As Warren Buffett Waves Goodbye – 5 Dividend Stocks That Never Leave Berkshire Hathaway

Core Insights - Warren Buffett's investment strategy focuses on acquiring strong companies with globally recognized products and services while paying dividends, a timeless approach that has proven successful over the years [1][2] - Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio is heavily concentrated, with five top companies making up over 70% of its total holdings, a strategy that has historically benefited investors [2] - Buffett announced his retirement as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, with Greg Abel set to succeed him, raising questions about the future of the portfolio [5] Berkshire Hathaway - Berkshire Hathaway holds a significant cash reserve of $381 billion, positioning itself to capitalize on potential market dislocations similar to the Global Financial Crisis [3] - The company has reduced its underperformance against the S&P 500 from 12.2% to 4.3% in 2025 [4] American Express - American Express has shown strong performance in 2025, with a dividend yield of 0.88% and earnings per share of $4.14, exceeding analyst expectations [6][7] - The company reported a revenue growth of 11% to $18.43 billion and a net income increase of 16% to $2.9 billion compared to the previous year [7] Apple - Apple remains a major holding for Berkshire Hathaway, constituting 23.8% of its portfolio, despite a recent sale of 20 million shares [12] - The company offers a small dividend yield of 0.38% and has a diverse range of products and services, including smartphones, personal computers, and various subscription services [12][15] Bank of America - Bank of America has a solid dividend yield of 2% and reported impressive Q3 results with earnings per share of $1.06, beating estimates [15][16] - The company’s revenue grew 11% year-over-year to $28.24 billion, with profit rising 23% to $8.5 billion [16] Chevron - Chevron is a major player in the energy sector, offering a substantial dividend yield of 4.42% and recently raised its dividend by 5% [19] - The company announced a $53 billion acquisition of Hess Corporation, with the deal expected to close in the fall [23] The Coca-Cola Company - Coca-Cola remains a long-term holding for Buffett, with 400 million shares that increased by 11% in 2025 and a dividend yield of 2.92% [25] - The company is the world's largest beverage provider, offering over 500 brands and serving more than 1.9 billion servings per day globally [28]