Group 1 - Berkshire Hathaway has reduced its stake in Bank of America, now holding over 605 million shares, which represents an 8.2% stake in the bank and 9.8% of Berkshire's total stock portfolio [3][5] - From July 2024 through the second quarter of the current year, Berkshire has sold approximately 427 million shares of Bank of America, equating to around 41% of its previous position [5] - Berkshire's cash reserves have reached a record $344 billion, attributed to selling shares in Bank of America and other stocks, including Apple [6][10] Group 2 - Berkshire's decision to sell shares may be influenced by the expectation of an increase in the marginal corporate tax rate, allowing for lower tax payments now [7] - The price-to-book ratio of Bank of America was around 1.29 at the start of August, indicating the stock was trading at a 29% premium [7][9] Group 3 - In the second quarter, Berkshire increased its stake in Pool by approximately 136%, now owning over 3.4 million shares valued at over $1 billion [10] - Pool is the largest wholesaler of swimming pool equipment and has seen a stock price return of nearly 47,000% since its IPO in October 1995 [11] - Pool possesses characteristics that align with Buffett's investment criteria, including a competitive moat, consistent profits, shareholder-friendly leadership, and an attractive dividend [13]