Everything Will Crash in The Next Crash! Even BRK or Value ETFs
Watch on YouTubeVideo summary
The video addresses the critical question of whether all asset classes will inevitably crash in a future market downturn and explores viable alternatives to traditional value ETFs or even Berkshire Hathaway stock. The speaker argues that while holding cash is not inherently bad, as demonstrated by Warren Buffett's strategy at Berkshire Hathaway which currently holds nearly $400 billion waiting for opportunities, individual investors cannot simply replicate this approach due to size constraints and different financial needs. Unlike the conglomerate sitting in Omaha earning risk-free rates on massive liquidity, personal investors must balance their portfolios against life expenses like mortgages, car repairs, and family goals, meaning that relying solely on cash or value stocks might not provide sufficient certainty for retirement planning without exposing one's principal to unacceptable risks.
A significant portion of the discussion focuses on why "value" ETFs are often misunderstood as safe havens when they can actually be more volatile than broad market indices due to their concentration in cyclical industries like energy and industrials, which saw P/E ratios expand significantly during recent booms before crashing harder in recessions. The speaker uses Berkshire Hathaway itself as a case study for valuation risk, noting that while its intrinsic value based on cash flows might suggest it is undervalued compared to historical norms, the current price already reflects expectations of lower growth and high interest rates; consequently, adding their massive cash pile to the valuation does not guarantee immediate recovery because business earnings will likely decline during a crisis, reducing both operating income and available capital for buybacks or acquisitions.
To achieve investment goals with certainty rather than gambling on unpredictable market movements, the transcript suggests diversification strategies that include emerging markets when yields are high enough to offset potential crashes, though acknowledging these sectors may suffer more severely in panic scenarios compared to US equities. The speaker also highlights hedging options such as purchasing put options on major indices like the S&P 500, which can guarantee a specific return while protecting against severe market declines, illustrating that investors must carefully assess their risk tolerance and understand whether they are prepared for potential drawdowns of fifty percent or more before committing capital to any single strategy. Ultimately, the conclusion emphasizes that there is no perfect shield against all crashes, so investors should tailor their asset allocation to their personal situation, ensuring they can tolerate volatility while seeking returns that match their specific financial objectives and time horizons.
Read the full video transcript
Good day fellow investors. We discussed
the risks of investing today in a few
videos and many of you ask okay what are
the alternatives because it's very
likely that in the next crash whenever
it comes everything crashes value
crashes. So let's discuss whether that
is true. It is but how much where can
you find protection? You ask here global
market option ETF diversification
emerging market index and then this is
crazy. This is the world we are living
in. 2x leverage single share ETFs is the
sign of the times as the ad for my
videos are such holding cash positions.
How do you balance that? Let's discuss
also a great question here on my
research platform. Is Burkshare hate way
instead the way to go international? If
you buy a good price, will it work?
Let's see. The key when it comes to
investing is that you look at your
personal situation, what are the risks?
What are your other investing
opportunities? Building a new kitchen,
happy wife, happy life, who knows? The
key when it comes to investing is that
you reach your goal with certainty. You
cannot gamble with your retirement, with
your money. If you want to check
immediately what I'm doing, this is my
research platform. You have the link in
description below. These are my buys.
So, feel free to check that out. When it
comes to cash, sitting in cash waiting
for a crash is not a bad idea. Some
people at a company called it's a
textile company Burkshshire had to way
something like that they have almost
$400 billion in cash they are sitting
there in Omaha waiting for a crash they
are getting 3.7% on US treasuries you
can get a little bit higher if you go to
the 10-year Treasury but if interest
rates go up then the value of your
treasury of your liquidity goes down
because you cannot sell it for the full
value at par that you paid. So that is
the risk and you're getting just a
little bit higher. So Warren Buffett is
at 3 months, why not stay at 3 months?
The thing with cash is that you need to
know your needs. If you want certainty,
if you want the cash flow, if you can't
risk your principle, why not? Will there
be inflation? Yes. Is it a risk? Yes.
That's life. Government debt, everything
potential for more money printing.
That's something that you can never know
exactly what will happen in the future.
