Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway's investment in five Japanese trading houses has surpassed $30 billion, with Warren Buffett continuing to increase his holdings [1][2] - The value of these positions has risen from approximately $6.3 billion in August 2020 to $31.0 billion, marking a 392% increase [2] - Buffett has publicly acknowledged that two of the stakes have exceeded 10%, with Mitsui being one of them, where Berkshire owns 292,044,900 shares valued at around $7.1 billion [3][4] Investment Details - Berkshire's stake in Mitsui is now 10.1%, an increase from 9.7% reported in March [4] - Mitsubishi reported a similar increase in Berkshire's holding to 10.2% from 9.7% [5] - There is speculation that the stakes in the other three companies—Itochu, Marubeni, and Sumitomo—may also have surpassed 10% [5] Strategic Outlook - Buffett indicated that the five companies agreed to relax the ceiling on ownership, allowing for potential increases in stakes over time [6] - Buffett's initial attraction to these stocks was due to their perceived undervaluation compared to prevailing interest rates [7] - Berkshire plans to hold these Japanese stocks for the long term, potentially "50 years or forever" [7]
Warren Buffett Watch: Berkshire's Japanese stock positions top $30 billion