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Here's My Top Stock Pick (and Biggest Holding) for 2026
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-03 08:41
Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway's substantial cash reserves position it as a strong alternative to the current AI spending boom, allowing it to capitalize on future opportunities while maintaining solid business performance without heavy AI investments [2][3]. Group 1: Financial Position - By the end of Q3 2025, Berkshire held approximately $382 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term U.S. Treasuries, an increase from about $334 billion at the end of 2024, reflecting a strategy of net selling equities and strong performance from its non-insurance subsidiaries [4]. - The company's operating earnings for Q3 2025 were $13.5 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of about 34%, indicating robust underlying business performance [5]. - Berkshire's cash hoarding strategy contrasts with the aggressive spending seen in the tech sector, leading to underperformance relative to the S&P 500 and many AI investments in 2025 [7]. Group 2: Leadership Transition - Warren Buffett plans to step down as CEO at the end of 2025, with Greg Abel set to take over, which is viewed as a potential catalyst for the company rather than a negative development [9][10]. - The leadership transition occurs at a time of high liquidity and optionality for Berkshire, providing Abel with significant opportunities to enhance the company's performance [11]. - Buffett has expressed confidence in Berkshire's long-term prospects under Abel's leadership, emphasizing the company's established culture and liquidity [11]. Group 3: Strategic Options - Berkshire's liquidity, nearing $400 billion, positions it well to take advantage of potential market dislocations caused by AI spending leading to overcapacity or a market sell-off [12]. - The company could increase share repurchases significantly due to its cash reserves, or initiate dividends if cash levels become excessive, although it is likely to prioritize waiting for investment opportunities [13][14]. - The stock is currently trading at 1.6 times book value, indicating low market expectations, which may present a favorable investment opportunity [15].
How Is 3M Company's Stock Performance Compared to Other Industrial Stocks?
Yahoo Finance· 2025-12-02 14:13
Saint Paul, Minnesota-based 3M Company (MMM) is a global manufacturing and technology company that produces a wide range of industrial, safety, consumer, healthcare, and electronics products. Valued at a market cap of $90.6 billion, the company’s portfolio includes adhesives and tapes, abrasives, filtration systems, personal protective equipment (PPE), automotive and aerospace materials, and home and office supplies. Companies valued at $10 billion or more are typically classified as “large-cap stocks,” a ...
Buffett Vs. S&P 500: Will Oracle Of Omaha's Last Year As Berkshire CEO Go Down As Underperformance?
Benzinga· 2025-12-01 21:15
Legendary investor Warren Buffett is moving on from the CEO role of Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:BRK)(NYSE:BRK) at the end of 2025, a position he has held since 1970.Known for his strong historical returns for investors, Buffett has outperformed the S&P 500 in recent years, but is currently trailing behind the market index with one month left in 2025.Buffett Vs. S&P 500Buffett has been in leadership roles with Berkshire Hathaway since 1965 and the CEO role since 1970. Many of those years Buffett and Berkshi ...
Warren Buffett Dumps Apple and Bank of America to Pile Into This High-Yield Investment
The Motley Fool· 2025-11-30 11:45
Core Insights - Warren Buffett is retiring at the end of this year after leading Berkshire Hathaway since 1965, during which he transformed it into a trillion-dollar company [1] - Berkshire Hathaway has reduced its stakes in Apple and Bank of America, which were historically among its largest holdings [2][3] Investment Strategy - As of the end of Q3, Berkshire Hathaway holds over 238 million Apple shares (21.4% of its portfolio) and over 568 million Bank of America shares (9.6% of its portfolio), both significantly reduced from historical levels [3] - The reduction in Apple shares is attributed to its high valuation, with a forward P/E ratio of approximately 33.5, which is considered expensive given modest projected earnings growth [4] - Bank of America's valuation has also increased since Berkshire began purchasing shares in 2020, and the bank faces a more competitive environment [5] Tax Considerations - The current favorable corporate tax rate may incentivize Berkshire Hathaway to realize gains from its investments before potential tax changes occur [6] Cash Management - Despite selling shares, Berkshire Hathaway is primarily investing in U.S. Treasury bills (T-bills), holding $320.5 billion in T-bills at the end of Q3, which is more than the combined market capitalization of CVS Health, Altria, and Starbucks [7][8] - The T-bills yield around 3.9%, generating approximately $12.5 billion annually for Berkshire Hathaway [9] - Buffett emphasizes the importance of liquidity, preferring not to tie up large amounts in long-term T-bills, allowing for quick access to cash for future opportunities [11] Future Leadership - The strategy of holding cash and T-bills positions the incoming CEO, Greg Abel, with ample capital to work with after Buffett's retirement [12]
Analysts See 27% Upside Potential For Honeywell International Inc. (HON)
Yahoo Finance· 2025-11-29 18:09
Honeywell International Inc. (NASDAQ:HON) is among the 10 Best Drone Stocks to Buy Right Now. On November 18, BofA downgraded the stock’s rating to Underperform from Buy and slashed its price target from $265 to $205. Analysts See 27% Upside Potential For Honeywell International Inc. (HON) BofA analysts, led by Andrew Obin, noted the company’s ongoing portfolio reshuffle, with plans to separate the Aerospace and Automation businesses by mid-2026. BofA said that while such a ‘simplification’ would general ...
