Lately, thanks to financial television’s hunger for content, money managers are starting to behave a little bit like professional wrestlers trash talking outside of the ring. Ackman versus Icahn. Gross versus El-Arian. Imagine “Nature Boy” Ric Flair or Dusty “The American Dream” Rhodes (Okay, I’m dating myself) with an MBA, running a couple hundred billion dollars. #-ad_banner-#Strangely, Warren “The Oracle of Omaha” Buffett has been dragged into the fray by Carl “The Raider” Icahn. In a sideline interview at the annual Robin Hood Investor’s Conference, Ichan suggested that Buffett take a more active corporate governance role in some of Berkshire… Read More
Lately, thanks to financial television’s hunger for content, money managers are starting to behave a little bit like professional wrestlers trash talking outside of the ring. Ackman versus Icahn. Gross versus El-Arian. Imagine “Nature Boy” Ric Flair or Dusty “The American Dream” Rhodes (Okay, I’m dating myself) with an MBA, running a couple hundred billion dollars. #-ad_banner-#Strangely, Warren “The Oracle of Omaha” Buffett has been dragged into the fray by Carl “The Raider” Icahn. In a sideline interview at the annual Robin Hood Investor’s Conference, Ichan suggested that Buffett take a more active corporate governance role in some of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.’s (NYSE: BRK-A) higher profile holdings. There’s no denying that Ichan is one of the sharpest value investors in the game. And Buffett’s reputation is the stuff of American legend. But really, Carl? Buffett chants his core investment belief like a mantra: buy great companies with deep-moat franchises and good management, and leave them alone. The result makes money for shareholders — activism isn’t his style. Icahn’s style is activist. He’s also a deeper value kind of guy, buying the stock of a company that’s stumbled. If he buys enough stock, then he gets seats on the board and… Read More