Is This Warren Buffett’s Final Warning About the S&P 500?

Core Insights - Warren Buffett will step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway after a 60-year tenure, with Greg Abel taking over on January 1, while Buffett remains as chairman [2] - Berkshire Hathaway holds a record cash reserve of approximately $382 billion, primarily in short-term U.S. Treasury bills, during a bull market for the S&P 500 [3][7] - The significant cash buildup coincides with Berkshire being a net seller of stocks for 12 consecutive quarters, including substantial reductions in its Apple holdings [5][7] Cash Buildup Reasons - The cash reserve is partly due to the appeal of risk-free returns from short-term Treasury bills yielding around 3.6% to 4%, which Buffett prefers over investing in stocks at current elevated valuations [6] - Analysts suggest that the lack of attractive investment opportunities in an overextended market is a primary reason for the consistent net selling and avoidance of major capital deployments [8] - Other theories for the cash buildup include preparation for large acquisitions, opportunistic buybacks, maintaining flexibility in a concentrated portfolio, and managing concentration risk after gains in top holdings like Apple [8]