Bonding with Buffett: How the Oracle’s Stock Picks Can Boost Your Bond Portfolio Bonding with Buffett: How the Oracle’s Stock Picks Can Boost Your Bond Portfolio Bonding with Buffett: How the Oracle’s Stock Picks Can Boost Your Bond Portfolio

Bonding with Buffett: How the Oracle’s Stock Picks Can Boost Your Bond Portfolio

Bonds
Althea Spinozzi

Head of Fixed Income Strategy

Summary:

  • Why it’s inspiring for bond investors to look at Berkshire Hathaway’s stock portfolio.By following the same principles Warren Buffet uses to pick stocks—stability, quality, and predictability—you can uncover bonds from companies that offer the same rock-solid reliability and potential for steady returns.
  • What bond investors can learn from Buffett’s approach. Buffett’s strategic diversification isn’t just for stocks; it’s a blueprint for building a resilient bond portfolio too. He’s proven that selectively investing in industries one understand—like banking, consumer goods, and energy—can help balance portfolio’s risk and enhance returns, whether in stocks or bonds.
  • Examples of bonds aligned with Buffett’s strategy. Bonds available from issuers in Warren Buffett's portfolio reveal noteworthy opportunities. Examples include DaVita and Occidental Petroleum in the USD high-yield space, as well as Coca-Cola in the investment-grade EUR space. These bonds offer a compelling yield pickup over sovereign benchmarks, reflecting the stability and quality that are central to Buffett’s investment philosophy.

When you think about investing in bonds, your mind might not immediately jump to Warren Buffett’s stock picks. But here’s why getting inspiration from Berkshire Hathaway’s stock portfolio can be a brilliant move—even when you’re focused on bonds.

The Bond-Stock Connection: Stability, Quality, and Predictability

Warren Buffett’s stock portfolio isn’t just a random collection of companies; it’s a carefully curated group of businesses that embody stability, quality, and predictability—traits that are incredibly valuable in both stocks and bonds.

1. Stability:

Companies like Coca-Cola, Moody’s, and Bank of America are fixtures in Buffett’s portfolio because they have proven themselves over decades. These companies generate steady cash flows, are leaders in their industries, and have weathered numerous economic storms. Bonds issued by such companies are likely to be just as reliable as their stocks—offering you the potential for stable returns and lower risk.

2. Quality:

Buffett is a stickler for quality. He looks for companies with strong balance sheets, consistent earnings, and a sustainable competitive advantage. When these companies issue bonds, they typically do so under favorable terms, offering investors a quality investment with lower default risk. AON Global and Capital One are examples where high credit quality could translate into safer bond investments.

3. Predictability:

One of Buffett’s key investment principles is to invest in businesses that are easy to understand and have predictable earnings. This predictability is crucial when you’re looking at bonds because it means the company is more likely to meet its interest and principal payments on time. T-Mobile and Occidental Petroleum are examples of companies that, despite operating in competitive industries, have business models that generate predictable cash flows—making their bonds potentially attractive.

Diversification with a Safety Net

Buffett’s approach to diversification is another reason his stock picks are a good source of inspiration for bond investors. He doesn’t spread his investments thin; instead, he selectively diversifies into industries he deeply understands and believes in.

By drawing inspiration from his portfolio, you can diversify your bond investments into different sectors—just like how Buffett has diversified into banking with Bank of America, consumer goods with Coca-Cola, and energy with Occidental Petroleum. This sector diversification helps balance your bond portfolio, potentially reducing risk while enhancing returns.

For example, investing in bonds from Coca-Cola offers exposure to the stable, cash-rich consumer goods sector, while bonds from Moody's can provide reliable returns rooted in the financial services industry's essential role in credit rating. Similarly, bonds from T-Mobile could give you a stake in the rapidly evolving telecom industry, which remains crucial for global connectivity.

Buffett’s Principles in Bonds: A Safe Harbor

Warren Buffett’s adherence to principles like long-term focus, value investing, and patience are as applicable to bonds as they are to stocks. When you look at bonds from companies that Buffett invests in, you’re not just investing in a debt instrument—you’re buying into a legacy of solid management, strategic foresight, and disciplined financial practices. This gives you a margin of safety, which is critical in bond investing, where the protection of your principal is paramount.

The Fun Part: Riding the Buffett Wave

Imagine owning a bond issued by Coca-Cola or Moody’s—this means aligning your investment approach with companies that have been chosen by one of the most respected investors in the world. When your bond portfolio includes names that also appear in Warren Buffett’s stock portfolio, it reflects a strategy grounded in stability and quality, principles that have long defined Buffett’s approach.