3M's Transportation and Electronics Growth Picks Up: More Upside to Come?
ZACKS· 2025-11-28 17:21
Key Takeaways 3M's Transportation and Electronics segment grew Q3 revenues on strength in transportation and aerospace.New products, improved sales coverage and demand for filtrete, scotch and Meguiar's supported results.Cross-selling, better execution and supply-chain gains aided performance despite advanced material softness.3M Company (MMM) has been benefiting from persistent strength in its Transportation and Electronics segment. The segment’s total revenues increased 2.4% year over year while organic r ...
Warren Buffett Is Selling Apple and Piling Into This "Magnificent Seven" Stock Trading at a Fraction of Tesla's Valuation
Yahoo Finance· 2025-11-20 20:15
Key Points Berkshire Hathaway's sale of Apple isn't entirely unexpected, considering its prior sales. Interestingly, Berkshire put some of its war chest of capital to work, taking a new stake in another "Magnificent Seven" company. While many investors view large artificial intelligence stocks as overvalued, Berkshire purchased one of the cheaper names in the group, potentially following its longtime value-oriented strategy. 10 stocks we like better than Alphabet › Due to the strong performance o ...
Stop Sleeping on These 3 Stocks (Seriously)
The Motley Fool· 2025-11-19 09:00
Group 1: Cardinal Health - Cardinal Health's share prices have surged nearly 74% year to date, with significant gains following a strong quarterly earnings report [3][4] - Fiscal first-quarter 2026 revenue reached $64 billion, a 22% increase from the previous year, exceeding analyst expectations [3][5] - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.55 surpassed Wall Street's forecasts, with estimates predicting EPS growth of 19% and 12.6% for the current and next fiscal years, respectively [5] Group 2: Loews - Loews shares have increased by 24% year to date, reflecting a turnaround from weak returns in the 2010s [6][8] - The company, controlled by the Tisch family, focuses on increasing intrinsic value per share and is actively repurchasing shares [9] - Loews owns significant stakes in CNA Financial and has interests in energy pipelines, hotels, and packaging, making it an attractive option for conservative investors seeking steady returns [8][9] Group 3: SanDisk - SanDisk's shares have surged over sixfold since splitting from Western Digital in February, with a 70% increase in the past month [10][11] - The company benefits from a NAND shortage, with robust demand for memory chips driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure [10] - SanDisk has raised NAND flash contract prices by 50%, and the market currently values its shares at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 19, indicating potential for continued growth [10][12]
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Just Bought Nine Stocks. Here's the Best of the Bunch.
The Motley Fool· 2025-11-18 10:32
Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway is preparing for a leadership transition as Warren Buffett will pass the CEO role to Greg Abel, with the latest quarterly regulatory filing being the last under Buffett's tenure [1] - Despite being a net seller of stocks, Berkshire made nine notable purchases in Q3, with Alphabet being the standout acquisition [2][3] Berkshire's Q3 Purchases - The largest purchase was over 17.8 million shares of Alphabet, valued at approximately $4.3 billion, indicating a significant investment in the tech giant [3] - Berkshire also increased its stake in Chubb by nearly 4.3 million shares and raised its position in Domino's Pizza by about 13.2% [4] - Additional purchases included 32,603 shares of Lamar Advertising and increased stakes in Lennar Class A and B shares for the second consecutive quarter [5] - Sirius XM Holdings saw a 4.2% increase in Berkshire's position, highlighting its growing favor among Buffett's team [6] Performance of Acquired Stocks - Alphabet's shares have surged around 50% year-to-date, benefiting from a strong AI tailwind, particularly through its Google Cloud unit [8] - Mitsubishi has also performed well, nearly matching Alphabet's growth in 2025 [9] - Sirius XM leads in income generation with a forward dividend yield of 5%, while Lamar Advertising follows closely with a yield of 4.8% [12] Long-term Outlook - Although Sirius XM ranks highly in certain metrics, Alphabet is expected to be the biggest long-term winner due to the anticipated continued growth in AI and its leadership in the robotaxi market through Waymo [13][14] - Alphabet's potential in the smart glasses market and advancements in quantum computing further position it for significant future growth [14] - While Alphabet may not be the cheapest stock or offer the highest dividends among Berkshire's recent purchases, it represents a strong addition to the portfolio [15]
The Best Financial Stock to Hold in Uncertain Times
The Motley Fool· 2025-11-18 02:23
Core Viewpoint - The stock market is currently facing high levels of uncertainty, with investors concerned about potential recession, inflation, and Federal Reserve interest rate changes [1][2] Company Overview - Berkshire Hathaway is highlighted as a strong investment choice during uncertain economic times due to its diverse and durable business model [3][4] - The company is led by Warren Buffett, who will step down as CEO at the end of the year [3] Financial Performance - Berkshire Hathaway's property and casualty insurance business generated over $22.6 billion in net earnings in 2024 [4] - Other significant contributors to net earnings include Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad at approximately $5 billion and Berkshire Hathaway Energy at around $3.7 billion, with manufacturing, servicing, and retailing businesses generating over $13 billion in net earnings [6] Financial Position - The company boasts a strong balance sheet with over $377 billion in cash and short-term government bonds as of the end of the third quarter [7] - Berkshire Hathaway's diverse revenue streams and robust management team contribute to its status as a safe investment during economic uncertainty [7]