Warren Buffett Is 2020’s Biggest Money Loser, But Don’t Count Him Out Yet

• Warren Buffett’s net worth has dropped over $20 billion in 2020.
• Berkshire Hathaway is down about 20% year-to-date.
• The investing conglomerate’s strong cash position is an advantage if and when equity markets undergo a correction.

Warren Buffett is in the news again, as the Berkshire Hathaway CEO continues to lose billions.

Among the world’s wealthiest people, the Oracle of Omaha now carries the title of biggest loser. According to Bloomberg, Buffett’s wealth has plunged $20.1 billion  this year. He and Spanish billionaire Amancio Ortega have lost the most.

Buffett’s wealth is mostly linked to his Berkshire Hathaway stake. The investing conglomerate has lost about 20% in value year-to-date.

Although troubling, it would be premature to count out the Oracle of Omaha just yet. There are at least three ways Buffett can get back on track.

1. Buffett underperforms in bull markets

Amid surging equity values, especially tech stocks, critics have accused Buffett of underperformance. Berkshire’s underperformance, especially relative to tech stocks, is not a surprise, though. The investing conglomerate has usually lagged the market during such times. In bear markets, Berkshire outperforms.

A perfect example was the dot com bubble years  roughly two decades ago.

In 1999, when the Nasdaq and Dow Jones were heading for record highs, Berkshire Hathaway’s per-share market value fell by 19.9% . The S&P 500 index gained 21%.

Berkshire then went on to gain 26.6% and 6.5% in 2000 and 2001, respectively, after the dotcom bubble burst. The S&P 500 index fell 9.1% and 11.9% over the same years.

This bull market will be no different. If history is any guide, Buffett will have the last laugh when the correction occurs.

2. Loaded and ready

When markets correct, the most unfortunate thing for an investor would be the inability to buy the dip. Berkshire Hathaway is not in danger of running into such problems.

Currently, Berkshire has about $130 billion cash on hand.

Berkshire has the money to grab ahold of opportunities that present themselves in the future. As the pandemic worsens, taking the economy down with it, opportunities will inevitably present themselves. You can be sure that Buffett will have no excuses to pass up bargains that fit his investing criteria.

3. Berkshire Hathaway has started picking up bargains

Much of the criticism leveled at Buffett is tied to Berkshire’s lack of buying activity. Buffett has not been asleep at the wheel, though, and the tide seems to be turning already.

This month, Berkshire purchased the natural gas assets of Dominion Energy (NYSE: D) for about $10 billion.

With some industries affected more than others by the pandemic, you can bet that Buffett is actively scouting for value. This could lead to more acquisitions in the foreseeable future.

The criticism levied at Buffett recently may be warranted, but don’t forget that he has been through numerous economic cycles. He will probably have the last laugh, so don’t write him off just yet.

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com and should not be considered investment or trading advice from CCN.com. The author holds no investment position in the above-mentioned securities.

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