There’s something inherently interesting about knowing your investments share common ground with those selected by Buffett. This connection offers a sense of confidence in the enduring value of these companies, while also providing an opportunity to diversify your portfolio in a meaningful way.

To take this a step further, I've carefully reviewed the bonds available for each of these names and compiled a list of options that are both liquid and pay a fixed coupon. These bonds offer a significant yield pickup over their respective benchmark government bonds, providing opportunities in both the high-yield (HY) and investment-grade (IG) spaces.

For instance, in the HY space, DaVita and Occidental Petroleum USD bonds are currently offering yields around 6%, making them attractive options for those seeking higher returns. Meanwhile, in the IG space, the highest-rated EUR bonds from these companies offer yields just shy of 4%, which represents nearly 200 basis points over German Bunds. This mix of opportunities allows you to diversify across credit quality while seeking yields that are compelling in the current market environment.

Other recent Fixed Income articles:

30-Aug Austria’s 2086 Bond Flop: What It Means for Ultra-Long European Debt
29-Aug Capitalizing on Fed Rate Cuts: A Guide to Emerging Market Local Currency Bonds 
29-Aug Uncovering Value: The Strength of European Investment-Grade Bonds
28-Aug Insights into this week's US Treasury auctions: 2-, 5-, and 7-year overview.
22-Aug Wage Growth and Economic Resilience Challenge Market Expectations for Aggressive ECB Rate Cuts
20-Aug Understanding U.S. Treasury Auctions: What You Need to Know
19-Aug Insights into this week's US Treasury auctions: 20-year U.S. Treasury bonds and 30-year TIPS.
16-Aug No Signs of Imminent Recession: Why Bond Investors Should Approach Insurance Rate Cuts with Caution
14-Aug Markets Skeptical Despite Positive UK Inflation Report
09-Aug Yield Curve is Disinverting: Lessons from Past Crises
07-Aug Stable Bond Spreads and Robust Issuance Make a 50 bps Rate Cut in September Unlikely
06-Aug Insights into this week's US Treasury refunding: 3-, 10-, and 30-year overview.
05-Aug Why Investors Must Pay Attention: BOJ’s Hawkish Moves Could Roil Global Markets
30-July BOE Preview: Better Safe than Sorry
29-July FOMC Preview: A Data-Dependent and Balanced Approach
24-July Market Impact of Democratic vs. Republican Wins
23-July Insights into this week's US Treasury auctions: 2-, 5-, and 7-year overview.
16-July Insights into this week's US Treasury auctions: 20-year U.S. Treasury bonds and 10-year TIPS.
15-July ECB Preview: Conflicting Narratives – Rate Cuts vs. Data Dependency
15-July Understanding the "Trump Trade"
11- July  Bond Update: Faster Disinflation Paves the Way for Imminent Rate Cuts, but Risks of Economic Reacceleration Remain
09-July Insights into This Week's U.S. Treasury Auctions: 3-, 10-, and 30-Year Tenor Overview and Market Dynamics.
08-July Surprise Shift in French Election Fails to Rattle Markets for Good Reasons.
04-July Market Optimism Ahead of French Elections Drives Strong Demand for Long-Term Bonds
01-July UK Election Uncertainty and Yield curve Dynamics: Why Short-Term Bonds Are the Better Bet
28-June Bond Market Update: Market Awaits First Round of French Election Voting.
26-JuneBond Market Update: Canada and Australia Inflation Data Dampen Disinflation Hopes.
30-May ECB preview: One alone is like none at all.
28-May Insights into this week's US Treasury auctions: 2-, 5-, and 7-year tenors overview.
22-May UK April’s Consumer Prices: Markets Abandon Hopes for a Linear Disinflation Path.
17-May Strong trade-weighted EUR gives ECB green light to cut rates, but bond bull rally unlikely
14-May UK labor data and Huw Pill's comments are not enough for a bond bull rally
08-May Bank of England preview: Rate cuts in mind, but patience required.
06-May Insights into this week's US Treasury refunding: 3-, 10-, and 30-year overview
02-May FOMC Meeting Takeaways: Why Inflation Risk Might Come to Bite the Fed
30-Apr FOMC preview: challenging the March dot plot.
29-Apr Bond Markets: the week ahead
25-Apr A tactical guide to the upcoming quarterly refunding announcement for bond and stock markets
22-Apr Analyzing market impacts: insights into the upcoming 5-year and 7-year US Treasury auctions.
18-Apr Italian BTPs are more attractive than German Schatz in today's macroeconomic context
16-Apr QT Tapering Looms Despite Macroeconomic Conditions: Fear of Liquidity Squeeze Drives Policy
08-Apr ECB preview: data-driven until June, Fed-dependent thereafter.
03-Apr Fixed income: Keep calm, seize the moment.
21-Mar FOMC bond takeaway: beware of ultra-long duration.
18-Mar Bank of England Preview: slight dovish shift in the MPC amid disinflationary trends.
18-Mar FOMC Preview: dot plot and quantitative tightening in focus.
12-Mar US Treasury auctions on the back of the US CPI might offer critical insights to investors.
07-Mar The Debt Management Office's Gilts Sales Matter More Than The Spring Budget.
05-Mar "Quantitative Tightening" or "Operation Twist" is coming up. What are the implications for bonds?
01-Mar The bond weekly wrap: slower than expected disinflation creates a floor for bond yields.
29-Feb ECB preview: European sovereign bond yields are likely to remain rangebound until the first rate cut.
27-Feb Defense bonds: risks and opportunities amid an uncertain geopolitical and macroeconomic environment.
23-Feb Two-year US Treasury notes offer an appealing entry point.
21-Feb Four reasons why the ECB keeps calm and cuts later.
14 Feb Higher CPI shows that rates volatility will remain elevated.
12 Feb Ultra-long sovereign issuance draws buy-the-dip demand but stakes are high.
06 Feb Technical Update - US 10-year Treasury yields resuming uptrend? US Treasury and Euro Bund futures testing key supports
05 Feb  The upcoming 30-year US Treasury auction might rattle markets
30 Jan BOE preview: BoE hold unlikely to last as inflation plummets
29 Jan FOMC preview: the Fed might be on hold, but easing is inevitable.
26 Jan The ECB holds rates: is the bond rally sustainable?
18 Jan The most infamous bond trade: the Austria century bond.
16 Jan European sovereigns: inflation, stagnation and the bumpy road to rate cuts in 2024.
10 Jan US Treasuries: where do we go from here?
09 Jan Quarterly Outlook: bonds on everybody’s lips.

