Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N) has revealed a new $4.3 billion stake in Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL.O) while further trimming its long-held Apple (AAPL.O) shares, marking one of the last portfolio updates under Warren Buffett’s 60-year tenure as CEO. The disclosure, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), underscores Berkshire’s strategic positioning in the technology sector as Buffett prepares to hand over operational control to CEO-designate Greg Abel.

Alphabet Becomes Berkshire’s Tenth-Largest Holding

The filing shows that as of September 30, Berkshire owned 17.85 million Alphabet shares, making the Google parent company the conglomerate’s tenth-largest U.S. stock holding. The move is notable given Buffett’s historically cautious stance toward tech investments. Traditionally, Buffett classifies Apple more as a consumer products company rather than a technology firm, which explains Berkshire’s long-standing investment in iPhones and related products.

Buffett and late Vice Chairman Charlie Munger have previously acknowledged missing the opportunity to invest in Google earlier. At Berkshire’s 2019 annual meeting, Munger admitted, “We screwed up,” referring to the missed chance to buy Alphabet shares, with Buffett concurring on the parallels between Google’s advertising model and Berkshire’s Geico insurance unit.

Apple Holdings Continue to Shrink

Berkshire’s Apple stake fell from 280 million shares to 238.2 million shares, continuing the sale of nearly three-quarters of the more than 900 million shares it once held. Despite the reduction, Apple remains Berkshire’s largest stock holding, valued at approximately $60.7 billion.

The company’s broader U.S.-listed equity portfolio totaled $283.2 billion as of September 30, encompassing most of Berkshire’s publicly traded investments. Between July and September, Berkshire purchased $6.4 billion in stocks while selling $12.5 billion, marking the twelfth consecutive quarter of net stock sales. Much of the sales activity was concentrated in Apple, along with reductions in Bank of America (BAC.N) and homebuilder DR Horton (DHI.N) shares.

Other Key Portfolio Moves

• Berkshire sold 6% of its Bank of America stake, extending the divestment initiated last year. Despite the sale, the bank remains the conglomerate’s third-largest stock holding.
• Berkshire acquired additional shares in Chubb, the insurance company, and Domino’s Pizza (DPZ.O).
• Cash reserves surged to a record $381.7 billion, providing flexibility for future strategic investments and supporting the transition to CEO Greg Abel.

Buffett’s approach has been characterized by caution on valuations, avoiding large acquisitions over the past decade and largely pausing stock buybacks for more than a year. Berkshire continues to operate its approximately 200 subsidiary businesses, including BNSF Railway, numerous energy and manufacturing companies, and retail brands like Dairy Queen, Fruit of the Loom, and See’s Candies.

Market Response and Analyst Perspective

Alphabet shares responded positively to the disclosure, rising 1.7% in after-hours trading, reflecting the “Buffett seal of approval” that often boosts investor confidence. Analysts note that the investment in Alphabet may signal a strategic embrace of select tech growth opportunities, even as Berkshire maintains its value-investing discipline.

The timing of this portfolio update is particularly significant, as it represents one of the final SEC filings before Buffett steps down as CEO on January 1, 2026, passing operational leadership to Abel, the current vice chairman.