche Bank Money Market PP
Morgan Stanley
Huawei Technologies CO. Ltd.
Lloyds Banking Group plc
Microsoft Corporation
Credit Suisse Strategic Income I
NVIDIA Corporation
AXA SA
Safran SA
Banco Santander, S.A.
Novartis AG
End Federal Reserve USD
Currencies:
United States Dollar
Euro
Chinese Yuan
British Pound Sterling
Swiss Franc
Japanese Yen
Indian Rupee
Russian Ruble
Australian Dollar
Canadian Dollar
United Arab Emirates Dirham
Indonesian Rupiah
Saudi Riyal
South Korean Won
Danish Krone
Offshore Chinese Yuan
Hong Kong Dollar
Mexican Peso
Malaysian Ringgit
Vietnamese Đồng
People: