Warren Buffett makes a case for conglomerates

Just when the biggest US conglomerates find themselves having to defend their sprawling structures or be forced to dismantle them, think General Electric Co, Honeywell International Inc, Procter & Gamble Co and so on. Warren Buffett can sit back, grin and take another swig of Cherry Coke. The Berkshire Hathaway Inc. engine is chugging along, just as he said it would.

Berkshire’s insurance claims following hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria resulted in another underwriting loss, which as Bloomberg’s Noah Buhayar has pointed out, means 2017 will likely be the first time since 2002 that the business doesn’t post an annual underwriting profit. This isn’t surprising, but when any one of Buffett’s winning streaks ends it’s likely to draw gasps. However, that’s where the other divisions come into play.

It wasn’t all that long ago that Berkshire’s railroad business — BNSF, which it acquired in 2010 — was dragging down profit as lessening demand for coal muted shipping needs. In this latest quarter, though, BNSF earned $1.7 billion before income taxes, the most since 2015. Meanwhile, the manufacturing operations — which expanded with Berkshire’s $37 billion takeover of Precision Castparts that closed early last year — just cranked out its own record profit.

Berkshire won’t always fire on all cylinders. But when one division slumps, the others are there to make up for it. It’s why the stock continues to hit new records, even as Buffett struggles to do what he has typically done best: make major acquisitions. It’s also why, when the insurance business posts a $1.95 billion after-tax underwriting loss, he can continue to skip out on the US convention of hosting quarterly earnings calls to take analysts’ questions. (As I’ve written, the 87-year-old’s successor shouldn’t expect that same luxury.)

Back to acquisitions for a moment. I was disappointed to see that Berkshire didn’t disclose the price of last month’s investment in Pilot Flying J, a chain of truck stops that ranks among America’s largest private businesses. It’s an interesting purchase and so very Buffett. Still, following his energy division’s failed deal for Oncor and Kraft Heinz Co.’s failed run at Unilever (a transaction Berkshire would have helped bankroll), Buffett needs to find another big, exciting acquisition that will put that steaming pile of cash to good use. It reached $109 billion as of Sept. 30.

As is the case lately, the story isn’t how’s Berkshire doing. It’s fine, as always. But what’s Buffett going to do with all that cash? Long-time Berkshire bulls and Buffett fans may say there’s no rush. I doubt they’ll act as nonchalant with Buffett’s eventual replacement.