Did Warren Buffett Give Up on Amazon? He Sold 77% Before Leaving
AmazonAmazon(US:AMZN) 247Wallst·2026-02-18 14:46

Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway sold 77% of its Amazon stake in Q4, indicating a significant reduction in its investment before Warren Buffett stepped back as CEO [1] Group 1: Investment Actions - Berkshire Hathaway sold 7,724,000 shares of Amazon, reducing its holdings from 10 million shares to 2,276,000 shares valued at $525 million [1] - The initial investment in Amazon was made in 2019, with shares valued at approximately $930 million, which expanded to about $2.1 billion by Q3 of the previous year [1] Group 2: Management and Strategy - The sale of Amazon shares was managed by investment managers, not Warren Buffett himself, suggesting that the decision may not reflect Buffett's personal views [1] - Todd Combs, one of the investment managers linked to tech investments, resigned from Berkshire in December, which may have influenced the timing of the Amazon sale [1] Group 3: Company Performance - Amazon Web Services achieved a $142 billion annual revenue run-rate, with growth at its fastest pace in three years, indicating strong performance in the cloud sector [1] - Amazon plans to invest $200 billion in capital expenditures this year, focusing on data centers and AI infrastructure, which highlights its commitment to growth in these areas [1] Group 4: Market Outlook - Amazon's stock has declined 13% in 2026, particularly after a Q4 earnings report that showed slower-than-expected growth, making the sale appear timely [1] - Analysts project Amazon's revenue to reach $805 billion in 2026, with operating margins at 14.4%, and average price targets of $287 per share, indicating a potential upside of 44% [1]

Did Warren Buffett Give Up on Amazon? He Sold 77% Before Leaving - Reportify