How Much of Berkshire Hathaway is Apple Stock?
Have you ever wondered what makes Warren Buffett, the "Oracle of Omaha," so successful? A key part of his strategy is identifying and investing in companies he believes have a durable competitive advantage and a strong moat. For years, one of the most significant and profitable bets Berkshire Hathaway has made has been on a company that, at first glance, might not seem like a traditional "Buffett stock": Apple Inc. (AAPL).
Let's dive in and unravel the story behind this colossal investment, and find out just how much of Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio is tied to the tech giant.
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| How Much Of Berkshire Hathaway Is Apple Stock |
Step 1: Get Ready to Think Like an Investor
First things first, let's engage our inner investor. Before we get into the numbers, let's understand the two key players:
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B): This isn't just a company; it's a massive conglomerate run by Warren Buffett and his team. It owns a diverse portfolio of businesses outright, like GEICO and BNSF Railway, and also holds a huge portfolio of publicly traded stocks.
Apple (AAPL): The world-renowned technology company that designs, manufactures, and sells a wide range of consumer electronics, software, and online services.
Now, let's get to the heart of the matter. The exact percentage of Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio that is Apple stock is a dynamic figure that changes every day with the market's fluctuations. However, we can track the reported data from their quarterly filings to the SEC to get a clear picture.
Step 2: Understand the Investment's History and Evolution
To appreciate the current situation, you need to understand where this relationship started and how it has evolved.
A. The Genesis of the Apple Stake
It all started in 2016. For a long time, Buffett was famously wary of tech stocks, famously saying he wouldn't invest in things he didn't understand. But his lieutenants, Ted Weschler and Todd Combs, started to buy Apple stock in early 2016.
Buffett himself came around. He soon realized that Apple wasn't just a tech company—it was a consumer products company with an incredibly strong brand and customer loyalty. He began to see the iPhone as a deeply integrated part of people's lives, a "sticky" product that consumers wouldn't give up easily. He also loved the company's ability to generate massive amounts of cash flow.
B. The Period of Aggressive Accumulation
Once Buffett was convinced, Berkshire Hathaway started buying Apple shares in earnest. They aggressively accumulated shares throughout 2017 and 2018, building a massive position. At its peak, the stake was so large that it constituted a significant portion of Berkshire's entire equity portfolio. It was a classic Buffett move: find a great business at a reasonable price and buy a lot of it.
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C. The Recent Trimming
In recent quarters, Berkshire Hathaway has been a seller of Apple stock. While this has caused some investors to wonder if Buffett is losing faith in Apple, he has stated that the sales are a result of taking profits and managing the size of the position. He has been clear that he still views Apple as a phenomenal company. This trimming has also been a contributing factor to Berkshire's record-breaking cash pile, which exceeded $300 billion in the first quarter of 2025.
Step 3: Crunch the Numbers - The Current Landscape
Now for the numbers. To figure out the percentage, we need two key figures from Berkshire Hathaway's quarterly 13F filings with the SEC:
The total value of Berkshire Hathaway's U.S. equity portfolio.
The value of their Apple stock holding.
Based on the most recent publicly available filings (for the quarter ending March 31, 2025), here's the breakdown:
Berkshire's Apple Holding: As of Q1 2025, Berkshire Hathaway held approximately 300 million shares of Apple.
Value of the Apple Stake: The value of this holding was estimated to be around $60 billion to $66 billion, depending on the reporting date and stock price.
Total U.S. Equity Portfolio Value: The total value of Berkshire's U.S. equity portfolio was around $258 billion to $287 billion as of the end of Q1 2025.
Calculating the Percentage
Let's do the math:
Using the numbers from the end of Q1 2025:
So, as of the first quarter of 2025, Apple stock accounted for approximately 25% to 26% of Berkshire Hathaway's total U.S. equity portfolio.
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It's crucial to note that this is a significant reduction from its peak, when the Apple stake made up over 40% of the portfolio's value. This makes it clear that while the position is still the largest by a wide margin, Berkshire Hathaway has been actively rebalancing its holdings.
Step 4: Analyze the Impact and Significance
So, what does this massive stake mean?
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A. The Power of Concentration
Buffett has always preached the benefits of a concentrated portfolio, and his Apple investment is the ultimate example. By placing a huge bet on a company he believed in, he has generated immense returns for Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. The gain from the Apple investment alone has been estimated to be well over $100 billion.
B. A Signal to the Market
When Berkshire Hathaway makes a big move, the market pays attention. Their large stake in Apple is seen by many investors as a vote of confidence in the company's long-term prospects. While other investors may panic about temporary headwinds, Buffett's "buy and hold" philosophy often provides a calming presence.
C. Diversification and Risk
While the Apple investment has been a huge success, having such a large portion of the portfolio in a single stock does introduce risk. A major downturn in Apple's business or stock price could have a significant impact on Berkshire Hathaway's overall portfolio value. This is likely a key reason for the recent trimming of the position.
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Related FAQ Questions
How to find Berkshire Hathaway's stock holdings?
You can find Berkshire Hathaway's stock holdings by reviewing their Form 13F filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These filings are released quarterly and provide a snapshot of their public equity holdings at the end of each quarter.
How to understand Berkshire Hathaway's 13F filing?
A 13F filing is a report that institutional investment managers with over $100 million in assets must file with the SEC. It lists their holdings of publicly traded securities. To understand it, look for the list of companies, the number of shares held, and the market value of those shares.
How to interpret Warren Buffett's selling of Apple stock?
Warren Buffett's selling of Apple stock can be interpreted as a strategic move to trim a highly concentrated position, take profits after a significant run-up, and increase Berkshire's cash reserves for future investment opportunities. It doesn't necessarily signal a lack of confidence in the company's long-term value.
How to calculate the percentage of a stock in a portfolio?
To calculate the percentage of a stock in a portfolio, divide the total market value of the stock holding by the total market value of the entire portfolio and multiply the result by 100.
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How to track Berkshire Hathaway's cash position?
Berkshire Hathaway's cash position is reported in its quarterly and annual financial statements, which are also filed with the SEC. You can find this information in their 10-Q (quarterly) and 10-K (annual) reports.
How to invest in stocks like Warren Buffett?
Investing like Warren Buffett involves a long-term, value-oriented approach. This means buying shares of companies with strong fundamentals, a durable competitive advantage, and a history of profitability, and holding them for the long haul.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock?
You can buy Berkshire Hathaway stock through any brokerage account. There are two classes of shares: BRK.A (Class A) and BRK.B (Class B). The Class B shares are much more affordable and have been made accessible for individual investors.
How to read a company's financial statements?
To read a company's financial statements, focus on the Income Statement (revenue, expenses, net income), Balance Sheet (assets, liabilities, equity), and Statement of Cash Flows (cash from operations, investing, and financing). These documents provide a comprehensive view of the company's financial health.
How to determine a company's "moat"?
A company's "moat" refers to its sustainable competitive advantage. This can be determined by analyzing factors like brand strength, network effects, high switching costs for customers, or a cost advantage. For Apple, the brand loyalty and ecosystem are key aspects of its moat.
How to learn more about Warren Buffett's investment philosophy?
You can learn more about Warren Buffett's investment philosophy by reading his annual letters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, watching the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meetings, and studying books written about his life and investing principles.
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