By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) -Billionaire investor Warren Buffett on Saturday signaled he has misplaced none of his enduring confidence within the U.S. financial system and his firm Berkshire Hathaway Inc . (NYSE:)

In his annual letter to Berkshire shareholders, the 92-year-old Buffett urged traders to give attention to the massive image over the long run, fairly than larger inflation and different elements that in 2022 dampened inventory costs, although not Berkshire’s.

He additionally urged Individuals to not be convulsed by “self-criticism and self-doubt,” saying the nation’s dynamism has benefited Berkshire in his 58 years working the corporate from Omaha, Nebraska, and can achieve this after he passes the reins.

“We depend on the American Tailwind and, although it has been becalmed occasionally, its propelling pressure has at all times returned,” Buffett wrote.

“I’ve but to see a time when it made sense to make a long-term guess in opposition to America. And I doubt very a lot that any reader of this letter may have a special expertise sooner or later.”

Berkshire additionally repurchased $7.9 billion of its personal inventory in 2022, signaling confidence it was undervalued. Buffett defended buybacks, a goal of politicians in Washington.

The letter was accompanied by Berkshire’s year-end outcomes, together with a document $30.8 billion working revenue.

Buffett known as 2022 a “good yr” for Berkshire, with a lot of its strongest companies withstanding pressures from elevated inflation, rising rates of interest and provide chain disruptions.

Berkshire additionally posted a $22.8 billion annual internet loss, in contrast with an $89.8 billion acquire in 2021, as the costs of Apple Inc (NASDAQ:) and lots of different shares in its huge funding portfolio declined.

Buffett downplays internet outcomes as a result of they’re risky and affected by accounting guidelines.

Berkshire owns dozens of working companies together with the Geico automotive insurer, BNSF railroad, and well-known client manufacturers resembling Dairy Queen, Duracell and Fruit of the Loom. It employs greater than 382,000 folks.

‘VERY HUMBLE’

A number of observers mentioned Buffett appeared cautious, virtually apologetic, about his struggles in navigating markets, although he’s arguably probably the most well-known dwelling American investor. His $106 billion internet value ranks fifth worldwide, Forbes journal mentioned.

“Buffett could be very humble in assessing his personal funding prowess, and unnecessarily so,” mentioned Thomas Russo, a associate at Gardner Russo & Quinn and longtime Berkshire investor. “Traders have profited from him over many years.”

Anybody who caught with Berkshire from 1965 to 2022 noticed their shares acquire 3,787,464% in worth. The rose 24,708% together with dividends over that interval.

Buffett mentioned most of his capital allocation choices have been merely “so-so,” and Berkshire’s “passable” outcomes over time resulted from solely about one dozen “really good” choices.

“‘Environment friendly’ markets exist solely in textbooks,” Buffett mentioned. “In reality, marketable shares and bonds are baffling, their conduct normally comprehensible solely on reflection.”

Buffett additionally mentioned “belief and guidelines are important” in working massive companies, even amid the inevitable disappointments, and urged traders to not dwell on near-term market situations.

Cathy Seifert, an analyst at CFRA Analysis, mentioned Buffett took a “delicate swipe” at critics who wished he would disclose quite a lot of paragraphs about Berkshire’s largest companies, and make investments extra aggressively.

“The present market local weather has been, for a scarcity of a greater phrase, very schizophrenic,” Seifert mentioned. “Buffett is expressing that frustration.”

MUNGER ‘MAKES ME LAUGH’

Regardless of paying $11.5 billion in October for the insurance coverage firm Alleghany (NYSE:) Corp, Berkshire ended 2022 with $128.6 billion of money, because it turned a giant vendor of shares together with Taiwanese semiconductor maker TSMC late within the yr.

Buffett, a Democrat, appeared in his letter to not directly criticize President Joe Biden who this month urged a quadrupling of a 1% tax on company inventory buybacks that turned legislation in his Inflation Discount Act final August.

Whereas Biden hasn’t demanded an finish to buybacks, Buffett mentioned those that declare all repurchases “are dangerous to shareholders or to the nation, or significantly useful to CEOs” are “both an financial illiterate or a silver-tongued demagogue.”

Invoice Smead, a longtime Berkshire investor at Smead Capital Administration, mentioned: “He is poking enjoyable at individuals who attempt to add cash with out including worth.”

Buffett additionally reminded traders how a lot Berkshire provides again to the U.S. Treasury, paying $32 billion of federal earnings taxes over a decade.

“At Berkshire we hope and anticipate to pay rather more in taxes throughout the subsequent decade,” Buffett wrote. “We owe the nation no much less.”

Whereas Berkshire has tapped Vice Chairman Greg Abel, 60, as Buffett’s eventual successor as chief govt, Buffett used his letter to resume his affection for his good friend and enterprise associate Charlie Munger, the 99-year-old Berkshire vice chairman.

He mentioned each will in early Might attend Berkshire’s annual shareholder weekend, which is named “Woodstock for Capitalists” and attracts tens of 1000’s of individuals to Omaha.

“I by no means have a telephone name with Charlie with out studying one thing,” Buffett mentioned. “And, whereas he makes me suppose, he additionally makes me chortle.”