Billionaire investor and recently retired Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett has inspired many people to look for promising long-term investment opportunities. Some of the best of those opportunities are found in the form of value stocks. Some investors simply follow Buffett's lead and buy what he bought for Berkshire, while others take his simple advice of buying index funds instead.
If you want to match (or potentially outperform) the Oracle of Omaha, it's worth knowing what's in Berkshire's portfolio. There are dozens of stocks in Berkshire's portfolio to invest $1,000 in, but two stocks in particular have delivered exceptional long-term returns for investors, and they look primed for more gains.
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Amazon
Amazon (AMZN +0.11%) is one of the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks, but its returns haven't been so magnificent lately. The stock is down by 10% year to date and has shed 12% of its value over the past year.
The primary concern at the moment is that Amazon is spending too much on artificial intelligence (AI), but Amazon can reduce or turn off that spending at any time. It's similar to how Amazon operated in its early days. Lower profits due to increased investment in the company eventually led to higher growth, and when Amazon focused on building profits, it had a much higher top line as a foundation.
NASDAQ: AMZN
Key Data Points
AI has translated into higher sales growth. Amazon Web Services revenue continues to accelerate and was up by 24% year over year in the fourth quarter. However, that's not the only high-growth segment of the business. E-commerce, online ads, and AI chips are additional areas in which Amazon is leading.
Buffett didn't give up on stocks with strong fundamentals just because they underperformed the S&P 500 index over a short stretch. Amazon's double-digit revenue growth rate and expansion into AI do not line up with the stock's performance. Eventually, Amazon stock will appreciate nicely from current levels due to the excellent business growth it has achieved. Buying in with a $1,000 investment could help you tap into this future growth.
American Express
American Express (AXP +0.40%) is one of the three credit card giants, with Visa and Mastercard the other two. All three of these stocks are in Berkshire's portfolio. Berkshire seems to appreciate businesses that make a small percentage on every credit card transaction.
NYSE: AXP
Key Data Points
American Express is essentially a bet on the strength of the U.S. consumer. The more money people spend, the better American Express will perform. Its recent financial results point to a strong economy, with revenue up by 10% year over year. Net income inched up by 13% year over year in Q4.
American Express' valuation and dividend make it stand out from its peers. The company's P/E ratio of 23 is lower than Visa's and Mastercard's valuations, offering a higher margin of safety. American Express also hiked its dividend by 16% this year, which is a very high growth rate.
American Express is a durable company that has survived various economic downturns. Its function as a top credit card provider ensures that it will remain a vital part of global commerce for many years, and investors who buy in with a $1,000 purchase (or any amount, really) can expect solid returns and higher dividends over time.
