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08

Musk vs. Buffett: An Invitation for Investors to Take Sides

By Tony Seruga

Elon Musk and Warren E. Buffett clashed over the weekend after Mr. Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, derided as lame Mr. Buffett’s concept of companies having “moats” to keep potential competitors at bay. When Mr. Buffett, the Berkshire Hathaway chairman, cited his confectionery maker, See’s Candies, as proof to the contrary, Mr. Musk pledged to launch his own candy maker. It’s an invitation for investors to take sides; many already have.

For the 40,000 shareholders who flooded Omaha for Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting on Saturday, Tesla looks like the epitome of a terrible investment. Mr. Buffett prizes companies with healthy management incentives, simple operations and little competition. Mr. Musk’s electric-car maker flunks on all three counts…

Musk vs. Buffett: An Invitation for Investors to Take Sides

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