I can just tell you immediately I have
practically no cash because I can find
better investments. We are not
Birkshshire. We don't have the size
issue. So we are not Birkshshire holding
investment company. You are a person
investing with kids, house, home, this,
that, repairing the car. So you have to
find the best return on investment for
your investing money and the best use
for your life money. That's something
key that many people miss because then
you can go into value ETFs just here.
Vanguard value ETF. It has done okay
over the last 15 years, but don't forget
it crashed 56% between 2007 and 2009,
which is more than the market. And then
when I look at the holdings, Micron,
Bergkshire, Walmart, Caterpillar,
Walmart is a P ratio 40. Caterpillar is
a P ratio of 40 that used to be a
cyclical at a P ratio of 10 in good
times. Value ETFs due to the structure
ETFs have, how they work, how they
operate, how they buy more of the more
expensive value ETFs are not value, too
risky. This will crash even more than
the market. Then we have the question of
Birkshshire cash how to allocate
situations. Birkshire is on my quadrant.
It is one of the few lowrisk situations
alongside my research platform. But if I
look at the 10-year return for
Birkshshire, we are somewhere around 6%
not more because Birkshshire is just
doing its own thing growing growing
growing and now we have seen this boom
over the last there 2022 2025 and then
stagnation. But if we go to our
comparative intrinsic value table for
educational purposes that you can
download in the link in description
below in my free value investment course
here we have Birkshshire
and if we take the net income in
billions 45 billion if they grow at 6%
if the terminal multiple is 17 the
intrinsic value is half a trillion
compare that to the market cap of 1
one so very expensive then you can say
okay but they have the cash we'll
discuss that if they grow at 8% P ratio
of 25 then we are closer but if they
grow just to 5% terminal multiple of 12
the present value of those cash flows
and the situation if you want to get the
10% return you need to pay much less
because it's possible that Birkshshire
in 10 years will be at 800 billion
So okay, it is some protection but you
have to expect the ups and downs. When
it comes to comparisons, Birkshshire for
me is priced for your 5% likely return
going forward. Not bad. However, let's
discuss the cash. Birkshire has 400
billion in cash and then people say okay
Sven, we have to add that cash on your
500 intrinsic valuation and then you are
close to 1 trillion. Well, of the 400
billion in cash, they're invested at
almost 4%, so they are getting 15
billion there of income. The net income
for the year is 45 billion. So, the
businesses are generating 30 billion.
Some good insurance there. Okay. When
there is a proper recession and crash,
the businesses will not generate 30
billion will generate 20 billion. And
then with the 400 billion they will buy
great businesses that will generate
another 20 billion. We are back again to
the 40 billion that we are now in a
crisis P ratio of 12 40 billion time 12
480 billion market cap with the cash
spent maybe it will be 600 maybe 700 but
given Birkshshire's history I've been
following Burkshshire for a while it's
very unlikely that you get a great
return from where we are now and that's
why they are sitting in cash it's Not
just deducting 400 billion in cash, you
need to also deduct 15 billion from net
income which brings down the net income
to 30 billion. 30 historical virtual P
ratio was 10 to 20. Now we are at 20
something. So 20 let's take 15 30
billion times 50 means 450 billion. Then
if you add the cash the value they will
buy something but there will be panic.
Okay, 600 700 is let's say something
that would be fairly priced for
Birkshshire. Is Buffett or Greg doing
buybacks? Not that much. Which means
Bergkshire is expensive. Then if we look
at international from GMOs situation,
international deep value, Japan small
value. I'll tell you immediately
emerging markets they are valuable when
the yields are double digits. This is
not double digits. When panic sets, this
goes to dividend yields of 10% for great
businesses, free ratios of five. That's
cheap for emerging markets. So, this
will crash more than American markets.
Because when it comes to investing, if
you cannot reach your goals with
certainty, then you're just gambling. I
have found some 21-day money back
guarantee. You can check that. But
speaking back to cash in relation to
your situation, see what it fits.
Understand the risk and reward of every
position. Can I tolerate 50% crashes? If
not, you have to invest differently or
be hedged. We discussed hedged and I
said a year ago that you pay 5% for a
yearly option put on the S&P 500. If the
market goes up 15% minus your five, you
get a guaranteed 10% with huge
protection. That's what we discussed.
That's also something. And for now, it's
working. Yes, you have 10%, not 15%, but
you have no risk. If you have any
questions for what I do, invest with
Sven atgmail.com.