The John Johnston Lounge

A look at the portfolio updates of seven guru or super-investors from Q1 2023. The investors include Warren Buffett (together with Charlie Munger at Berkshire Hathaway), Mohnish Pabrai, Li Lu, Chuck Akre, Bill Ackman, David Tepper, and Thomas Gayner. See below for timestamps for investor sections, and related episodes. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:15 Warren Buffett & Charlie Munger - Berkshire H...

I summarize and discuss key lessons from Mohnish Pabrai’s latest presentation, Circle the Wagons, in which he emphasizes the importance of finding and protecting your very best few investments for the long term, and how to go about doing that. Related episodes: Mohnish Pabrai Talks Constellation Software & Mark Leonard https://youtu.be/xPI773-AE-I Mohnish Pabrai on The Best Super Investor You...

In this episode I summarize and discuss Mohnish Pabrai’s recent comments on serial acquirer company Constellation Software, and its legendary founder CEO Mark Leonard. Pabrai had many positive things to say about the company and its future prospects. I also discuss Topicus, a recent spin-off from Constellation software. Relevant stock tickers: CSU.TO TOI.V  Related episodes: Mohnish Pabrai Portfol...

I react to highlights from the recent Google I/O keynote presentation, which features impressive competitive technologies to OpenAI's GPT-4 and wildly popular ChatGPT. Google showcases its many new AI powered products within its existing suite of products and services, including Help Me Write in Gmail and Workspace apps, Magic Editor in Google Photos, PaLM 2 (competitor to GPT-4), Med-PaLM for...

Famous investor Michael Burry just reported his first quarter 2023 stock holdings and he bought many stocks during the quarter, and sold out of a few. In this episode we take a look at the three main sectors he’s being buying in, and what it could mean for us. Related episodes: Michael Burry Predicts Stock Market Bottom After Bank Panic https://youtu.be/yXkp5BhQJiw Michael Burry Has Started to BUY...

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and perhaps the greatest investor of all time, recently hosted the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Meeting with fellow legendary investor and long-time business partner Charlie Munger. In this episode I react to highlights about how they are thinking about future investing opportunities for us and for Berkshire; one investor is more optimistic than t...

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and perhaps the greatest investor of all time, recently hosted the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Meeting with fellow legendary investor and long-time business partner Charlie Munger. During the annual six-hour Q&A, they discussed many topics, including their massive Apple shareholding, Elon Musk and electric vehicles, share portfolio concentrat...

I discuss some highlights of a recent Stan Druckenmiller interview, in which he gave his views on the difficult macroeconomic environment, bonds, the stock market, the US dollar, gold, and the hard landing recession he still sees up ahead. Related content: Stanley Druckenmiller Predicts Hard Landing Recession for 2023  https://youtu.be/VxpoJnbD8yo NBIM Annual Investment Conference 2023 – Stan Druc...

I discuss a new and rare interview with legendary investor and former fund manager Peter Lynch. Lynch offered his thoughts on the stock market, stock picking, his winning investment strategy, and the current economic environment and bank collapses. Related content: Warren Buffett Interview: Banking Crisis? - Highlights https://youtu.be/2ysbmHbVVYs CNBC interview: Legendary investor Peter Lynch on...

I discuss part of a recent CNBC interview with Warren Buffett, in which the legendary investor gave his thoughts on how The Fed and Jerome Powell have handled the US economy during the eventful past few years. Related content: Warren Buffett Interview: Banking Crisis? - Highlights https://youtu.be/2ysbmHbVVYs The Art of Value Playlist: Warren Buffett Interview Japan 2023 https://youtube.com/playli...

I discuss part of a recent CNBC interview with Warren Buffett in Japan, in which the legendary investor gave his thoughts on a potential repeat of the US banking crisis, and on the recent Silicon Valley Bank and US regional bank troubles. Buffett talks about the importance of having public confidence in the banks, and backstops for all US bank deposits.  Related content: The Art of Value Playlist:...

I react to a recent CNBC interview with Warren Buffett in Japan, in which he gave his thoughts on advanced AI tools such as ChatGPT, and how they could impact the economy, and humanity. Related content: Charlie Munger Interview with Todd Combs - Highlights https://youtu.be/217e7NnDtkE CNBC interview clip: Warren Buffett on ChatGPT and AI: This is extraordinary but not sure if it’s beneficial yet ...

I summarize and discuss an interview with legendary investor Charlie Munger, by fellow Berkshire Hathaway insider Todd Combs. The fireside chat with Munger is from April 2022, on the occasion of the 2022 Singleton Prize for CEO Excellence. Munger offers his wisdom on investing and life in general. Related content: Chris Mayer 100 Baggers: Stocks That Return 100 to 1! https://youtu.be/59CuGd2aAwg F...