Quarterly Outlook 2024 Q3

Sandcastle economics

01 / 05

  • Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Invest wisely in Q3 2024: Discover SaxoStrats' insights on navigating a stable yet fragile global economy.

    Read article
  • Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Discover strategies for managing bonds as US and European yields remain rangebound due to uncertain inflation and evolving monetary policies.

    Read article
  • Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Explore key trends and opportunities in European equities and electrification theme as market dynamics echo 2021's rally.

    Read article
  • FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Explore the outlook for USD, AUD, NZD, and EM carry trades as risk-on currencies are set to outperform in Q3 2024.

    Read article
  • Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Energy and grains to shine as metals pause. Discover key trends and market drivers for commodities in Q3 2024.

    Read article

Disclaimer

The Saxo Group entities each provide execution-only service, and access to analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website is not intended to and does not change or expand on this. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Inspiration Disclaimer and (v) Notices applying to Trade Inspiration, Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular, no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Trading in financial instruments carries risk, and may not be suitable for you. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Please read our disclaimers:
Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-sg/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

None of the information contained here constitutes an offer to purchase or sell a financial instrument, or to make any investments. Saxo Markets does not take into account your personal investment objectives or financial situation and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information nor for any loss arising from any investment made in reliance of this presentation. Any opinions made are subject to change and may be personal to the author. These may not necessarily reflect the opinion of Saxo Markets or its affiliates.

Saxo Markets
88 Market Street
CapitaSpring #31-01
Singapore 048948

Contact Saxo

Select region

Singapore
Singapore

Saxo Capital Markets Pte Ltd ('Saxo Markets') is a company authorised and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) [Co. Reg. No.: 200601141M ] and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saxo Bank A/S, headquartered in Denmark. Please refer to our General Business Terms & Risk Warning to consider whether acquiring or continuing to hold financial products is suitable for you, prior to opening an account and investing in a financial product.

Trading in financial instruments carries various risks, and is not suitable for all investors. Please seek expert advice, and always ensure that you fully understand these risks before trading. Trading in leveraged products such as Margin FX products may result in your losses exceeding your initial deposits. Saxo Markets does not provide financial advice, any information available on this website is ‘general’ in nature and for informational purposes only. Saxo Markets does not take into account an individual’s needs, objectives or financial situation.

The Saxo trading platform has received numerous awards and recognition. For details of these awards and information on awards visit www.home.saxo/en-sg/about-us/awards.

The information or the products and services referred to on this website may be accessed worldwide, however is only intended for distribution to and use by recipients located in countries where such use does not constitute a violation of applicable legislation or regulations. Products and Services offered on this website are not intended for residents of the United States, Malaysia and Japan. Please click here to view our full disclaimer.

This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.