Berkshire Hathaway has owned shares in some companies for decades, as CEO Warren Buffett once said that his favorite holding period is forever. The average investor could benefit from peeking at the Oracle of Omaha's portfolio. 

While American Express (NYSE: AXP) has been a longtime holding for Berkshire and Buffett, its stock has done particularly well in the last three years, rising 65% during that time (as of Aug. 14). This performance crushes the 33% gain of the broader S 500 index. 

Let's take a closer look at what makes American Express special, as well as its latest financials and why investors should consider buying the stock right now. 

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Source Fool.com