John Malone of Liberty Media says Warren Buffett is waiting with a huge amount of cash to take advantage of good deals.

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is steadily amassing a record amount of cash, signaling an expectation that opportunities to make profitable investments will soon arise, according to media tycoon John Malone. The investment firm’s cash position stood at a staggering $157 billion at the close of September, marking unprecedented levels of liquidity, and indicating Buffett’s readiness to capitalize on potential deals. Malone cited Buffett’s substantial cash hoard as evidence that the renowned investor anticipates enticing financial prospects. He made these comments during Liberty Media’s recent investor day, highlighting the strategic advantage of having a substantial cash balance during a time of rising interest rates and more challenging bond performance. Malone pointed out that even though borrowing costs have increased and bonds are more difficult to outperform, attractive opportunities will emerge in due course. He underscored the importance of being well-prepared to leverage these opportunities.

Moreover, Buffett’s historical deployment of cash reserves during the 2008 financial crisis demonstrated the value of maintaining a significant capital pool. At that time, Berkshire Hathaway emerged as one of the few willing lenders in the market, deploying over $21 billion across various transactions. Despite the differences in investment styles between Buffett and Malone, the latter conveyed his respect for Buffett’s patient and prudent approach to capital allocation. While Buffett has concentrated on acquiring various businesses over several decades, Malone has specialized in corporate structuring and asset spin-offs.

Despite the disparities in their investment strategies, Malone expressed his respect for Buffett’s prudent and cautious financial approach. This marks a shift in perception, as Malone had previously advised Buffett against investing in Microsoft in the 1980s and has been critical of some of Buffett’s decisions. Nevertheless, he clearly acknowledges Buffett’s ability to make strategic investment decisions and build up cash reserves in anticipation of future opportunities. The record-breaking cash stockpile could indicate that Buffett is preparing to make substantial investments in the near future, underscoring the unique opportunities he foresees.