Berkshire Hathaway increases stake in Burlington Northern Santa Fe

Source: Supply Chain Digital

Date :1/17/2008 6:05:05 AM

Holding company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. buys further shares in Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway.

Owned by Warren Buffett, Berkshire now owns 17.8 percent of the nation's second-largest railroad after buying 948,800 more shares on Monday and Tuesday, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday.

Berkshire reported purchases of BNSF stock three times this month, and the Omaha-based holding company now owns 62.5 million shares of stock in the Fort Worth, Texas-based railroad.

The latest filings say Berkshire paid between $77.69 and $78.18 for the BNSF shares this week.

Still, Buffett and Berkshire vice chairman Charlie Munger discussed their interest in railroads at last year's annual meeting. They said railroads have become an appealing investment because they are healthier today than in past years.

Last year Berkshire also invested in two other railroad companies, Norfolk Southern Corp. and Union Pacific Corp., but Berkshire reduced its investments in those two railroads in the second half of 2007.

January 17, 2008