Berkshire's Investment Portfolio Overview Post-Buffett Retirement
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy AAPL?
Source: Fool
- Portfolio Concentration: Berkshire Hathaway's fourth-quarter 13F filing reveals that five stocks account for 61% of its $318 billion investment portfolio, with Apple at 19.5%, indicating a highly concentrated investment strategy that may influence future decisions.
- Long-Term Holding Strategy: Coca-Cola and American Express have been long-term holdings since 1988 and 1991, respectively, yielding annual returns of 63% and 39%, reflecting the company's trust in these brands and their stable cash flows.
- Market Valuation Changes: Apple's price-to-earnings ratio has nearly tripled since Buffett's initial purchase in 2016, currently standing at 34, indicating potential overvaluation that may prompt new CEO Abel to reassess the holding strategy.
- Energy Investment Outlook: Abel's familiarity with Chevron's integrated operating model may position it as a focal point for Berkshire's future investments, given its ability to hedge against crude oil price fluctuations, highlighting potential growth opportunities in the energy sector.
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Analyst Views on AAPL
Wall Street analysts forecast AAPL stock price to rise
27 Analyst Rating
17 Buy
9 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 274.230
Low
239.00
Averages
306.89
High
350.00
Current: 274.230
Low
239.00
Averages
306.89
High
350.00
About AAPL
Apple Inc. designs, manufactures and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables and accessories, and sells a variety of related services. Its product categories include iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Wearables, Home and Accessories. Its software platforms include iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS. Its services include advertising, AppleCare, cloud services, digital content and payment services. The Company operates various platforms, including the App Store, that allow customers to discover and download applications and digital content, such as books, music, video, games and podcasts. It also offers digital content through subscription-based services, including Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+. Its products include iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone SE, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro, iPad Pro, iPad Air, AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Portfolio Concentration: Berkshire Hathaway's fourth-quarter 13F filing reveals that five stocks account for 61% of its $318 billion investment portfolio, with Apple at 19.5%, indicating a highly concentrated investment strategy that may influence future decisions.
- Long-Term Holding Strategy: Coca-Cola and American Express have been long-term holdings since 1988 and 1991, respectively, yielding annual returns of 63% and 39%, reflecting the company's trust in these brands and their stable cash flows.
- Market Valuation Changes: Apple's price-to-earnings ratio has nearly tripled since Buffett's initial purchase in 2016, currently standing at 34, indicating potential overvaluation that may prompt new CEO Abel to reassess the holding strategy.
- Energy Investment Outlook: Abel's familiarity with Chevron's integrated operating model may position it as a focal point for Berkshire's future investments, given its ability to hedge against crude oil price fluctuations, highlighting potential growth opportunities in the energy sector.
See More
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- Portfolio Concentration: Berkshire's fourth-quarter 13F filing reveals that nearly 61% of its invested assets are concentrated in just five stocks, indicating a high concentration that Abel must navigate to balance returns and risks effectively.
- Yield Analysis: With cost bases of $3.25 for Coca-Cola and $8.49 for American Express, the current annual yields of 63% and 39% respectively provide no logical incentive for Abel to sell these stocks, potentially leading to further accumulation instead.
- Energy Investment Potential: Having previously served as CEO of MidAmerican Energy, Abel understands energy sector dynamics and may continue to favor Chevron's integrated operating model, particularly as its pipelines and chemical plants can hedge against crude oil price fluctuations.
See More
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Shareholder Proposal Rejected: Apple shareholders have rejected a proposal that requested a report on the company's entanglements with China during the annual general meeting.
Focus on China Relations: The proposal aimed to address concerns regarding Apple's business operations and dependencies in China, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny of corporate ties to the region.
See More
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Shareholder Approval: Apple shareholders have approved all company proposals during the annual meeting.
Executive Pay: Among the approved proposals was the compensation for one of Apple's executives.
See More
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- Pessimistic Market Forecast: The International Data Corporation (IDC) reports that the global smartphone market is expected to shrink by 13% in 2026, marking a historic low, primarily due to dwindling memory supplies driving up device prices, which negatively impacts consumer purchasing willingness.
- Sharp Decline in Shipments: Counterpoint Research projects a 12% year-on-year drop in global smartphone shipments in 2026, the largest decline on record, with 2023 shipments expected to hit their lowest levels since 2013, indicating a drastic reduction in market demand.
- Chip Shortage Impact: The fierce investment in AI infrastructure has strained memory chip inventories, forcing smartphone manufacturers to queue in the supply chain, leading to price surges that further compress profit margins and may compel manufacturers to pass costs onto consumers.
- Structural Market Changes: As profit margins in the low-end market shrink, manufacturers may prioritize sales of mid- to high-end models, with some potentially exiting the low-end market entirely, while the secondary smartphone market is expected to grow as consumers are priced out by rising memory costs.
See More
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- Annual Profit Surge: Norway's $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund reported an annual profit of approximately $248 billion for 2025, achieving a 15.1% return driven by a strong rebound in global equities, particularly from U.S. technology stocks.
- Portfolio Performance: Although the fund's return lagged its benchmark index by 0.28 percentage points, or about 50 billion kroner, its equity investments valued at around $1.6 trillion accounted for over 71% of the fund's assets, underscoring its significant role in the global market.
- Renewable Energy Investments: The fund's investments in renewable energy infrastructure yielded an impressive 18.1% return last year, reflecting its commitment to sustainable investments, including several projects in Germany's largest electricity grid.
- AI Technology Implementation: NBIM began utilizing AI to screen for ethical issues in investments at the end of 2024, employing Anthropic's Claude model to enhance its ESG processes, demonstrating its focus on ethical standards in investment decisions.
See More
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- Portfolio Concentration: Berkshire Hathaway's fourth-quarter 13F filing reveals that five stocks account for 61% of its $318 billion investment portfolio, with Apple at 19.5%, indicating a highly concentrated investment strategy that may influence future decisions.
- Long-Term Holding Strategy: Coca-Cola and American Express have been long-term holdings since 1988 and 1991, respectively, yielding annual returns of 63% and 39%, reflecting the company's trust in these brands and their stable cash flows.
- Market Valuation Changes: Apple's price-to-earnings ratio has nearly tripled since Buffett's initial purchase in 2016, currently standing at 34, indicating potential overvaluation that may prompt new CEO Abel to reassess the holding strategy.
- Energy Investment Outlook: Abel's familiarity with Chevron's integrated operating model may position it as a focal point for Berkshire's future investments, given its ability to hedge against crude oil price fluctuations, highlighting potential growth opportunities in the energy sector.
See More
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- Leadership Transition: Warren Buffett retired on December 31, 2025, passing the reins to Greg Abel, who will oversee a $318 billion investment portfolio; while Abel is unlikely to significantly alter Buffett's eight 'indefinite' holdings, his focus on value may lead to adjustments in core positions.
- Portfolio Concentration: Berkshire's fourth-quarter 13F filing reveals that nearly 61% of its invested assets are concentrated in just five stocks, indicating a high concentration that Abel must navigate to balance returns and risks effectively.
- Yield Analysis: With cost bases of $3.25 for Coca-Cola and $8.49 for American Express, the current annual yields of 63% and 39% respectively provide no logical incentive for Abel to sell these stocks, potentially leading to further accumulation instead.
- Energy Investment Potential: Having previously served as CEO of MidAmerican Energy, Abel understands energy sector dynamics and may continue to favor Chevron's integrated operating model, particularly as its pipelines and chemical plants can hedge against crude oil price fluctuations.
See More
