Warren Buffett (1930) American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist
1979 Chairman's Letter http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/1979.html <br class="br">Letters to Shareholders (1957 - 2012) <br class="br">Context: The primary test of managerial economic performance is the achievement of a high earnings rate on equity capital employed (without undue leverage, accounting gimmickry, etc.) and not the achievement of consistent gains in earnings per share. In our view, many businesses would be better understood by their shareholder owners, as well as by the general public, if managements and financial analysts modified the primary emphasis they place upon earnings per share, and upon yearly changes in that figure.