Top Takes for RealMoney

The RealMoney contributors are in the business of trading and investing all day on the basis of ongoing news flow. Below, we offer the top five ideas that RealMoney contributors posted today and how they played those ideas.

TheStreet.com brings you the news all day, and with RealMoney's "Columnist Conversation," you can see how the pros are playing it on a real-time basis. Here are the top five ideas from today:

1. Buffett Finally Makes His Elephant Deal
By Sham Gad
8:10 a.m. EST

After years of saying Berkshire (BRK.A Quote) would love to make an elephant deal, Warren Buffett is paying $34 billion ($44 billion including debt) for Burlington Northern (BNI Quote). Clearly, Buffett views this as an excellent long-term value-creating acquisition for Berkshire -- his willingness to split the shares to make this happen is proof positive.

While I believe Mr. Buffett's comments that this is a bold bet on the long-term recovery of the U.S., I can't help but read between the lines: Does this mean that the long-term future for the trucking industry may be a lot tougher than we think? After all, rail transport of goods is the cheapest form of land transportation.

Overall, Buffett's bet should emphasize the favorable long-term outlook for the U.S. economy -- with emphasis on the phrase "long-term." No positions

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2. Portfolio Review
By Timothy Collins
9:16 a.m. EST

I am looking for some reader input here, as I'd like to do a bit of a longer article and take a few handfuls of long-term portfolios and put my spin on them. What I'm looking for are emails from a few readers outlining their portfolios (percentages, not dollars). I'd prefer portfolios mainly based on ETFs, but a mix of stocks and even some mutual funds can be included -- I'll see what I can come up with from the holdings. Obviously, my input should not be construed as a recommendation, simply another possible way at looking at any portfolio. No positions