Warren Buffett may have cut Berkshire's stake in Apple again in the third quarter

Core Insights - Apple's stock experienced a significant increase of over 24% in the third quarter, providing Berkshire Hathaway an opportunity to realize profits [1] - Berkshire Hathaway reported a reduction of approximately $1.2 billion in the cost basis of its consumer products equity holdings, primarily due to sales of Apple shares [1] Berkshire's Apple Holdings - In 2024, Berkshire Hathaway sold two-thirds of its Apple shares, a surprising move for Warren Buffett, who is known for his long-term investment strategy [2] - As of the end of June, Apple remained Berkshire's largest holding, with 280 million shares valued at $57 billion [2] Upcoming Disclosure - Investors will gain further insight into Berkshire's Apple position with the upcoming 13F filing to the SEC, which will detail stock holdings changes through September 30 [3] Reasons for Selling - Buffett indicated that the sales of Apple shares might be for tax reasons, but there are speculations that concerns over Apple's high valuation also influenced the decision [4] - The size of the Apple stake had previously grown to account for more than half of Berkshire's investment portfolio, prompting considerations for portfolio management [4] Market Positioning - Berkshire Hathaway has been a net seller of stocks for 12 consecutive quarters, accumulating over $6 billion in cash during the third quarter [5] - Buffett's valuation metric for the stock market has reached an all-time high, a level he previously described as "playing with fire" [5]