It's hard to find a track record of performance that matches what Warren Buffett did at Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B). Taking a dying textile business and choosing it as the holding company for what is now a vast empire of all different kinds of enterprises might not have seemed like a likely recipe for success, but that didn't stop Buffett from turning Berkshire into a trillion-dollar market cap stock. The Voyager Portfolio has the stretch goal of coming even close to what Buffett achie ...

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway's investment in five Japanese trading companies has become its third-largest equity investment, valued at nearly $40 billion following a stock rally in 2026 [1] Group 1 - The five Japanese trading companies include Itochu, which significantly contributes to Berkshire's portfolio [1] - This investment is noted as Berkshire's best since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic [1] - The substantial increase in value reflects a broader trend in the performance of these stocks [1]

Core Insights - Warren Buffett has stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway after over 65 years, transforming the company from a failing textile business into a diversified conglomerate with a wide range of subsidiaries and investments in publicly traded companies [1] Investment Strategy - Despite Buffett's famous quote about a "forever" holding period, he has been actively buying and selling stocks based on market valuations, being a net seller of stocks in every quarter leading up to his retirement at the end of 2025 [2] - In the most recent quarter, Berkshire Hathaway sold $12.5 billion worth of stocks, with specific details revealed in the SEC's form 13F filing [3] Stock Sales - Buffett has been reducing Berkshire's stakes in Apple and Bank of America due to their high valuations, with Apple trading at a P/E ratio comparable to faster-growing tech companies despite slow revenue growth [4] - Bank of America's share price has significantly increased since Buffett's initial investment, nearing twice its tangible book value by the end of 2025 [5] Unique Transactions - The sale of Verisign, which has exclusive rights to register .com and .net domain names, is notable as it reduced Berkshire's stake below 10%, triggering SEC disclosure requirements. Additionally, Berkshire has committed not to sell any remaining stake for at least one year [8]

Group 1 - Berkshire Hathaway has a recent market value of approximately $1 trillion and is considered a classic blue chip stock, although it does not currently pay dividends [2] - The company has a significant cash reserve of $382 billion, leading to speculation that the new CEO, Greg Abel, may introduce a dividend in the future [2] - Investing in Berkshire Hathaway provides ownership in various businesses, including GEICO, Benjamin Moore, See's Candies, and BNSF railroad, as well as a stake in its stock portfolio featuring major companies like Apple and Coca-Cola [2] Group 2 - Historical average annual returns for Berkshire Hathaway are as follows: 1.60% over the past year, 15.53% over the past three years, 15.91% over the past five years, 13.90% over the past ten years, and 12.49% over the past fifteen years [3] - A conservative estimate suggests an average total annual return of 11% over the next decade, which would increase a $500 investment to $1,420 [6] - Projected values of a $500 investment at various growth rates after ten years are: $984 at 7%, $1,079 at 8%, $1,184 at 9%, $1,297 at 10%, $1,420 at 11%, $1,553 at 12%, $1,697 at 13%, $1,854 at 14%, and $2,023 at 15% [6]

Boasting a robust market cap of $1 trillion, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B) is a diversified multinational conglomerate based in Omaha, Nebraska. The company is led by legendary investor Warren Buffett and operates through a diversified portfolio of wholly owned businesses and equity investments. The company's shares have lagged behind the broader market over the past 52 weeks. BRK.B stock has risen 4% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied 15.5%. Moreover, shares of th ...

These Buffett stocks could easily beat the market over the next 12 months.Sure, Warren Buffett has passed the torch as Berkshire Hathaway's (BRK.A +0.96%) (BRK.B +1.35%) CEO to Greg Abel. However, I still view all of the stocks currently in Berkshire's portfolio as Buffett stocks. They were all either personally picked by the legendary investor or by someone else operating under his watchful eye.Quite a few of the stocks Berkshire Hathaway owns are good picks right now. Here are three Buffett stocks to buy ...

