Are you ready to dive into the world of one of the most famous investments in history? Let's peel back the layers on Warren Buffett's favorite tech stock, Apple, and see just how much of the company Berkshire Hathaway owns. This isn't just about a number; it's about a fascinating investment story. So, grab a cup of coffee and let's get started!
Step 1: Understanding the Foundation of Berkshire's Apple Stake
Before we get to the exact number of shares, let's understand the context. Warren Buffett and his company, Berkshire Hathaway, are known for their value investing philosophy. For decades, Buffett famously avoided tech stocks, focusing instead on "moats" - durable competitive advantages that protect a business from rivals. He saw this moat not in the technology itself, but in the consumer loyalty to the iPhone and the Apple ecosystem. He famously said that the iPhone has a level of "stickiness" that few products in the world possess. People are simply reluctant to give up their iPhones, even if a cheaper alternative exists. This incredible brand loyalty is what attracted him to Apple, transforming it from a tech company in his eyes to a consumer products giant.
Initial investments began in 2016, and from there, Berkshire Hathaway built up a massive position over several years, making Apple a cornerstone of its equity portfolio.
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| How Many Shares Of Apple Stock Does Berkshire Hathaway Own |
Step 2: Tracking the Holdings Through Public Filings
How do we know how many shares Berkshire Hathaway owns? The answer lies in a mandatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) called a Form 13F. Any institutional investment manager with more than $100 million in assets must file this report every quarter, disclosing their holdings.
Sub-heading: The Latest Official Reports (The 13F)
QuickTip: Slow down when you hit numbers or data.
The most reliable and up-to-date information comes from Berkshire Hathaway's latest 13F filing. These filings reveal the number of shares held as of the end of the previous quarter.
As of the end of the first quarter of 2025 (March 31, 2025), Berkshire Hathaway's most recent publicly available filing, the company held approximately 300 million shares of Apple stock.
It's crucial to note that this number has been in flux recently. Berkshire has been trimming its position, particularly in 2024.
Step 3: Following the Sales and the Shifting Portfolio
While 300 million shares is still a massive number, it represents a significant reduction from its peak holdings.
Sub-heading: The Peak and the Sell-off
Berkshire's Apple holding peaked in the third quarter of 2023, when it held over 900 million shares, valued at over $150 billion. At one point, Apple accounted for nearly half of Berkshire's entire equity portfolio.
QuickTip: Use the post as a quick reference later.
However, since then, the company has been systematically selling off a portion of its stake. In the second quarter of 2024, it sold nearly 50% of its shares, bringing the total down significantly. This move has been attributed to a number of factors, including tax considerations, as mentioned by Warren Buffett himself.
Sub-heading: Why the Reduction?
There are a few reasons for this notable trim:
Tax Considerations: Buffett has cited a desire to realize some of the massive gains in the Apple stock for tax purposes.
Portfolio Diversification: While Buffett loves Apple, having nearly 50% of your portfolio in one stock is a huge concentration risk, even for a company as strong as Apple.
Record Cash Pile: The proceeds from the sale of Apple shares have helped Berkshire Hathaway build up a record-breaking cash reserve, giving it immense flexibility for future investments or acquisitions.
Step 4: Calculating the Value and the Stake
Let's do some quick math to understand the sheer scale of this investment.
If Berkshire Hathaway owns 300 million shares and the current share price of Apple (AAPL) is, for example, $210 per share, the value of their holding would be:
or $63 billion.
Tip: Don’t overthink — just keep reading.
To determine Berkshire's ownership stake in Apple, you need to know the total number of outstanding shares of Apple stock. As of the end of the first quarter of 2025, Apple had a share count of approximately 15.3 billion.
So, the ownership stake would be:
This means Berkshire Hathaway owns a little less than 2% of the entire company.
Step 5: The Oracle of Omaha's Enduring View
Despite the recent sales, Warren Buffett has consistently expressed his admiration for Apple and its leadership. At Berkshire's annual shareholder meeting, he even praised CEO Tim Cook, saying that he has made Berkshire more money than Buffett himself. He has compared Apple to Berkshire's insurance business as one of the company's two most important businesses.
The key takeaway here is that while Berkshire is reducing its stake, it remains a very significant holding and a testament to Buffett's belief in the long-term value and brand power of Apple.
Tip: Take mental snapshots of important details.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to find the latest Berkshire Hathaway 13F filing? You can find the latest 13F filing by searching on the SEC's EDGAR database or on financial data websites like Fintel or MarketBeat.
How to understand why Warren Buffett sold Apple stock? Buffett has stated that the sales were partially due to tax considerations and to build up a record cash pile for future opportunities. It's a strategic move, not necessarily a loss of faith in Apple.
How to know if Berkshire Hathaway is still buying or selling Apple? The 13F filing, which is released quarterly, will show changes in their holdings. You can monitor these filings for the most up-to-date information.
How to calculate the value of Berkshire Hathaway's Apple stake? You can calculate the value by multiplying the number of shares they own (found in the 13F filing) by the current market price of Apple (AAPL) stock.
How to determine Berkshire Hathaway's ownership percentage of Apple? Divide the number of shares Berkshire owns by the total number of Apple's outstanding shares. You can find the outstanding share count on financial websites or in Apple's SEC filings.
How to invest like Warren Buffett? Investing like Buffett involves a long-term, value-oriented approach. It means buying shares of strong companies with durable competitive advantages (moats) at a reasonable price and holding them for the long haul.
How to understand the importance of Apple in Berkshire's portfolio? Even after the sales, Apple remains Berkshire Hathaway's largest stock holding by a significant margin. Its performance has a huge impact on Berkshire's overall portfolio value.
How to find a company's total outstanding shares? You can find this information on financial websites like Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg, or by checking the company's official SEC filings (like the 10-Q or 10-K).
How to track a company's historical stock holdings? You can look at historical 13F filings on the SEC's website or on financial data platforms to see how a fund's holdings have changed over time.
How to learn more about Warren Buffett's investment philosophy? You can read his annual letters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, his book "The Essays of Warren Buffett," or watch videos of his annual shareholder meetings.
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