Core Viewpoint - Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway made a notable investment in The New York Times, acquiring approximately 5.1 million shares valued at $352 million, marking a significant return to the newspaper industry after previously divesting its newspaper holdings [1][12]. Company Summary - The New York Times has shown a recovery in recent years, with revenues increasing by 9% to $2.8 billion and net income rising by 17% to $344 million, driven by a 9% rise in subscription revenues and a 12% increase in advertising revenues [12]. - The publisher added 1.4 million digital-only subscribers, bringing its total subscriber count to 12.78 million as of December 31 [13]. - The stock price of The New York Times has surged approximately 15-fold since its low in early 2009, reaching a record high of $74, with a 50% increase in the past year [13][14]. Industry Summary - Warren Buffett has expressed concerns about the newspaper industry's viability, noting a significant decline in circulation and advertising revenues over the years [6][11]. - Despite these concerns, Buffett previously stated that newspapers delivering reliable information to local communities would remain viable, indicating a belief in the potential for certain newspapers to succeed [10]. - The newspaper industry has faced a transformation, with many traditional titles struggling, leading Buffett to predict that only a few national titles would survive in the long term [11].

Group 1 - Berkshire Hathaway acquired approximately 5.1 million shares of The New York Times Company, valued at about $352 million at the end of December 2025 [1] - The company reduced its stakes in Apple and Bank of America by about 4% and 9% respectively, and sold 77% of its Amazon stake, decreasing its value from $2.2 billion to $525 million [2] - Berkshire added to its holdings in Chubb and Chevron while selling down Aon, and its Alphabet stake increased in value from around $4.3 billion to $5.6 billion due to a surge in Google's parent company shares [3] Group 2 - Warren Buffett, who transformed Berkshire from a failing textile mill into a $1 trillion conglomerate, stepped down as CEO, with Greg Abel taking over [5][6] - Under Buffett's leadership, the company has been net sellers of stocks for 12 consecutive quarters and has not repurchased shares for five quarters, resulting in a cash reserve exceeding $350 billion [7]

Group 1 - President Donald Trump announced a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times Co. [1] - Trump accused The New York Times of being biased and making illegal campaign contributions, labeling the newspaper a "mouthpiece" for the Democratic Party [2] - The lawsuit is being filed in Florida, and Trump claims that The New York Times has engaged in a long-term pattern of lying about him and his family [2][3] Group 2 - This lawsuit follows a previous $10 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Trump against the Wall Street Journal and its parent company, News Corp, over a false report linking him to Jeffrey Epstein [3] - Trump won a $16 million settlement from Paramount Global related to a "60 Minutes" interview, although the company did not issue an apology [4] - The settlement prompted Senator Elizabeth Warren to call for an investigation into Trump's dealings with Paramount Global, suggesting a "secret side deal" [4]