Buffett told shareholders at the May annual meeting he intends to retire as CEO at the end of the year, recommending Abel as the next chief, a timeline now at roughly 100 days as of Sept. 23. Remarks and post‑meeting summaries also highlighted a record cash war chest and a well-telegraphed transition plan that preserves Berkshire’s culture while empowering Abel on capital allocation.
The post‑Buffett team may continue diversifying away from a single outsized holding, especially with Apple’s valuation far above the forward multiple Berkshire paid when it began buying it in 2016. Independent tracking and market coverage detail additional trims in 2025, suggesting the rebalancing is an ongoing process rather than a one‑off event.
Watch 13F filings for signs of further Apple reductions, new healthcare positions, or changes to other large holdings like Bank of America. It’s also important to look out for Berkshire’s cash trajectory and any commentary linking capital deployment to tax or regulatory developments, a key theme in Fortune’s coverage of the conglomerate’s record liquidity and selling cadence. Signals from the CEO transition—board actions and Abel’s early moves—could confirm how Berkshire balances buybacks, bolt‑on deals, and selective stock picking in the post‑Buffett era.
For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.
