Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 03/08/2026 7:30:14 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Warren Buffett built one of the most successful investment portfolios in history at Berkshire Hathaway. Now, for the first time in decades, someone else is running the show.
At the end of 2025, Buffett officially stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, handing leadership to longtime lieutenant Greg Abel. While Buffett remains an influential figure within the company, investors are closely watching the first moves made by the new chief executive.
The reason is simple. Berkshire’s $300+ billion equity portfolio is one of the most influential pools of capital in global markets. Even small changes in Berkshire’s holdings can ripple across Wall Street.
The big question investors are asking now is which of Warren Buffett’s favorite stocks will remain core holdings under Abel, and which ones could be sold or reduced as the new CEO begins to shape the portfolio.
Recent commentary from Abel and Berkshire’s latest filings offer some early clues.
At the end of 2025, Berkshire Hathaway’s publicly traded equity portfolio remained heavily concentrated in a handful of large positions. These holdings represent some of the most important companies in the U.S. economy.
Here were Berkshire’s ten largest equity investments by market value:
| Company | Ticker | Approximate Value | Portfolio Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | AAPL | $61.96B | 23% |
| American Express | AXP | $56.09B | 21% |
| Bank of America | BAC | $28.45B | 10% |
| Coca-Cola | KO | $27.96B | 10% |
| Chevron | CVX | $19.84B | 7.2% |
| Moody’s | MCO | $12.60B | 4.6% |
| Occidental Petroleum | OXY | $10.89B | 4.0% |
| Chubb | CB | $10.69B | 3.9% |
| Kraft Heinz | KHC | $7.90B | 2.9% |
| Alphabet | GOOGL | $5.59B | 2.0% |
Even a quick glance reveals Buffett’s traditional strategy. The portfolio favors durable companies with strong brands, stable cash flow, and long operating histories.
But there were signs late in 2025 that some positions were already beginning to shift.
Berkshire trimmed stakes in Apple and Bank of America during the fourth quarter while increasing positions in Chevron and Chubb.
Those moves came while Buffett was still CEO. Now that Abel has taken over, investors are wondering whether larger portfolio changes could be coming.
One of the clearest early signals from Abel came in his first shareholder letter.
In it, the new CEO openly criticized Berkshire’s long-held investment in Kraft Heinz.
“Our investment in Kraft Heinz has been disappointing,” Abel wrote. “Even after considering the preferred equity component in our original Heinz investment, our return has been well short of adequate.”
That statement alone caught Wall Street’s attention.
Buffett historically avoided publicly criticizing Berkshire holdings. Abel’s willingness to do so suggests he may take a more pragmatic and less sentimental approach to portfolio management.
Many analysts now believe Berkshire may sell or significantly reduce its stake in Kraft Heinz in upcoming regulatory filings.
If that happens, the company would likely fall out of Berkshire’s top ten holdings for the first time in years.
While Abel was critical of Kraft Heinz, he also made it clear that several companies remain central to Berkshire’s strategy.
In the same shareholder letter he singled out four businesses he expects to remain long-term compounders.
“Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola, and Moody’s – businesses we understand well, have a high regard for their leaders, and expect will compound over decades.”
Each of those companies shares several characteristics that align with Berkshire’s long-standing philosophy.
They generate consistent free cash flow, operate dominant brands, and possess strong competitive advantages.
Apple remains Berkshire’s largest investment by far.
Even after partial sales in recent years, the technology giant still accounts for nearly a quarter of Berkshire’s equity portfolio.
Apple’s combination of product ecosystem, services revenue, and massive buyback program has made it one of the most profitable companies ever created.
Many analysts believe Berkshire will continue holding Apple for years because of its predictable cash flow and global consumer dominance.
Berkshire has held American Express since the 1960s.
The credit card network benefits from a unique business model. Unlike Visa or Mastercard, American Express issues its own cards and directly interacts with customers.
That structure allows it to capture both payment processing fees and interest income.
For Berkshire, it has been one of the most successful long-term investments in history.
Buffett famously began buying Coca-Cola shares in the late 1980s.
