The Oracle's Golden Apple: A Deep Dive into Berkshire Hathaway's Massive Apple Stake
Have you ever wondered how one of the world's most legendary investors, Warren Buffett, views a company like Apple? It's a fascinating story that blends Buffett's value-investing philosophy with the modern world of technology. For years, Buffett avoided tech stocks, famously stating they were outside his "circle of competence." But something changed with Apple, and his company, Berkshire Hathaway, built a massive position in the tech giant.
Let's dive into the details and find out exactly how many shares Berkshire Hathaway has of Apple, why they have been buying (and recently, selling), and what it all means for investors like you.
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| How Many Shares Does Berkshire Hathaway Have Of Apple |
Step 1: Get Ready to Uncover the Numbers
First and foremost, let's address the central question: How many shares does Berkshire Hathaway have of Apple?
As of the most recent public filings (specifically, the 13F filing for the first quarter of 2025, which reflects holdings as of March 31, 2025), Berkshire Hathaway held 300 million shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL).
Wait, 300 million? you might ask. That sounds like a lot! And it is. However, it's a number that has been in flux recently. The story of Berkshire's Apple stake isn't just about the current number; it's about the journey and the strategic decisions behind the numbers.
Step 2: Understanding the Big Picture – A Historical Context
To truly appreciate the significance of this holding, we need to go back in time. Berkshire Hathaway started building its position in Apple in 2016. The initial purchase was relatively modest, but it quickly grew.
Tip: Read at your natural pace.
Sub-heading 2.1: The Aggressive Accumulation Phase
From 2016 through 2018, Berkshire Hathaway aggressively acquired Apple shares. The company's view of Apple wasn't as a tech company, but as a consumer products company with an incredibly strong brand and a loyal customer base. Buffett has often referred to the iPhone as a "sticky" product, meaning customers are unlikely to switch to a competitor.
This is a classic Buffett move. He looks for companies with a strong "economic moat" – a sustainable competitive advantage that protects their long-term profitability. For Apple, this moat is its powerful ecosystem and brand loyalty. By late 2018, Berkshire's stake had grown to a massive 249.5 million shares (pre-stock split).
Sub-heading 2.2: The Post-Split Era and Continued Dominance
After Apple's 4-for-1 stock split in 2020, Berkshire's share count was adjusted accordingly. This brought their holdings to over 900 million shares. For a long time, this position remained relatively stable, representing a significant portion of Berkshire's total equity portfolio, often exceeding 40%.
This concentration was a testament to Buffett's conviction in Apple. It was, and still is, Berkshire's largest single stock holding by a wide margin.
Step 3: The Recent Reduction – Why Did Berkshire Sell?
Tip: Reading in chunks improves focus.
This is where the story gets really interesting. In late 2023 and early 2024, Berkshire Hathaway began to trim its position in Apple. This was a notable and surprising move, given Buffett's long-held "buy and hold" philosophy.
Sub-heading 3.1: A Strategic Decision, Not a Lack of Faith
So, why the selling? Buffett himself has given a few key reasons:
Valuation: When the sell-off began, Apple's stock had seen a significant run-up, and its valuation (price-to-earnings ratio) had become quite high. Buffett is a value investor, and he is disciplined about not overpaying for stocks, even great ones.
Tax Planning: Buffett mentioned that selling some shares at a time when capital gains tax rates were relatively low was a sensible financial move for the company. He even stated that Berkshire doesn't mind paying taxes and is a big taxpayer.
Portfolio Rebalancing: The Apple stake had grown to such a massive size that it represented a disproportionate amount of Berkshire's portfolio. Reducing the position helped to rebalance the portfolio and manage risk.
It's important to note that even after the significant selling, Apple remains Berkshire Hathaway's top holding. The reduction was a strategic shift, not a complete exit.
Step 4: Decoding the Filings – Where to Find the Official Numbers
If you want to track Berkshire Hathaway's holdings yourself, you need to know where to look. The key document is the Form 13F, which is filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Sub-heading 4.1: What is a 13F Filing?
Tip: Pause whenever something stands out.
A 13F is a quarterly report filed by institutional investment managers with at least $100 million in assets under management. It provides a snapshot of their holdings in U.S. publicly traded securities. Berkshire Hathaway's 13F is one of the most anticipated filings of the quarter, as investors and analysts eagerly await to see what Buffett and his team have been buying and selling.
Sub-heading 4.2: How to Access the Data
You can find Berkshire Hathaway's 13F filings on the SEC's EDGAR database. While the raw data can be a bit daunting, many financial websites and news outlets compile and present the information in a user-friendly format shortly after the filing is released.
Step 5: The Value of the Holding
Beyond the number of shares, let's talk about the value of this investment. The value of Berkshire's Apple stake fluctuates with Apple's stock price. As of the end of Q1 2025 (March 31, 2025), the value of their 300 million shares was approximately $66.6 billion.
This makes Apple the most valuable holding in Berkshire's portfolio, with the next largest being American Express, followed by Coca-Cola.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Now that you have a comprehensive understanding, let's address some common questions.
How to find the most up-to-date share count for Berkshire Hathaway's Apple holdings? The most reliable source is Berkshire Hathaway's quarterly 13F filing with the SEC. These filings are released about 45 days after the end of each quarter (March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31).
How to understand why Warren Buffett sold a portion of his Apple shares? Buffett has explained that the sales were primarily due to tax planning and portfolio rebalancing, as the Apple position had become an extremely large percentage of Berkshire's portfolio. It was a strategic move to manage risk and lock in gains, not a sign of a lack of faith in Apple's business.
How to buy a share of Berkshire Hathaway? You can buy shares of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A or BRK.B) through any brokerage account. Most individual investors buy the more accessible Class B shares (BRK.B) as the Class A shares (BRK.A) have a very high price per share.
How to interpret a 13F filing from the SEC? A 13F filing shows the positions held by a large institutional investor at the end of a given quarter. You can see what stocks they bought, sold, or held, and the value of those holdings.
How to know if Berkshire Hathaway will sell more Apple shares? It is impossible to know for certain. Berkshire's future moves will depend on a variety of factors, including Apple's stock price, its business fundamentals, and the overall market environment.
How to understand the difference between Berkshire Hathaway's Class A and Class B shares? Class A shares (BRK.A) are the original shares and have a much higher price and voting rights. Class B shares (BRK.B) were created to be more affordable for individual investors and have fewer voting rights.
How to determine the percentage of Apple in Berkshire's portfolio? You can calculate this by dividing the value of the Apple holding by the total value of Berkshire's equity portfolio, which is disclosed in the 13F filing.
How to track Warren Buffett's investments? You can track his investment decisions by following Berkshire Hathaway's quarterly 13F filings. However, it's important to remember that these filings are backward-looking and don't represent real-time trades.
How to assess the value of Berkshire Hathaway's Apple stake? The value is calculated by multiplying the number of shares held by the current market price of Apple's stock.
How to research a stock like Apple to understand its "economic moat"? To research a company's economic moat, look at factors like its brand strength, customer loyalty, network effects (like the Apple ecosystem), cost advantages, and proprietary technology. You can find this information in the company's annual reports and financial news.
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