Warren Buffett: Strong Dollar Makes For 'Tough Year' In 2015

In his recent annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE: BRK-A) (NYSE: BRK-B) shareholders, Warren Buffett discussed the strong U.S. dollar and its potential negative impacts on Berkshire's "Big Four" holdings: American Express Company AXP, The Coca-Cola Co KO, International Business Machines Corp. IBM and Wells Fargo & Co WFC.

How Does A Strong Dollar Hurt American Companies?

With European and other global economies slumping throughout 2014, the dollar has performed well against many foreign currencies. While that change is great for Americans buying products abroad, American companies that derive a large portion of its business overseas get less out of its international businesses during times of dollar strength.

Related Link: 11 Key Quotes From Berkshire Hathaway's Shareholder Letter

How Does This Affect The "Big Four?"

In Q4 of 2014, IBM generated more revenue from its international operations than its business in the Americas. Coke is even more heavily reliant on overseas revenue than IBM, as about 75 percent of its business comes from overseas. American Express CEO Jeff Campbell specifically mentioned "forex exchange headwinds" in the company's most recent earnings release.

Aside from pressures on international profits, another major problem with a strong dollar for big banks such as Wells Fargo has to do with the new post-Financial Crisis bank regulations. According to the Wall Street Journal, the strong dollar could potentially put American banks at a disadvantage to foreign banks because a strong dollar makes the American banks' dollar-denominated assets and operations appear large when compared to European peers. These imbalances could lead to American banks having to hold higher amounts of capital on its balance sheets than European banks.

Related Link: Warren Buffett Proves That Insourcing In America Still Works

Buffett's Comments

Speaking of his outlook for the "Big Four," Buffett shared his concern over the strong dollar with shareholders. In his letter, Buffett specifically warned that "2015 will be a tough year for the group, in part because of the strong dollar."

Obviously the issue is not affecting Buffett's notoriously long-term opinion of the four stocks, as Berkshire increased its stake in all four companies in 2014.