Berkshire's New CEO Lists Core Holdings
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 16 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy CVX?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Core Holdings Revealed: New CEO Greg Abel identified Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola, and Moody's as core holdings in his letter to shareholders, indicating a strong commitment to long-term investments expected to compound over decades.
- Bank Holdings Reduction: Abel's omission of Bank of America, previously the fourth-largest holding, reflects a cautious stance towards the banking sector, especially after significant reductions, suggesting potential further cuts in bank investments.
- Energy Investment Dynamics: Despite Berkshire's increased investments in energy assets, Abel's failure to list Chevron as a core holding is surprising, potentially indicating a reserved outlook on traditional energy, even though Chevron maintains a solid financial position.
- Market Environment Considerations: Amid growing global economic uncertainties, Berkshire's cash reserves and investment strategies demonstrate vigilance towards potential recessions, which may influence future investment decisions, particularly regarding high-valuation bank stocks.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy CVX?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on CVX
Wall Street analysts forecast CVX stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 189.900
Low
158.00
Averages
176.95
High
206.00
Current: 189.900
Low
158.00
Averages
176.95
High
206.00
About CVX
Chevron Corporation is an integrated energy company. The Company produces crude oil and natural gas; manufactures transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and additives; and develops technologies that enhance its business and industry. The Company’s segments include Upstream and Downstream. Upstream operations consist primarily of exploring for, developing, producing and transporting crude oil and natural gas; liquefaction, transportation and regasification associated with LNG; transporting crude oil by major international oil export pipelines; processing, transporting, storage and marketing of natural gas; carbon capture and storage; and a gas-to-liquids plant. Downstream operations consist primarily of the refining of crude oil into petroleum products; marketing crude oil, refined products, and lubricants; manufacturing and marketing of renewable fuels, and transporting of crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment and rail car.
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.
- Intelligence Sharing Concerns: Defense Secretary Hegseth stated that the Trump administration is monitoring reports of Russia providing Iran with information about U.S. military positioning in the Middle East, emphasizing that the U.S. can counter such actions to ensure national security.
- Escalation Expectations: Market data indicates traders expect the conflict to persist, with a 26% probability of a ceasefire by March 15 and 46% by March 31, reflecting concerns over ongoing tensions in the region.
- U.S. Personnel Safety: Hegseth reiterated that the primary focus is on putting adversaries in danger, asserting that there are no concerns for U.S. military personnel, while suggesting that Iranians should be the ones worried about their safety.
- Strait of Hormuz Risks: A market contract indicates a 43% chance of the Strait of Hormuz closing before the end of the month, a critical waterway for approximately 20% of global oil shipments, where any closure would significantly impact the global energy market.
See More
- Production Cuts: Kuwait has implemented oil production and refining cuts due to threats from Iran that have halted tanker transit through the Strait of Hormuz, although the exact volume of cuts remains undisclosed, this precautionary measure will be reviewed as the situation evolves.
- OPEC Impact: As the fifth-largest oil producer in OPEC, Kuwait produced approximately 2.6 million barrels per day in January, and these cuts could significantly impact global oil supply, especially with the Strait of Hormuz closed, potentially leading to soaring oil prices.
- Market Reaction: Oil prices surged about 35% this week due to disruptions in global energy supplies caused by the Iran conflict, with Brent crude futures rising 8.52%, marking the largest weekly gain in history, indicating the market's sensitivity to geopolitical risks.
- Storage Crisis: With oil barrels piling up in the Middle East, Gulf Arab countries face the risk of exhausting storage capacity, as Iraq has already cut 1.5 million barrels per day, and if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for over three weeks, more countries may shut down production, further driving up prices.
See More
- Escalating Middle East Conflict: The U.S. and Israel's bombing of Iran has pressured global stocks, with the S&P 500 dropping 2% last week, while oil prices surged to $90 per barrel, marking a 35% weekly gain, the largest since 1983, indicating potential economic repercussions.
- Mixed Economic Data: Although the ADP report indicated a rise of 63,000 private sector jobs in February, surpassing expectations, the subsequent nonfarm payroll report revealed an increase in the unemployment rate to 4.4%, highlighting emerging job losses due to AI and creating uncertainty about the economic outlook.
- Earnings Impact: Broadcom exceeded earnings expectations, resulting in a 3.4% stock increase, while Corning's shares fell nearly 7% following comments from Broadcom's CEO that dampened optimism about fiber-optic technology, reflecting market volatility in tech sectors.
- Investment Strategy Adjustments: Amid market fluctuations, the investment club increased its position in Cardinal Health and exited BlackRock entirely due to rising private credit concerns, demonstrating a proactive approach to navigating the current market landscape.
See More
- Oil Price Surge Impact: Following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, oil prices surged 35% last week, with West Texas Intermediate futures closing at $90.90 per barrel on Friday, nearing the $100 threshold that could trigger non-linear economic effects.
- High-Income Consumer Spending Constraints: Higher-income consumers' spending is sensitive to stock market fluctuations, and sustained oil price increases could cool their spending, exacerbating economic shocks, particularly impacting lower-income households.
- Record Gas Price Increases: According to Bespoke Investment Group, the average gas price in the U.S. rose 27 cents to $3.25 per gallon in three days, marking the largest increase since 2008, further eroding the real spending power of low-income households.
- AI Investment Delays Risk: Rising energy prices could delay AI-related investment projects by major tech companies like Microsoft and Alphabet, posing a headwind to GDP growth, with sustained oil prices above $100 potentially shaving off more than 0.60 percentage points from GDP growth.
See More
- Surging Oil Prices: The outbreak of war in Iran has caused U.S. crude oil prices to jump from $67 to over $90, leading to a national average gas price of $3.38 per gallon, which increases living costs for families and may affect voter support for the government.
- Rising Natural Gas Prices: Liquefied natural gas prices have surged due to supply disruptions in Qatar, and while U.S. increases have been modest, this exacerbates household electricity bills, particularly as demand from the data center industry strains the electric grid.
- Voter Opposition to War: A CNN poll indicates that nearly 60% of respondents disapprove of U.S. military action in Iran, placing greater pressure on Republicans in an election year, especially as Trump's economic approval ratings remain low.
- Political Accountability: Democrats emphasize the contradiction between Trump's military decisions and economic promises, arguing that this will influence voter intentions, particularly as rising living costs may lead to decreased trust in the Republican Party.
See More
- Stock Buyback Resumption: Berkshire Hathaway has resumed its stock buyback program for the first time since May 2024, with CEO Abel stating that this move is intended to maintain transparency during the leadership transition, although specific repurchase numbers were not disclosed, reflecting confidence in the current market value.
- Personal Investment Commitment: Abel announced his commitment to use his entire after-tax salary to purchase Berkshire stock annually, with his first transaction being $15.3 million for 21 Class A shares, indicating a strong alignment with shareholder interests and boosting market confidence in the company's future.
- Kraft Heinz Investment Strategy: Abel supported Kraft Heinz's new CEO's decision to pause the split plan, arguing against breaking up the company amid challenges, which demonstrates Berkshire's long-term commitment to its investment, despite previous considerations to reduce its stake.
- Financial Performance and Market Reaction: Despite a 29% drop in operating income for the fourth quarter, Abel's stock buyback and personal investment commitment are viewed as positive signals, helping to bolster shareholder confidence, although overall financial challenges remain.
See More