Is it possible to predict which stocks will grow to become 100 baggers? I summarize and discuss a recent interview with stock portfolio manager Chris Mayer, the author of the excellent investing book 100 Baggers, in which he explains the main characteristics of 100 baggers, and what to look for in these companies that have the potential to compound 100 times in value for every 1 dollar invested. R...

I summarize and discuss investor Jeremy Grantham’s recent interview about the rare super-bubble he sees in the US stock market, and the current deflating of that bubble. He’s pessimistic about the short term, but has a very positive outlook on one area of the market for the long term, in which he’s heavily invested. Related episodes: Michael Burry: I Was Wrong! | New Bull Market Has Begun? https:/...

I discuss how “The Big Short" investor Michael Burry just tweeted that he was "wrong to say sell” stocks, after tweeting “Sell” back at the beginning of February 2023, just two months before. He seems to have changed his mind about the general direction of the stock market. Does this mean there’s a new bull market afoot, and what does Burry mean that he was wrong? Let’s find out. Related...

I discuss the unexpected news that Alibaba is splitting into six independent operating companies. I look at what the company is saying about the break-up, including some key takeaways from a dedicated company conference call on the matter, and whether there might be big upside ahead for BABA stock because of the break-up. Related episodes: Are China Stocks UNINVESTABLE or HISTORIC VALUE OPPORTUNIT...

I respond to what investor Ray Dalio has just said about what happened with the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapse, and what he thinks it means for the US economy and world economy. Related episodes: Silicon Valley Bank Collapse Explainer | What's happening?! https://youtu.be/h5yS-ZMAjPk Silicon Valley Bank Collapse | Crisis Averted? https://youtu.be/GkStEtQLKWM Playlist: Banking Crisis of 202...

I discuss the reasons why investor and Fundsmith fund manager Terry Smith doesn’t ever invest in bank shares, even though he’s an expert banking analyst. Related episodes: Playlist: Banking Crisis of 2023 - Bank Investing https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrNjj1l3MS7U__0khQp2P80FTAEgYFaFn Using a referral link below helps support the pod, thanks! Terry Smith’s book, Investing for Growth: How to m...

I react to legendary "Big Short" investor Steve Eisman’s latest interview about the current bank panic, whether it will lead to a 2008-style banking crisis in the U.S. and Europe, and what investing approach he’s taking through it. Related episodes: Michael Burry Predicts Stock Market Bottom After Bank Panic https://youtu.be/yXkp5BhQJiw Silicon Valley Bank Collapse Explainer | What's...

I discuss legendary Big Short investor Michael Burry’s latest tweets about the current bank panic, the prevention of contagion by financial regulators in the US and Europe, and whether Burry sees a stock market bottom ahead. Related episodes: Silicon Valley Bank Collapse Explainer | What's happening?! https://youtu.be/h5yS-ZMAjPk Silicon Valley Bank Collapse | Crisis Averted? https://youtu.be/GkSt...

OpenAI has now launched GPT4, and the new Microsoft Bing is already using it, customised for search. Does this present a further challenge to Google Search with its enhanced capabilities? In this episode I take a look at those new GPT4 AI capabilities, and also a new under-the-radar AI product from Google. Related episodes: Microsoft to Challenge Google Search Using OpenAI's ChatGPT http...

I give an update on what’s happening with the dramatic Silicon Valley Bank collapse, and what regulators are doing immediately to try and remedy the situation and prevent bank run contagion. Related episode: Silicon Valley Bank Collapse Explainer | What's happening?! https://youtu.be/h5yS-ZMAjPk Using a referral link below helps support the pod, thanks! The main investment brokerage I use to...

I discuss what’s happening with the dramatic Silicon Valley Bank collapse, the causes and events that led up to the March 2023 SVB bank run, and what else could happen soon. Using a referral link below helps support the pod, thanks! The main investment brokerage I use to buy and sell international stocks is Interactive Brokers (referral link):  https://ibkr.com/referral/john5664 I use GuruFoc...

I respond to a recent investing video by Stock Compounder - Brad Kaellner: Chris Mayer’s 100 Bagger Portfolio REVEALED. Chris Mayer is a fund manager and the author of excellent investment book 100 Baggers: Stocks That Return 100-to-1 and How To Find Them. With considerable research, Brad was able to compile a list of Mayer's current holdings. I discuss the potential 100-bagger 10 stock...