Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett, is likely to further reduce its substantial holdings in Apple stock by Q3 2025, following a previous reduction that saw a decrease in the cost basis of its consumer goods holdings by approximately $1.2 billion [2][3]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - Buffett's significant investment in Apple began in 2016, with a total investment of about $37.5 billion made between 2016 and 2018, positioning Apple as one of the four pillars of Berkshire's investment portfolio [2][3]. - Apple has generated over $150 billion in net gains for Berkshire, with its peak holding accounting for nearly 50% of the portfolio [2][3]. - In 2024, Berkshire initiated a large-scale sell-off, reducing its Apple holdings by about two-thirds, with nearly 400 million shares sold in Q2 alone at an average price of approximately $185 per share [3]. Group 2: Market Position - Apple holds a significant market share in the global smartphone market, with an 18.7% share in 2024 [4]. - The Asia-Pacific and Greater China regions account for 55% of the global smartphone market, with shares of 30% and 25% respectively [6]. - Despite a decline in overall revenue in China, the iPhone 17 series has seen a 38% year-on-year sales increase in the first six weeks of its launch, dominating the top three positions in the sales rankings [8].