The investment turned into a massive success as the company expanded globally and steadily increased dividends.
Coca-Cola’s brand power and distribution network make it one of the most resilient consumer businesses in the world.
Even decades later, it remains a core Berkshire holding.
Moody’s operates one of the world’s largest credit rating agencies.
The company plays a critical role in global financial markets by rating government and corporate debt.
Because of regulatory barriers and limited competition, Moody’s has historically maintained extremely high profit margins.
Those characteristics align perfectly with Berkshire’s preference for durable business models.
While several investments appear secure, others may face a more uncertain future under Abel.
Berkshire’s stake in Bank of America has been reduced in recent quarters.
The bank remains one of Berkshire’s largest holdings, but its shrinking weight suggests the firm may continue trimming the position.
Changes in interest rates, bank regulation, and the broader economic cycle could influence whether Berkshire maintains a large position.
Buffett made aggressive purchases of Occidental Petroleum shares during the recent energy boom.
The investment tied Berkshire more closely to oil prices and global energy markets.
However, Occidental was grouped with Kraft Heinz as an “equity method investment” in Abel’s shareholder commentary.
Some analysts interpret that as a possible sign the company could eventually reduce its exposure.
Berkshire increased its Chevron position in the fourth quarter.
However, the energy sector is historically volatile. If oil prices decline or geopolitical tensions ease, Berkshire could rebalance its energy exposure.
Chubb operates in the insurance industry, which Berkshire understands extremely well.
The company’s underwriting discipline and profitability make it an attractive long-term holding.
Because Berkshire itself operates massive insurance businesses like GEICO and National Indemnity, many analysts believe Chubb could remain an important strategic investment.
Alphabet is one of Berkshire’s newer technology investments.
The company dominates global digital advertising through Google Search and YouTube.
At the same time, Alphabet’s investments in artificial intelligence and cloud computing have created new growth opportunities.
Whether Berkshire increases or trims this position could reveal how Abel views the future of Big Tech investments.
Another interesting aspect of Abel’s commentary involved Berkshire’s growing investments in Japan.
Over the past several years, Berkshire has accumulated large positions in five major Japanese trading companies:
Abel described these holdings as being comparable in importance to Berkshire’s largest U.S. investments.
That comment suggests Berkshire may continue expanding internationally under his leadership.
Japan has become particularly attractive to global investors due to corporate governance reforms and shareholder-friendly policies.
Investors are now waiting for Berkshire Hathaway’s next Form 13F filing.
The document reveals all major equity holdings and is closely watched by professional investors around the world.
Because it will reflect the first full quarter under Abel’s leadership, the filing could provide the first real glimpse into how Berkshire’s investment strategy might evolve.
Even modest changes can move markets.
When Berkshire increases or reduces a position, other investors often follow its lead.
The transition from Buffett to Abel represents one of the biggest leadership changes in financial history.
Buffett built Berkshire into a $900 billion conglomerate and turned its investment portfolio into a global benchmark.
Now Greg Abel faces the challenge of continuing that legacy while adapting to a rapidly changing economic environment.
Several factors could influence Berkshire’s portfolio decisions in the coming years:
• Artificial intelligence and technology disruption
• Global energy markets and oil prices
• Interest rate policy from the Federal Reserve
• Shifting global trade dynamics
• Opportunities in international markets like Japan
Abel summarized the company’s philosophy in simple terms.
“Our investment portfolio – specifically, our equity investments – will evolve and grow as opportunities arise.”
For investors, that means the Berkshire portfolio of the future may look very different from the one Buffett built.
But if history is any guide, Wall Street will be watching every move.
https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/#/entityName=Berkshire%20Hathaway%20Inc
https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/letters/2025ltr.pdf
https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/berkshire-hathaway-portfolio-analysis-2025
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/berkshire-hathaway-holdings-analysis.html
|
|
Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
bkmk
What’s the background on Greg Abel?
Hopefully he’ll support child murder too and reap beaucoup bucks too!
(a little viet nam war era lingo there for ya)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.