Group 1: Market Overview - The start of 2026 has seen significant volatility in software stocks due to investor concerns about AI disrupting their businesses [1] - Despite the downturn in some high-profile stocks, the S&P 500 has managed a gain of about 2% year to date [1] Group 2: Investment Portfolio Insights - Top holdings for the company include Apple and Berkshire Hathaway, which are viewed as strong investments despite not matching market returns so far this year [2] - These investments are seen as a contrast to the speculative hype surrounding AI, providing a balanced portfolio [2] Group 3: Berkshire Hathaway Analysis - Berkshire Hathaway is down about 4% year to date, making it a more attractive buy compared to the beginning of the year [5] - The company has a significant cash position totaling about $378 billion, which is 36% of its total market capitalization, leading to a wait-and-see approach from the market [6] - Shares are trading at about 1.5 times their book value, indicating potential attractiveness for investors [7] - The conglomerate owns high-quality assets, including a diverse range of businesses and significant equity stakes in companies like American Express and Coca-Cola [7] - While earnings from the insurance business are cyclical, the company is well-positioned for long-term growth in earnings and book value [8]

Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway is expected to continue thriving under new CEO Greg Abel, despite Warren Buffett's retirement, as the company's foundational values remain strong [2][3] Company Transition - Greg Abel has taken over as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway less than a month ago, and he is moving to sell the company's stake in Kraft Heinz [7] - The decision to pare down the Kraft Heinz position is seen as a necessary step, as the investment has underperformed significantly [4][5] Investment Performance - Kraft Heinz shares have declined approximately 46% from their 2022 highs and are down over 75% from their all-time highs in 2017 [5][7] - The company has held onto the Kraft Heinz investment for too long, and the situation has worsened over the years, indicating it may be a value trap [6] Future Opportunities - Berkshire Hathaway has over $380 billion in cash available for investment, which could be deployed into better opportunities following the sale of Kraft Heinz shares [7] - The transition in leadership may provide significant benefits as Abel and his team take full control of investment decisions [3]

Core Insights - Warren Buffett's leadership of Berkshire Hathaway has resulted in a remarkable 5.5 million percent gain over 60 years, establishing him as a potentially historic investor [1] - Despite an average return of 19.9% from 1965 to 2024, Berkshire's largest annual gains occurred decades ago when the company was significantly smaller [2] - Buffett has indicated that future performance will not match past results, citing the law of large numbers as a contributing factor to the slowdown in growth [3][4] Company Growth Dynamics - The law of large numbers suggests that substantial growth is easier from smaller starting points, which is why small-cap stocks often outperform larger companies [3] - Buffett has expressed that size can negatively impact investment performance, emphasizing the advantages smaller investors have [4] - For Berkshire, turning a $100 million investment in a small-cap company into $1 billion would yield a $900 million profit, which is minimal compared to its over $380 billion cash reserves [5] Regulatory Considerations - If Berkshire seeks to acquire more than 5% of a small-cap company's voting shares, it must file a Schedule 13D with the SEC, which involves regulatory challenges and public disclosure [6] - Retail investors do not face the same regulatory hurdles, allowing them more flexibility in investment opportunities [6] Investment Opportunities - The Vanguard Small Cap Index Admiral Shares is highlighted as a straightforward way for investors to gain exposure to a diversified index of small U.S. companies [7]

Core Viewpoint - Warren Buffett, the long-time CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has officially stepped down, passing leadership to Greg Abel, while continuing to influence the company's strategic positioning before retirement [2]. Group 1: Leadership Transition - Warren Buffett has retired as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025, transitioning leadership to Greg Abel [2]. - Despite stepping down from day-to-day operations, Buffett remains involved in strategic decisions to ensure the company's future success [2]. Group 2: Investment Moves - Prior to his retirement, Buffett was actively managing Berkshire's investment portfolio, as evidenced by Form 13F filings, which disclose the buying and selling activities of institutional investors [3]. - A notable action was Buffett's significant reduction of Berkshire's stake in Bank of America (BofA), a core holding for nearly a decade [4][5]. - Concurrently, Buffett was building a position in a popular consumer brand for five consecutive quarters leading up to his retirement [4]. Group 3: Bank of America Insights - Bank of America has been one of the top three holdings in Berkshire's portfolio, reflecting Buffett's comfort and understanding of the financial sector [5]. - Bank stocks, including BofA, benefit from the nonlinearity of economic cycles, allowing them to grow loan portfolios during periods of economic expansion [6]. - BofA's sensitivity to interest rate changes has been advantageous, particularly during the Federal Reserve's rate-hiking cycle from March 2022 to July 2023, which increased BofA's net interest income significantly [7].