Warren Buffett and his holding company Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A -0.87%)(BRK.B -0.86%) are giants. Berkshire Hathaway became a leading conglomerate because of Buffett's business savvy and investing. Buffett's track record could continue to improve due to the potential for several of his top stocks to outperform.
Stocks Buffett bought
Stocks Warren Buffett recently bought or added
In his 2023 letter to Berkshire shareholders, Buffett wrote that he and his longtime business partner Charlie Munger aren't stock pickers but rather "business pickers." And Buffett and Munger found several businesses they liked recently. Berkshire initiated three new positions and added to its positions in two stocks in the second quarter of 2023.
Fiscal Quarter
| Stock | Number of Shares Owned | Share Count Increase Over Q1 2023 | Value of Total Stake as of 6/30/23 |
|---|---|---|---|
| D.R. Horton (NYSE:DHI) | 5,969,714 | New position | $726.5 million |
| Lennar Group (NYSE:LEN) | 152,572 | New position | $17.2 million |
| NVR (NYSE:NVR) | 11,112 | New position | $70.6 million |
| Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF) | 9,922,000 | +25.7% | $954.1 million |
| Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) | 211,707,119 | +5.9% | $13.2 billion |
Berkshire Hathaway could add to its stake in Occidental. On Aug. 19, 2022, the conglomerate received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to buy as much as 50% of Occidental.
Stocks Buffett sold
Stocks Warren Buffett recently sold
In the second quarter of 2023, Warren Buffett exited or trimmed Berkshire Hathaway's positions in eight stocks:
| Stock | Number of Shares Owned | Share Count Decrease From Q1 2023 | Value of Total Stake as of 6/30/23 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marsh & McLennan (NYSE:MMC) | 0 | Exited position | $0 |
| McKesson (NYSE:MCK) | 0 | Exited position | $0 |
| Vitesse Energy (NYSE:VTS) | 0 | Exited position | $0 |
| Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ;ATVI) | 14,658,121 | -70.3% | $1.24 billion |
| Celanese (NYSE:CE) | 5,358,535 | -39.2% | $620.5 million |
| Chevron (NYSE:CVX) | 123,120,120 | -7% | $15.8 billion |
| General Motors (NYSE:GM) | 22,000,000 | -45% | $740.5 million |
| Globe Life (NYSE:GL) | 2,515,574 | -60.4% | $275.7 million |
Top 10 stocks he owns
Top stocks Warren Buffett owns by size
Berkshire Hathaway owns positions in more than 50 stocks. Here are the holding company's top 10 stocks ranked by value:
| Stock | Number of Shares Owned | Value of Stake |
|---|---|---|
| Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) | 915,560,382 | $171.8 billion |
| Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) | 1,032,852,006 | $30 billion |
| American Express (NYSE:AXP) | 151,610,700 | $24.3 billion |
| Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) | 400,000,000 | $24.2 billion |
| Chevron (NYSE:CVX) | 132,407,595 | $19.7 billion |
| Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) | 224,129,192 | $14 billion |
| Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC) | 325,634,818 | $11 billion |
| Moody's (NYSE:MCO) | 24,669,778 | $8.4 billion |
| Mitsubishi (OTC:MSBHF) | 119,497,600 | $5.7 billion |
| Mitsui (OTC:MITSF) (OTC:MITSY) | 125,022,300 | $4.6 billion |
There's a glaring gap between the values of the No. 1 and No. 2 stocks in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio. In the top spot, Apple is such a massive holding that Buffett has referred to the technology giant as Berkshire Hathaway's "third-largest business," after its wholly owned insurance and railroad businesses. Buffett has also said Apple is "probably the best business I know in the world."
Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway's second-largest position, also stands out because Buffett has reduced the positions of many of his bank stocks in recent quarters.
The financial services leader also continues to benefit from its investments in technology, including mobile apps.
Related investing topics
Should you invest?
Should you follow Buffett's moves?
While it can certainly be interesting to keep track of what Buffett and other billionaire investors are buying and selling, it's never a smart idea to jump into a stock just because someone else does -- even if that someone else is the Oracle of Omaha.
That said, looking at Berkshire Hathaway's stock portfolio can give you plenty of stock ideas to investigate in determining what is suitable for your portfolio based on your own risk tolerance and investment objectives.
FAQs about Warren Buffett's Portfolio
What stocks does Warren Buffett own personally?
Buffett isn't required to disclose his personal holdings. The one stock that he definitely owns, of course, is Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett is Berkshire's largest shareholder. He currently owns 15.6% of the company and controls 31.5% of the voting interest.
What are Warren Buffett's main stocks?
Obviously, Buffett's main stock is none other than Berkshire Hathaway itself. Apple ranks in the top position in Berkshire's portfolio by far.
What are Warren Buffett's top five holdings?
Buffett's top five holdings in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio currently are:
- Apple
- Bank of America
- American Express
- Coca-Cola
- Chevron
What kinds of companies does Warren Buffett invest in?
Buffett wrote to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders in 2023 that he seeks to invest in "businesses with both long-lasting favorable economic characteristics and trustworthy managers." Because it's not always easy to identify companies with the economic characteristics Buffett looks for, he focuses on businesses that he understands well.
Valuation is also an important consideration for Buffett. He has stated in the past that he only buys stocks that trade at a reasonable price relative to his estimate of the company's earnings potential for at least five years in the future.
