Berkshire Hathaway, under the new leadership of CEO Greg Abel, has made significant moves in its latest 13-F filing, marking a pivotal moment for the conglomerate. The filing reveals a halt to the previous trend of selling shares in Apple, a strategy that had been overseen by former CEO Warren Buffett for nearly two years. Berkshire’s stake in Apple has been retained at approximately 228 million shares, representing about 22% of its equity portfolio, and remains the company’s largest investment.
Abel’s decision to maintain this substantial position in Apple suggests a renewed confidence in the tech giant, particularly as it coincides with impressive financial results from Apple. In the second quarter of 2026, Apple reported record revenue of $111.2 billion, reflecting a 17% year-over-year growth, with all geographic segments experiencing double-digit gains. Additionally, earnings per share surged by 22%, highlighting the company’s robust performance.
In a notable shift, Berkshire more than tripled its investment in Alphabet, raising its share count from about 17.85 million to roughly 58 million. This increase elevates the value of Berkshire’s stake in the search giant to nearly $17 billion. This move is particularly striking given Buffett’s historical hesitance to invest heavily in technology firms, indicating a potential transformation in Berkshire’s investment strategy under Abel’s guidance.
Further diversifying its portfolio, Berkshire disclosed a new $2.65 billion stake in Delta Air Lines and a minor position in Macy’s, suggesting a willingness to explore sectors that Buffett had previously avoided. Conversely, the conglomerate exited several positions, including Amazon, Visa, Mastercard, Domino’s Pizza, and UnitedHealth Group, while slashing its stake in Constellation Brands by 95%. These actions signal Abel’s intent to redefine the equity book, distancing himself from investment strategies tied to former managers.
While Berkshire’s shifts in stock positions are significant, the underlying fundamentals of Apple further support the decision to maintain its stake. With the iPhone 17 lineup emerging as the most popular in its history and the services segment achieving record revenue, Apple is positioned well for continued growth. The company’s management has also provided bullish guidance for the fiscal third quarter, reinforcing the positive outlook for the tech giant.
However, potential challenges loom, such as anticipated higher memory costs and an upcoming leadership transition as CEO Tim Cook prepares to step down. Yet, these risks appear manageable and are unlikely to derail the longer-term investment thesis for both Apple and Berkshire as its major shareholder.
Overall, Abel’s strategic decisions in this first quarter reflect a desire to carve out a new path for Berkshire’s investment approach. By halting Buffett’s recent selling of Apple shares and making significant investments in technology and other sectors, Abel is positioning the conglomerate for future growth and signaling his vision for the company’s equity portfolio.
