I’ve recently written about Warren Buffett and his sale of Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) – and how it lost him $1.3 billion in foregone profits. That was far from Buffett’s only flub. Let’s talk about BYD Co. (BYDDY) and why “doing nothing” might have been the better choice, writes Nicholas Vardy, editor of The Global Guru.
In the middle of the 2008 financial meltdown, Buffett made a move that most investors wouldn’t dare consider. Buffett bet on China. Not just any Chinese company — but BYD, a little-known electric vehicle and battery maker.
BYD Co. (BYDDY)
Charlie Munger had convinced Buffett to invest. He had called the CEO “a combination of Thomas Edison and Jack Welch.” Through Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s (BRK.A) MidAmerican Energy, Buffett invested $232 million for a 10% stake in BYD. He did so at a bargain-bin HK$8 per share.
Today, that 10% slice would be worth about $15.4 billion. That’s a 66-bagger. But what did Buffett actually do? He sold.
Yes, he still has a stake valued at about $2.8 billion. But that move cost him billions more. What are the lessons to take away?
1. Let Your Winners Run. Buffett could’ve turned a $232 million stake into a Top 10 Berkshire holding. Instead, he trimmed aggressively — mitigating China-specific risk. He diversified into safer ground, like Japanese trading houses and US Treasuries.
Lesson? It’s okay to let multi-baggers run. But always know your “why.”
2. The Power of Compounding Is Real. BYD delivered a 28.6% CAGR for more than 16 years. That’s the miracle of compounding. It’s also what too many investors abandon in search of the next big thing.
3. Context Matters More Than Valuation. For Buffett, this wasn’t a textbook value “sell.” It was a geopolitical one. Concerns over Chinese transparency, regulatory unpredictability, and handing over the reins at Berkshire drove the decision.
Had Buffett sat on his hands and “done nothing,” though, Berkshire would be looking at a $15 billion trophy today. And that may be the ultimate lesson: Sometimes, sitting tight and doing nothing is the best thing to do.
