Warren Buffett speaks at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on May 3, 2025.
CNBC
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has unveiled a new position in internet and AI giant Alphabet in a filing, making Google’s parent company the conglomerate’s 10th largest holding at the end of September.
Berkshire disclosed $4.3 billion in Alphabet stock at the end of the third quarter, according to filings. It was a surprising move given Buffett’s traditional value investing philosophy and reluctance toward high-growth, technology-driven stocks. Berkshire has owned Apple for many years, but Buffett calls it more of a consumer products company than a pure technology business.
It’s also likely that Berkshire investment managers Ted Weschler and Todd Combs bought the technology name. One of those companies began investing in Amazon in 2019, and Berkshire still owns $2.2 billion worth of e-commerce stocks.
Alphabet has been the market’s standout winner this year, with its stock up 46%. Alphabet’s cloud business has regained solid momentum due to strong demand for artificial intelligence.
apple trimming
Berkshire continued to shed its huge Apple stake, reducing its position by another 15% to $60.7 billion in the quarter.
Buffett sold off all of his Apple shares in 2024, cutting Berkshire’s stake by two-thirds in a surprising move for an investor known for his long-term focus. Berkshire also reduced its holdings in the second quarter of this year.
Despite continued sales, the iPhone maker remains Berkshire’s largest shareholder.
The company also reduced its stake in Bank of America by 6%, taking the stake to just under $30 billion. Berkshire also reduced its holdings in VeriSign and DaVita in the third quarter.
Berkshire has been net short in stocks for 12 consecutive quarters as valuations continue to rise in a tech-driven bull market.
Buffett, 95, will step down as CEO at the end of the year and be replaced by longtime vice president Greg Abel. Investors are closely monitoring Berkshire’s position for clues about the next era of leadership and how its investment approach will evolve.
