Welcome, and thank you for your interest in one of Warren Buffett's most interesting recent investments! It's fascinating to watch the Oracle of Omaha's moves, and his stake in Sirius XM has certainly been a topic of discussion among investors. Let's dive deep into the details of Berkshire Hathaway's ownership of Sirius XM Holdings (SIRI).
Step 1: Get Ready to Unpack the Numbers
Before we get into the specifics, let's set the stage. Are you ready to see just how big of a slice of the satellite radio pie Berkshire Hathaway holds? This isn't just about a few shares; it's a significant portion of the company. It’s a testament to the fact that even a company like Berkshire, known for its long-term, value-oriented approach, is willing to make a calculated bet on what some might consider a challenged industry.
So, let's pull back the curtain and see the numbers.
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| How Much Siri Does Berkshire Hathaway Own |
Step 2: The Current Stake - A Significant Holding
As of the most recent filings (first quarter of 2025), Berkshire Hathaway Inc. held a substantial position in Sirius XM Holdings.
Sub-heading: The Share Count and Value
Number of Shares: Berkshire Hathaway held approximately 119.78 million shares of Sirius XM Holdings (SIRI).
Total Value: This massive holding was valued at around $2.70 billion.
This makes SIRI a notable part of Berkshire's public equity portfolio, though it's important to remember that Berkshire's portfolio is vast and diversified across many industries. This investment constitutes about 1.04% of their total stock portfolio value.
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Sub-heading: Percentage of the Company
This is where it gets truly impressive. Berkshire Hathaway doesn't just own a large number of shares; it owns a huge percentage of the company.
Ownership Percentage: Berkshire Hathaway now holds approximately 35.45% of the outstanding Sirius XM Holdings stock.
Think about that for a moment. This isn't just a passive investment; it's a significant ownership stake that makes Berkshire Hathaway one of the company's largest shareholders.
Step 3: A History of Accumulation - Following the Trail of Buys
Berkshire Hathaway's stake in Sirius XM didn't appear overnight. It's been a process of accumulation over several years, with some intriguing buying activity in recent months.
Sub-heading: The Early Days
Berkshire Hathaway's initial investment in Sirius XM can be traced back to the fourth quarter of 2016. Since then, the company has made a series of purchases and sales, demonstrating a dynamic approach to this position.
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Sub-heading: Recent Purchases
In late 2024 and early 2025, there was a flurry of activity that showed Berkshire's increased confidence in the satellite radio giant. According to SEC filings, Berkshire has been consistently adding to its position, even as the stock price has faced challenges. For example, in a series of transactions in late January and early February 2025, Berkshire acquired over 2.3 million additional shares.
This is a key part of the story. While many investors might shy away from a stock that has underperformed, Berkshire has been doubling down on its conviction. This is a classic "Buffett-style" move—finding a company he believes is undervalued and accumulating a large position over time.
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Step 4: The 'Why' Behind the Investment - Berkshire's Rationale
So, why would Berkshire Hathaway, a company known for its deep value and long-term focus, be so keen on a satellite radio company in the age of streaming?
Sub-heading: A Niche Monopoly
Sirius XM has a unique business model. It's a satellite radio service with a vast subscriber base, and it has exclusive content deals and a strong presence in automobiles. In many ways, it operates as a niche monopoly in the subscription audio space, especially in cars. This kind of moated business is a classic target for Berkshire.
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Sub-heading: The Value Proposition
The investment seems to be based on a belief that the stock is undervalued relative to its intrinsic value. Despite the stock's recent performance, Sirius XM has a history of generating strong free cash flow. This is a crucial metric for Berkshire, as it indicates a company's ability to generate cash and return it to shareholders.
Strong Cash Flow: Sirius XM has consistently generated over $1 billion in free cash flow annually and projects even more in the coming years.
Share Buybacks and Dividends: The company has been aggressively reducing its share count through buybacks and pays a steady dividend, both of which are favorable to long-term shareholders. The current dividend yield makes it one of the largest payouts in Berkshire's portfolio.
Sub-heading: A Bet on the Future
Berkshire is likely looking at the company's strategic plans to adapt and grow. Sirius XM is investing in its digital platforms, enhancing streaming services, and acquiring exclusive podcast content. This diversification, including the acquisition of Pandora, shows a commitment to evolving beyond just satellite radio.
This isn't just a bet on the present; it's a long-term bet on the company's ability to navigate the changing media landscape and maintain its relevance.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to find out Berkshire Hathaway's latest holdings? You can find Berkshire Hathaway's latest holdings by reviewing their Form 13F filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These are released quarterly and provide a snapshot of their public equity portfolio.
QuickTip: Use posts like this as quick references.
How to interpret Warren Buffett's stock purchases? Warren Buffett's stock purchases are often interpreted as a vote of confidence in a company's long-term value, management, and business model. He typically looks for businesses with a durable competitive advantage (a "moat") and a strong track record of profitability and cash generation.
How to buy Sirius XM Holdings (SIRI) stock? You can buy SIRI stock through a brokerage account. You will need to open an account with a brokerage firm (online or traditional), fund the account, and then place a buy order for the SIRI ticker symbol.
How to understand Berkshire Hathaway's investment philosophy? Berkshire Hathaway's investment philosophy, guided by Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger, is centered on value investing. They look to buy wonderful businesses at fair prices, with a focus on long-term ownership and a deep understanding of the company's fundamentals rather than short-term market fluctuations.
How to see the history of Berkshire Hathaway's SIRI trades? You can view the history of Berkshire Hathaway's SIRI trades on financial data websites and platforms that track institutional holdings and SEC filings, such as GuruFocus, Fintel, and Stockcircle.
How to assess the value of a stock like Sirius XM? To assess the value of a stock like Sirius XM, you would look at fundamental metrics such as its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, free cash flow generation, and dividend yield, and compare them to industry peers and the company's historical performance.
How to know if a company has a "moat"? A company has a "moat" if it has a sustainable competitive advantage that protects its market share and profitability from competitors. This can include a strong brand, high switching costs for customers, network effects, or cost advantages.
How to track major institutional investors' holdings? You can track major institutional investors' holdings by looking at their quarterly 13F filings, which are public documents filed with the SEC. Many financial websites aggregate and analyze this data for investors.
How to calculate the percentage of a company owned by an investor? To calculate the percentage of a company an investor owns, you divide the number of shares they hold by the total number of outstanding shares for that company.
How to determine if Berkshire Hathaway is still buying SIRI? To determine if Berkshire Hathaway is still buying SIRI, you need to check their most recent SEC filings, specifically Form 4 and Form 13F. These filings will show any recent changes in their ownership stake.
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