Moats : The Competitive Advantages of Buffett and Munger Businesses

by Bud Labitan

This may be the best business book that describes the competitive advantages of profitable businesses. MOATS describes the nature of 70 selected businesses purchased by Buffett and Munger for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. MOATS is a very useful resource for investors, managers, students of business. Since its subject matter has proven success, MOATS may become a useful practical text in businesses schools around the world. MOATS also looks at the sustainability of these competitive advantages in each of the 70 chapters.
The author extends a special thanks to Professor Phani Tej Adidam, Ph.D. Chair of the Department of Marketing and Management and Director of the CBA International Initiatives at University of Nebraska at Omaha. Thanks are extended to Richard Konrad, CFA, Dr. Maulik Suthar, and Scott Thompson, MBA for sharing their thoughts, analysis, and feedback. The 70 Businesses covered in
 
Acme Brick Company, w Adam Ward
American Express Co. (AXP), Dr. Maulik Suthar
Applied Underwriters, w Adam Ward
Ben Bridge Jeweler, w Beryl Chavez Li
Benjamin Moore & Co., w Mr. Jack Wang CPA  
Berkshire Hathaway Group, w Brian Greising & Rick Mayhew
Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, w Beryl Chavez Li  
BoatU.S., w Peter Chen   
Borsheims Fine Jewelry, w Tariq Khan.  
Buffalo News, Bud Labitan & Peter Stein 
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. w David Leoy.  
Business Wire, w Larry Harmych.  
BYD, w Kevin Walsh.  
Central States Indemnity Company, w Azalia Khousnoutdinova,  
Clayton Homes, w Erin Sestak.  
Coca Cola (KO) w Sebastian Jung,  
ConocoPhillips (COP), w Adam D. Studts, PE.  
CORT Business Services, w Erin Sestak.  
Costco Wholesale (COST), w Jubin Jacob, AUC-SOM  
CTB Inc., w Todd Sullivan.  
Fechheimer Brothers Company, w Ben Albaitis.   
FlightSafety, w Peter Stein  
Forest River, w Richard Konrad, CFA
Fruit of the Loom®, Dr. Maulik Suthar
Garan Incorporated, w Dr. Edwin Fuentes 
Gateway Underwriters Agency, assigned Daniel Rudewicz, CFA
GEICO Auto Insurance w Florian Beil,  
General Re, w Raghu Dasari, & Theodor Tonca
H.H. Brown Shoe Group, w Mervyn H. Teo  
Helzberg Diamonds, w Natalja Callahan
HomeServices of America, w Sebastian Jung
IBM, w Tim Bishop & Peter Stein
International Dairy Queen, Inc., w Tariq Khan 
Iscar Metalworking Companies, w Kevin Walsh
Johns Manville, w Manpreet Singh Saran
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Beryl Chavez Li  
Jordan's Furniture, w Zehao Sun.  
Justin Brands, Dr. Maulik Suthar
Kraft Foods (KFT), w Andrea Tagart.  
Larson-Juhl, w Tim Bishop 
Lubrizol, w Scott Thompson, MBA. 
M&T Bank Corp (MTB), w Cliff Orr & Richard Konrad, CFA 
Marmon Holdings, Inc., w David Lau & Theodor Tonca  
McLane Company, Dr. Maulik Suthar, 
Medical Protective, w Michael Murillo
MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, w Dr. Maulik Suthar & Brian Bernardino, JD 
MiTek Inc. w Mr. Jack Wang CPA 
Moody's (MCO), w Raghu Dasari
National Indemnity Company, w Jen Iwanski & Rick Mayhew 
Nebraska Furniture Mart, w Julie Rosenbaugh, Theodor Tonca, & Shouryamoy Das  
NetJets®, w Christian Labitan
PacifiCorp., w Beryl Chavez Li
Precision Steel Warehouse, Inc., w Adam D. Studts, PE & J.T. Loudermilk, MBA  
Procter & Gamble (PG), w Beryl Chavez Li 
RC Willey Home Furnishings, w Azalia Khousnoutdinova 
Richline Group, Daniel Doyon
Scott Fetzer Companies, Cliff Orr & Hoang Quoc Anh, Vietnam  
See's Candies, w Jen Iwanski
Shaw Industries, w Daniel Doyon & Richard Konrad, CFA  
Star Furniture, w Pamela A. Quintero, MBA
The Pampered Chef® w Julie Rosenbaugh
TTI, Inc., w Peter Chen
United States Liability Insurance Group, w Stephen Chan & Colin Farrier
US Bancorp (USB), w Richard Konrad, CFA
USG Corp (USG), w Richard Konrad, CFA
Wal-Mart (WMT) w Florian Beil
Washington Post (WPO), w Andrea Tagart & Richard Konrad, CFA 
Wells Fargo (WFC), w Natalja Callahan.  
Wesco Financial Corporation, w Stephen Chan
XTRA Corporation, Bud Labitan

358 pages, Paperback

First published January 9, 2012

Reviews

[JG · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a good read, but not necessarily with great insights and superb analysis.

The analysis are general.

It assumes that every BRK subsidiary has wide moat. And that is not true because Moats generate superior and long lasting returns, and many BRK subsidiaries dont.