[xenadu02]

Not really; you can look at BNSF (bought by Buffet) vs Union Pacific. Buffet takes the long view, as a result BNSF has been spending billions on capital projects and hiring.

Wall St is known for encouraging short-term thinking.

[xkjkls]

I'd say it's a lie that Wall Street is known for short term thinking. Hell, it is even a unofficial motto of Goldman Sachs to "be long-term greedy".

Are there a large number of activist investors who want certain companies to trim fat? Yes. I wouldn't always say that trimming fat is always synonymous with short term thinking. For all the companies that are underinvesting in the future, there are 5 whose management has given them mission creep to invest in areas that incinerate capital. Especially in the current interest rate environment.

[whatok]

BNSF is spending money on capex because it's the smart thing to do in that industry right now. That's not a consequence of a Buffet investment. Buffet also invested in Heinz and they immediately fired thousands and are cutting costs left and right.

[atomical]

Buffett lays out some reasons why it's tougher for brands like Heinz.

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/05/07/buffett.html