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The week's question
In March 2025, in the thread "Re: OT, out", Umm asked the members: "Do you think it is because America is made up of magical soil that makes businesses based in America magically profitable?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Stocks A to Z / Stocks B / Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)
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Author: Bluehorseshoe ✧  😊 😞
Number: of 22351 
Subject: Re: Selling calls?
Date: 09/17/26 5:34 PM
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No. of Recommendations: 8
There is of course a really bad scenario where price just keep climbing and climbing...

The worst case scenario is that the stock instead goes to zero, however unlikely that may be. I would suggest you consider your own personal reactions to the two guaranteed outcomes of a covered call position.

1. You will receive at a minimum your premium.
2. You will receive at a maximum the strike plus your premium if called away.

A few points to consider other than Jim's long term ratios that were referenced.

The median P/B ratio from 11/01/2022 to today is 1.5x. That is significantly different from the long term. Is it permanent? I don't know.
The median P/B ratio from 11/01/2018 to 11/01/2022 was 1.34X. Was it permanent? No it was not. But it illustrates how short term fluctuations get masked over the long term.

Yes the long term median P/B ratio is around 1.4x but that doesn't mean it will be seen all that often during your 12mo holding period. Since 11/01/2022 only 8% of trading days have closed under 1.4x. I sold quite a few covered calls in late 2023 and early 2024 that resulted in shares being called away at all in prices well below market prices at the time. I'm at peace with it and have been comfortable selling and repurchasing puts to re-establish my exposure. After seeing a new post 2010 peak of 1.79x, I personally won't be selling covered calls at 1.5x or below. No judgement on bets others make.

Jeff
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This community has written 21,861 posts about Berkshire Hathaway. The article-length ones it recommended most:
BRK: Why Not XOM? · 62 recs · 2024
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Summary of 2Q 2026 · 55 recs · 2026
3Q Summary · 53 recs · 2024
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