Berkshire Hathaway is parking money in ultra-safe investments.At the end of this year, Warren Buffett is finally retiring after leading Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A 1.34%)(BRK.B 1.26%) for more than six decades. In that time, Berkshire Hathaway has been one of the stock market's best-performing stocks, and its moves have attracted much investor interest, hoping to mimic its success in some sense.In the third quarter, Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway made some notable moves that leave the next wave of leadership ...

Core Viewpoint - Warren Buffett is strategically positioning Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio ahead of his retirement in 2025, focusing on high-yield investments and reducing stakes in major holdings like Apple and Bank of America [1][2]. Group 1: Portfolio Adjustments - Buffett has sold nearly 70% of Berkshire's stake in Apple since late 2023, despite it being the largest position in the portfolio [4]. - The valuation of Apple has increased significantly, with a current forward P/E ratio above 33, compared to around 10 when Buffett first invested [5]. - In the case of Bank of America, Buffett has reduced his stake to less than 60% of its peak, capitalizing on the bank's increased valuation amid the Federal Reserve's interest rate easing [7][8]. Group 2: Investment in Treasury Bills - As of the end of Q3, Berkshire Hathaway holds $320.5 billion in U.S. Treasury bills, reflecting a consistent increase from $310.6 billion in Q2 [11]. - The interest rates on these T-bills are relatively high, exceeding 3.8%, which aligns with Buffett's preference for safety over yield in short-term investments [12]. - Despite a preference for equities, the current yield from stocks does not significantly surpass that of T-bills, leading to a cautious approach in deploying cash [13][14]. Group 3: Future Opportunities - Buffett's recent investment of $9.7 billion in Occidental Petroleum's OxyChem subsidiary indicates a selective approach to acquisitions, with a need for more similar opportunities to fully utilize Berkshire's cash reserves [15][16]. - Incoming CEO Greg Abel will have substantial capital available for potential deals, providing a strong foundation for future growth [16].

Core Insights - Tether's profit for the first three quarters of 2025 has exceeded $10 billion, surpassing some of the largest banks globally [1] Financial Performance - The substantial revenue is primarily derived from Tether's $135 billion in U.S. Treasury bills, which back every USDT token in circulation [2] - Tether's earnings are competitive with major financial institutions, outperforming Bank of America and closely trailing Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, which earned around $12 billion [3] Asset Holdings - Tether is one of the largest non-government holders of U.S. debt, with over $6.8 billion in surplus reserves and a total USDT supply exceeding $174 billion after issuing over $17 billion in Q3 [4] Industry Impact - The scale of Tether's operations indicates that stablecoins have become significant players in the financial sector, challenging traditional institutions [5] - Tether's growing profits and reserves are likely to attract increased scrutiny from regulators and traditional financial entities, raising questions about oversight and risk management [6] Competitive Landscape - Tether's performance signals a shift in the financial landscape, where digital finance companies are now competing directly with legacy banks, marking a pivotal moment for both sectors [7]

Core Insights - Warren Buffett is set to hand over leadership of Berkshire Hathaway to Greg Abel by the end of the year, maintaining a strategy focused on resilience amid market uncertainty [1] - Buffett has been reducing major stakes in high-valuation sectors like Apple and Bank of America while selectively adding to positions in companies like Nucor and UnitedHealth Group [2] - Berkshire Hathaway's cash reserves total around $344 billion, positioning the company to capitalize on potential market downturns [3] Cash and Treasury Bills - Approximately $314 billion of Berkshire's cash is invested in U.S. Treasury bills, reflecting Buffett's preference for low-risk investments over high-priced equities [4] - This cash amount exceeds the Federal Reserve's holdings of Treasury bills, which are about $195 billion, indicating Buffett's strategy of capital preservation amid current market conditions [5] Investment Strategies for Individuals - Individual investors can replicate Buffett's cautious approach through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that focus on Treasury bills, such as the iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF and the SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF [6] - The iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF offers a low expense ratio of 0.09% and currently yields around 4.8%, providing a stable income stream with minimized default risk [7]

Core Insights - Warren Buffett's investment strategy focuses on determining whether a business is undervalued compared to its market price rather than trying to time the market or predict short-term stock movements [2][5] - Berkshire Hathaway has achieved a compound annual growth rate of approximately 20% since 1965, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 10.4% during the same period [3][4] Investment Strategy - Buffett's approach of buying fundamentally undervalued stocks has proven successful, but he has recently identified that many equities in Berkshire's portfolio may be overvalued [5] - Berkshire Hathaway has been a net seller of stocks for 10 consecutive quarters, selling $174 billion more than it purchased during this period [5] Portfolio Adjustments - Significant reductions in holdings include a 67% cut in Apple and a 39% reduction in Bank of America [6][12] - Apple remains the largest holding in Berkshire's portfolio, accounting for nearly 22% of its value, but its high forward P/E ratio of 29 has led Buffett to refrain from adding to this position [11][10] Cash Management - Berkshire Hathaway has accumulated substantial cash from stock sales, with $314.1 billion in U.S. Treasury bills yielding an average of 4.3%, expected to generate $13.5 billion in interest in 2025 [15][16] - Despite the significant income from Treasury bills, Buffett prefers to invest in equities rather than bonds, emphasizing a long-term commitment to equity investments [17] Market Valuation Challenges - The current market presents challenges for Buffett, as many large-cap stocks are trading at high valuations, limiting the universe of investable stocks for Berkshire [18] - Smaller and mid-cap stocks are trading at more attractive valuations, suggesting potential opportunities outside of the largest companies [19][20]