Berkshire Hathaway reduces Apple stake as Warren Buffett officially retires

Berkshire Hathaway reduces Apple stake as Warren Buffett officially retires

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Trims Apple Stake Again, Bets $350M on The New York Times

In a move that’s sending ripples through both Silicon Valley and Wall Street, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has once again reduced its massive Apple stake while simultaneously making a surprising $350 million investment in The New York Times.

The transactions, revealed in new SEC filings this week, occurred during the final quarter of 2025—a period that also marked the end of an era as Buffett, at 95 years old, stepped down from his role as Berkshire’s CEO. Greg Abel has now assumed leadership of the conglomerate.

The Numbers Behind the Moves

Berkshire sold 4% of its Apple holdings during Q4 2025, according to Reuters. Despite this reduction, Apple remains Berkshire’s largest single investment at approximately $62 billion.

This latest trimming follows a pattern. Berkshire began accumulating Apple stock in 2016 and at its peak in 2023 owned over 915 million shares—worth around $174 billion and accounting for more than 50% of Berkshire’s entire portfolio.

Over the past several years, Buffett has systematically reduced the Apple position as part of a broader strategy to build cash reserves. The Oracle of Omaha has trimmed the stake multiple times, including significant sales in 2024 and 2025.

In a candid moment last year, Buffett humorously acknowledged Apple’s contribution to Berkshire’s bottom line, joking that “Tim Cook has made Berkshire a lot more money than I’ve ever made.”

Apple’s Response and Industry Reaction

Apple CEO Tim Cook, who has maintained a close relationship with Buffett over the years, praised the legendary investor upon his retirement announcement. “There’s never been someone like Warren, and countless people, myself included, have been inspired by his wisdom,” Cook wrote. “It’s been one of the great privileges of my life to know him.”

The tech industry is watching closely to see how Berkshire’s portfolio evolves under Abel’s leadership. The SEC filing doesn’t clarify whether these investment decisions were made by Buffett, Abel, or portfolio manager Ted Weschler.

The New York Times Bet: A Return to Traditional Media

Perhaps even more intriguing than the Apple reduction is Berkshire’s $350 million stake in The New York Times—a move that signals renewed confidence in traditional media.

This investment marks Berkshire’s reentry into the newspaper business after years of divesting from print publications. The conglomerate purchased 5.07 million shares of NYT stock, representing a significant vote of confidence in the Gray Lady’s digital transformation and subscription strategy.

The timing is particularly noteworthy given the ongoing challenges facing the news industry, from declining print advertising to the rise of AI-generated content. Berkshire’s investment suggests that Abel sees value in quality journalism and established brands in the digital age.

Broader Portfolio Adjustments

In addition to the Apple reduction and NYT investment, Berkshire also decreased its position in Amazon during the same period. This rebalancing reflects a shift in strategy as the new leadership team evaluates opportunities across different sectors.

The moves come as Berkshire continues to maintain substantial cash reserves—a strategy Buffett has employed in recent years amid concerns about market valuations and economic uncertainty.

What This Means for Investors

For Apple investors, the continued trimming of Berkshire’s stake raises questions about whether the conglomerate sees better opportunities elsewhere or is simply rebalancing after years of outsized gains from the tech giant.

For media investors, the NYT investment could signal a broader trend of value investors recognizing the potential in quality news organizations that have successfully navigated the digital transition.

And for Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, these moves offer an early glimpse into how the company’s investment strategy might evolve under new leadership—balancing the preservation of Buffett’s value investing principles with fresh perspectives on technology and media.

Industry Implications

The dual moves—reducing exposure to the world’s most valuable company while increasing investment in a legacy news organization—highlight the complex dynamics facing investors in 2025.

On one hand, even Apple, with its $3 trillion market cap and dominant position in consumer technology, isn’t immune to profit-taking by savvy investors who’ve enjoyed massive gains. On the other hand, traditional media companies that have successfully pivoted to digital subscriptions may represent undervalued opportunities in an era of information overload.

As Berkshire Hathaway charts its course under Greg Abel, the investment community will be watching closely to see whether this represents a one-time adjustment or the beginning of a new investment philosophy for one of the world’s most closely watched portfolios.


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