If I Could Buy and Hold Only a Single Stock, This Would Be It

Holding just one stock is obviously very risky. But what if that stock was made up of dozens of underlying businesses, essentially resembling a mutual fund? In this case, the conglomerate's good businesses may make up for bad ones in certain years, and vice versa. Even more, what if the dozens of businesses own mostly had a common theme of being enduring? Of course, there is a stock like this. It's Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B).Berkshire is a collection of high-quality operating businesses tied together by a capital allocation machine that has worked in good times and bad. The diversified conglomerate features a sprawling insurance operation, one of the largest utility and energy businesses in North America (Berkshire Hathaway Energy), a railroad, and dozens of manufacturing, service, and retail businesses. On top of that sits a concentrated equity portfolio in durable franchises including Apple, American Express, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, and Chevron. The mix is uncommon -- and built to endure.Image source: Getty Images.Continue readingWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool