Berkshire trims Apple stake in second quarter disclosure

Berkshire Hathaway resumed selling Apple shares amid tariff turmoil and shifted proceeds into U.S. Treasuries.

Berkshire trims Apple stake as cash pile grows

Berkshire Hathaway disclosed it sold 20 million Apple shares in the second quarter, reducing its stake to 280 million shares and valuing the position at about $57.4 billion. It marks Berkshire’s first Apple sales since the third quarter of 2024, with the firm directing proceeds largely into short term U.S. Treasuries and boosting its cash pile to a record level.

Apple remains the largest holding in Berkshire’s $268 billion stock portfolio, representing roughly a fifth of its value. The stock has shown volatility, dropping more than 30 percent from late 2024 highs before a bounce after Tim Cook pledged to invest in the United States. Berkshire’s selling occurred in a volatile backdrop tied to tariff tensions in the United States and broader trade policy, a factor some investors see as a warning rather than a sign of concern about Apple.

This move mirrors Buffett’s long run playbook: take profits from a winner while keeping ample cash on hand. Berkshire’s big cash pile provides strategic flexibility but invites questions about opportunity costs when markets rally.

The sale also signals a broader shift in Berkshire’s approach as it diversifies across sectors and uses Treasuries to weather volatility. As Apple watchers parse the numbers, the question remains how Berkshire can balance discipline with patience in a fast moving market.

Highlights

Markets will watch how Berkshire balances profits from a big winner with its patient, long-term strategy.