Berkshire Hathaway cut its Apple stock holdings by 20 million shares in the second quarter of 2025, but Apple remains its largest investment and a major driver of the company's portfolio value.
The quarterly U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing shows Berkshire's position dropped to 280 million Apple shares as of June 30. Apple remains the conglomerate's largest equity holding despite the reduction.
The reduction comes from a peak of 905 million shares in past years. Apple stock didn't change much in after-hours trading on Thursday following the disclosure.
Berkshire Hathaway's largest reported Apple stock sale since 2024
Berkshire's latest Apple sale is its largest reported reduction since the third quarter of 2024.
The move may be an effort to realize profits from Apple stock performance rather than a sign of reduced confidence. Warren Buffett has previously described Apple as one of the best businesses Berkshire owns.
The filing, reported by Reuters shows Berkshire sold more stocks than it purchased for the 11th consecutive quarter. From April through June, it sold about $3 billion more than it bought, ending the period with $344.1 billion in cash and short-term investments.
Apple stake reduction signals rebalancing, not retreat
Berkshire's reduction in Apple stock is minor compared to its overall stake. This move is unlikely to change Berkshire's dependence on Apple as a major contributor to its portfolio value.
The reduction might be part of a strategy to diversify holdings while maintaining significant technology exposure. The large size of its Apple shares indicates that Berkshire still considers the company crucial for its long-term growth strategy.
Maintaining a large cash reserve suggests Berkshire is positioning for flexibility amid market uncertainty. Future filings may reveal whether the company uses the cash for opportunistic buys in other sectors.
Warren Buffett, who turns 95 on August 30, is expected to remain chairman. Greg Abel will become chief executive on January 1, 2026.
The filing doesn't specify whether the trades were made by Buffett, Abel, or portfolio managers Todd Combs and Ted Weschler. Buffett's influence on major moves like Apple stock sales remains a point of focus for investors.
