Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has made one of its most surprising tech moves in years: a new $4.3 billion stake in Alphabet, while continuing to unwind its long-held Apple position. The disclosure came in Berkshire’s latest 13F filing — its final portfolio reveal before Buffett steps down as CEO on January 1 after six decades at the helm.

A Rare Tech Bet, And Long Overdue

Berkshire reported owning 17.85 million shares of Alphabet as of September 30, instantly making it the conglomerate’s 10th-largest equity holding. The move is notable because Buffett has historically avoided most tech names, aside from massive bets on Apple and (briefly) IBM.

Ironically, both Buffett and the late Charlie Munger had publicly admitted they “blew it” by failing to buy Google in the 2000s, when its ad business was already boosting Berkshire-owned GEICO.

This quarter, Berkshire finally corrected that mistake.

Alphabet shares rose 1.7% in after-hours trading, reflecting the usual “Buffett bump” as investors interpret new Berkshire stakes as a seal of approval.

Apple Stake Trimmed Again, Now Down Nearly 75%

Berkshire slashed its Apple stake from 280 million to 238.2 million shares, continuing a dramatic multi-quarter reduction. At its peak, Berkshire held more than 900 million Apple shares.

Even after selling nearly three-quarters of that position, Apple remains Berkshire’s largest holding at $60.7 billion.

Buffett has repeatedly described Apple as “Berkshire’s best business,” but the sales suggest ongoing profit-taking and a more conservative strategy ahead of his departure.

Bank of America, DR Horton Cut, Chubb and Domino’s Boosted

Beyond the big Alphabet reveal, Berkshire was active across the portfolio:

Sold:

  • 6% of Bank of America — though it remains Berkshire’s No. 3 holding
  • Entire DR Horton stake
  • Additional Apple shares (likely the bulk of the quarter’s $12.5B in sales)

Bought:

  • More Chubb
  • More Domino’s Pizza
  • Other smaller positions

Overall, Berkshire bought $6.4B in stocks and sold $12.5B — its 12th straight quarter as a net seller.

Cash Pile Hits Record $381.7B Ahead of Leadership Transition

Berkshire’s cash rose to an unprecedented $381.7 billion, reflecting Buffett’s long-standing caution on frothy valuations and the lack of “elephant-sized” acquisition opportunities.

The record cash hoard also gives incoming CEO Greg Abel enormous flexibility as he prepares to take the reins of a $1.1 trillion conglomerate.

Why This Matters

This filing marks the end of an era — Buffett’s final disclosed portfolio as CEO — and provides clear signals about how Berkshire is positioning for the future:

  • Alphabet is now a core strategic bet
  • Apple dominance is fading
  • Berkshire is preparing for leadership transition with a fortress balance sheet
  • Valuation discipline remains the rule, not the exception

For markets, the headline is simple:

Buffett bought Google at last, and he’s going into retirement with a cautious but quietly shifting portfolio.

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