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The Oracle of Omaha and the E-commerce Giant: A Detailed Look at Berkshire Hathaway's Amazon Stock Holdings
For decades, Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, was known for his avoidance of tech stocks, famously saying he wouldn't invest in things he didn't understand. But times have changed. In a surprising turn of events, Berkshire Hathaway has become a significant shareholder in one of the world's largest and most innovative tech companies, Amazon.com. This post will give you a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to understanding exactly how much Amazon stock Berkshire Hathaway owns, the history behind the investment, and what it means for investors.
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| How Much Amazon Stock Does Berkshire Hathaway Own |
Step 1: The Initial Surprise - How Did It Happen?
First things first, let's address the elephant in the room. Isn't Warren Buffett a value investor who avoids tech? Yes, he is! And that's what makes this investment so fascinating. In fact, Warren Buffett himself has admitted to being an "idiot" for not investing in Amazon sooner.
So, who made the decision to buy Amazon stock? It wasn't Warren Buffett himself. The purchase was made by one of his two investment lieutenants, either Todd Combs or Ted Weschler. These are the brilliant minds who manage a portion of Berkshire's investment portfolio and have a mandate to invest in companies that may not fit Buffett's traditional value investing mold. This move demonstrates the evolution of Berkshire Hathaway's investment strategy, incorporating a broader perspective on growth and innovation.
Step 2: Uncovering the Latest Holdings
Now, let's get to the core question: how much Amazon stock does Berkshire Hathaway own? The most reliable way to find this information is by looking at Berkshire Hathaway's quarterly 13F filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These filings are public and provide a snapshot of a firm's equity holdings at the end of each quarter.
Sub-heading: Analyzing the 13F Filings
As of the most recent 13F filing for the quarter ending March 31, 2025, Berkshire Hathaway disclosed that it holds 10,000,000 shares of Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN). This is a key piece of information that gives us a precise number.
Sub-heading: What is the Value of this Stake?
QuickTip: Revisit key lines for better recall.
The value of this holding fluctuates with Amazon's stock price. Based on the value disclosed in the March 31, 2025, 13F filing, the stake was valued at approximately $1.90 billion USD. However, with the current market price of AMZN, the value has increased. At the time of this post, the value is closer to $2.2 billion USD. This illustrates the dynamic nature of stock market investments; the number of shares may stay the same for a period, but the value of the holding changes daily with the market.
Sub-heading: How Big is This Position in the Portfolio?
While a multi-billion dollar investment sounds massive, it's important to put it in perspective relative to Berkshire's entire portfolio. As of the March 31, 2025, filing, the Amazon position represents around 0.74% of Berkshire Hathaway's total U.S. equity portfolio. This makes it a significant, but still relatively small, position compared to their largest holdings like Apple (AAPL), American Express (AXP), and Coca-Cola (KO). For instance, Apple alone accounts for over 25% of the portfolio's value!
Step 3: A Historical Look at the Investment Journey
Berkshire Hathaway's investment in Amazon wasn't a one-time purchase. It has a history that can be traced through their past 13F filings.
Sub-heading: The First Purchase
Berkshire Hathaway first disclosed a holding in Amazon in the first quarter of 2019. At the time, the initial stake was valued at around $860 million. This was a landmark moment, as it signaled a new era for Berkshire's investment philosophy, embracing a company that was fundamentally different from Buffett's traditional "cigar butt" or value-oriented picks.
Sub-heading: Changes Over Time
Since that initial purchase, Berkshire Hathaway has made some adjustments to the position. For instance, in the third quarter of 2023, they trimmed their stake by selling 551,000 shares. These small adjustments are a normal part of portfolio management and can be influenced by various factors, including portfolio rebalancing and taking some profits.
Step 4: The 'Why' Behind the Investment
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So, why would a company known for investing in durable, easy-to-understand businesses like Coca-Cola and American Express buy a high-growth tech giant like Amazon?
Sub-heading: Beyond E-commerce: Amazon Web Services (AWS)
While Amazon is famous for its e-commerce business, a significant driver of its value and profitability is Amazon Web Services (AWS), its cloud computing division. AWS is a dominant force in the cloud market, and its growth has been a massive engine for Amazon's profits. This aspect of the business aligns with Buffett's love for companies with a strong economic moat - a sustainable competitive advantage. AWS has a powerful moat, making it difficult for competitors to catch up.
Sub-heading: The Long-Term View
Berkshire Hathaway is a long-term investor. They don't buy stocks to flip them for a quick profit. They buy into companies they believe will be winners for decades. The investment in Amazon is a bet on the long-term growth of e-commerce and, more importantly, the continued dominance of AWS in the cloud computing space. The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) is also a major tailwind for AWS, as AI relies on immense computing power, and AWS is a major provider of that infrastructure.
Step 5: What This Means for You
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For individual investors, Berkshire Hathaway's investment in Amazon can be seen as a vote of confidence in the company. However, it's crucial to remember that this is just one piece of the puzzle.
Sub-heading: It's Not a "Buy" Signal
Simply following what a legendary investor like Warren Buffett does is not a foolproof investment strategy. Do your own research and understand the company before investing. Berkshire's investment is managed by experienced professionals with access to resources and information that are not available to the average investor.
Sub-heading: Diversification is Key
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Remember the portfolio allocation: the Amazon position is less than 1% of Berkshire's total holdings. This highlights the importance of diversification, a principle that Buffett's own portfolio demonstrates. While he concentrates his big bets, he also owns a wide variety of companies.
FAQs:
How to find Berkshire Hathaway's latest 13F filing?
You can find Berkshire Hathaway's latest 13F filing on the SEC's EDGAR database website. Simply search for "Berkshire Hathaway Inc" and look for the "13F-HR" forms filed quarterly.
How to interpret the share count in a 13F filing?
The share count in a 13F filing represents the total number of shares held by the institution at the end of the reporting period. It's a snapshot in time and can change after the filing date.
How to track the value of Berkshire Hathaway's Amazon stake?
You can track the value by multiplying the number of shares (10,000,000) by the current market price of Amazon (AMZN) stock. Many financial news websites and tracking platforms also provide this information.
How to know if Warren Buffett himself approved the Amazon purchase?
While Buffett has publicly stated that one of his lieutenants made the initial decision, he has also praised the company and joked about his own earlier hesitation. He is clearly aware of and comfortable with the investment.
Tip: Read carefully — skimming skips meaning.
How to determine the average cost basis of Berkshire's Amazon shares?
Based on historical transaction data from 13F filings, the estimated average buy price for Berkshire's AMZN shares is around $84.22. This shows a significant gain on their investment.
How to understand the difference between Berkshire's investment and a private investor's?
Berkshire's investment is part of a multi-billion dollar portfolio and is managed by a team of professionals. A private investor's situation and goals are often very different, making direct replication of Berkshire's moves unwise.
How to see the full list of Berkshire Hathaway's stock holdings?
You can find the full list of holdings on financial data platforms like Fintel, Dataroma, or by reviewing the official 13F filings.
How to know if Berkshire plans to sell its Amazon stake?
Berkshire's plans are not publicly disclosed. We can only infer their actions from the 13F filings, which show changes in the share count after the fact.
How to learn more about Todd Combs and Ted Weschler's investment philosophies?
You can learn about their philosophies by reading articles and interviews that discuss their investment styles, which tend to be more focused on growth stocks and technology compared to Buffett's.
How to stay updated on Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio changes?
The best way is to keep an eye on financial news outlets and watch for the quarterly 13F filings, which are typically released 45 days after the end of each quarter.
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