Warren Buffett’s moves are virtually impossible to ignore.
With decades into a prolific investing career built on discipline, the 95-year-old commands the kind of attention most CEOs can only dream of.
With a net worth that’s soared over the $100 billion mark and a playbook built on patience, moats, and cash flow, his portfolio shifts continue to ripple across markets.
Buffett isn’t fully retired yet, but the transition is coming soon though.
The legendary investor is expected to step down as Berkshire Hathaway’s (BRK.A) , (BRK.B) CEO in January 2026, handing the reins to Greg Abel.
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Buffett remains Chairman but will still be on stage at the annual meeting. At the same time, Abel runs the day-to-day and leads the marathon Q&A.
That matters because Berkshire’s biggest bets have in many ways shaped entire sectors. Think of Apple and how it turned into a generation-defining winner. Similarly, Coca-Cola and American Express proved the power of durable brands and pricing.
So, when Buffett looks to wrap up over a decade-long position, people notice. And that’s exactly what happened as Berkshire exited a 17-year position, one of the more profitable bets that compounded quietly in the background.
The move has Wall Street scratching its head and trying to make sense of value, cycles, and the Berkshire outlook in the Abel era.
Warren Buffett cashes out of China’s BYD, ending a two-decade ride
Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images
Buffet’s Berkshire walks away from EV giant BYD after 17 years
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway just closed the book on its BYD investment.
A fresh filing from Berkshire’s energy unit shows that the stake’s market value is marked at zero as of March 31, 2025, down from $415 million at the end of 2024. That confirmation, along with a new CNBC report over the weekend, seals the story.
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It’s massive because it’s not every day you see Berkshire fully exiting a long-running position, especially one that turned into a 20-bagger.
The move has many in the investing punditry frowning, partly because Buffett and Charlie Munger had held EV giant BYD up when it just started making inroads in the automotive space.
Here’s how the ride unfolded:
- 2008 (Sept.) — Buy: Berkshire’s MidAmerican invested $230 million into 225 million H-shares (10% stake).
- 2009–2010 — Praise: Charlie Munger praised BYD’s Wang Chuanfu as “a combination of Thomas Edison and Jack Welch.”
- 2022 (Aug.) — Trimming: Berkshire began lowering its stake after a 20x run-up, selling 95 million shares by late 2022.
- 2024 (July) — Below 5%: A Hong Kong filing showed Berkshire dipped under the 5% disclosure line.
- 2025 (Sept. 22) — Exit: Berkshire’s filing put the holding at zero.
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The development has investors wondering what signal, if any, Buffett intended to send with the timing. Also, for perspective, BYD stock is up almost 29% year-to-date, beating the broader market’s 13.3% gain, complicating things further.
Inside Buffett’s Q2 Berkshire playbook
Berkshire’s Q2 was a classic late-cycle Buffett, flushed with fortress cash, selective buys, and a net trim of equities.
Operating earnings softened on the back of a cool-down in insurance underwriting, along with $3.76 billion after-tax writedown on Kraft Heinz, which weighed on net. Cash and equivalents jumped to a whopping $344 billion by June 30, underscoring the firm’s preference for dry powder.
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Perhaps a key wrinkle is the rate-sensitivity of its T-bill pile. If the Fed’s cutting path plays out, Berkshire’s annual interest income could drop by $3+ billion as short rates slide, a clear, unavoidable takedown.
Main adds (13F, Q2 2025):
- UnitedHealth: New stake of 5.04 million shares ($1.6 billion).
- Energy/Industrials slant: Added Chevron; disclosed Nucor; revealed earlier confidential buys in Lennar and D.R. Horton.
Main subtractions (13F, Q2 2025):
- Apple: Sold 20 million shares, stake now 280 million (still No. 1 holding).
- Bank of America: Sold 26 million shares.
- T-Mobile: Exited the position.Net seller again: Sold $3 billion more stock than bought; the 11th straight quarter of net selling.