Warren Buffett officially stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025, handing the reins to Greg Abel, who has been with the company for years and led its energy operations. Despite his retirement, Buffett remains actively involved, and investors are keenly observing the company’s stock activity, particularly following Berkshire’s recent quarterly 13F filing that revealed the closure of positions in 16 stocks, including notable names like Visa, Mastercard, and Amazon.
This significant selling activity may be attributed to the departure of Todd Combs, one of Buffett’s key investment lieutenants, suggesting a potential shift in strategy under Abel’s leadership. In contrast, the filing also highlighted Abel’s substantial purchase of 36.4 million shares of Alphabet, increasing Berkshire’s stake in the tech giant to over 54 million shares. With a cash reserve nearing $400 billion, Abel has ample capacity to continue building positions in Alphabet and other holdings like Apple and American Express.
A key takeaway for market professionals is Abel’s commitment to share repurchases, authorizing up to $325 million, which signals confidence in Berkshire’s valuation and aims to enhance shareholder value by reducing the total share count. This move, coupled with the strategic adjustments in the portfolio, will be closely watched by investors for insights into Berkshire’s evolving investment philosophy.
Source: fool.com