Warren Buffett has officially stepped away. On January 1, 2026, Greg Abel took the reins as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, ending a 60-year run that basically redefined how the world thinks about money. But even with Buffett in the dugout, the Berkshire Hathaway latest holdings are sending a loud, clear signal to anyone with a brokerage account.
It’s not just about what they’re buying. It's about what they've spent the last three years ditching.
Honestly, the numbers are kind of staggering. Berkshire is sitting on a record $381.7 billion cash pile. To put that in perspective, that’s more than the annual GDP of Denmark. They aren't just "keeping some dry powder." They've built a literal mountain of Treasury bills while the rest of the market has been chasing the AI hype train.
The Big Shake-up: Selling the "Forever" Stocks
For years, Apple was the crown jewel. At one point, it made up nearly half of Berkshire’s entire equity portfolio. You’ve probably heard Buffett call it one of the best businesses he’s ever seen.
Well, apparently, even the best businesses have a price tag that’s too high.
As of the latest disclosures entering 2026, Berkshire has slashed its Apple (AAPL) stake by roughly 74% over the last two years. They’re down to about 238 million shares. It’s still their largest holding at roughly 20% of the portfolio, but the days of Apple total dominance are over.
Then there’s Bank of America (BAC).
Buffett has been a persistent seller here for six straight quarters. They’ve cut the position by nearly 45%, selling over 460 million shares since the middle of 2024. Why? It’s likely a mix of valuation and taxes. Buffett has hinted that he expects corporate tax rates to climb eventually, so locking in gains at the current 21% rate is just smart math.
What’s Actually New in the Portfolio?
It hasn't been all selling, though it certainly feels that way. Greg Abel is now overseeing a portfolio that has a slightly more "tech-forward" flavor than the old-school Buffett days.
The biggest surprise recently was Alphabet (GOOGL).
Berkshire picked up about 17.8 million shares of Google's parent company, a move that would have been unthinkable a decade ago when Buffett was still swearing off "complex" tech companies. It’s now their 10th-largest holding. They also added to Chubb (CB), the insurance giant, which fits perfectly into the Berkshire DNA of boring-but-reliable cash cows.
Here is a breakdown of how the top of the portfolio looks right now:
- Apple (AAPL): 20.1% of invested assets. Still the king, but the crown is slipping.
- American Express (AXP): 18.2%. This is the one Buffett hasn't touched. He loves the brand loyalty here.
- Bank of America (BAC): 10.2%. Trimmed significantly but still a core pillar.
- Coca-Cola (KO): 8.6%. Held since 1988. They aren't selling this one; the dividend yield on their original cost is basically a money printer at this point.
- Chevron (CVX): 6.3%. A massive bet on traditional energy that Abel is very comfortable with.
The Mystery of the $382 Billion
You might be wondering: why just sit on all that cash?
The "Buffett Indicator"—which compares total stock market value to GDP—is screaming. It’s sitting near 220%. Historically, when it gets that high, things tend to get messy. Buffett (and now Abel) isn't bearish on the US economy. They’re just picky.
They’d rather earn 5% on "risk-free" Treasury bills than gamble on stocks trading at 35 times earnings. It’s the ultimate "wait for your pitch" strategy.
There's also some chatter about silver. Some analysts predict that the final filings from Buffett’s tenure will show a massive move into silver, mirroring a trade he made back in the 90s. We won't know for sure until the mid-February 13F filings, but it would be a classic "Oracle" move to pivot to commodities when the S&P 500 feels frothy.
Is Berkshire "AI-Proof"?
Sorta. By adding Alphabet and keeping a massive (though reduced) stake in Apple, they have skin in the game. But they aren't buying Nvidia at these prices. They’re sticking to companies with "moats"—things that are hard to disrupt even if a robot is doing the work.
What This Means for Your Money
You don't have to sell everything just because Berkshire is hoarding cash. But you should probably pay attention to the "warning" they're leaving behind.
- Check your concentration. If one stock (like Apple or Nvidia) has grown to be 40% of your portfolio, maybe follow the Berkshire lead and trim a little. Taxes hurt, but a 30% market correction hurts more.
- Value your cash. In 2026, cash isn't trash. Getting a decent yield on a money market fund while you wait for a better entry point into the market is a perfectly valid strategy.
- Look at the "Magnificent" Laggards. Alphabet was added to the Berkshire portfolio specifically because its valuation (around 20x forward earnings at the time) was way more attractive than its peers.
The transition to Greg Abel marks the end of an era, but the playbook hasn't changed. They're still looking for "wonderful businesses at a fair price." And right now, they're mostly finding that the prices aren't all that fair.
Next Steps for Investors
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Look at your own "cash pile." If you’re 100% uninvested, you’re missing out on the compounding power that Buffett loves. But if you're 100% "all-in" on high-flying tech, you might want to rebalance. Start by calculating your own "personal Buffett Indicator"—your total stock exposure versus your total net worth. If it's at an all-time high, it might be time to take a page out of the new Berkshire playbook and build a little safety net.