Overview

• Berkshire Hathaway has raised its stakes in Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, and Sumitomo to between 8.5% and 9.8%, according to regulatory filings.
• The largest increase was in Mitsui, where Berkshire's stake grew from 8.09% to 9.82%, reflecting Buffett's growing admiration for these firms.
• Buffett praised the companies for their prudent management, sensible capital allocation, and modest executive compensation compared to U.S. standards.
• The announcement has driven a rally in the shares of all five trading houses, with gains of at least 4% across the board.
• The move reflects Berkshire's strategic pivot toward international markets during a period of U.S. market volatility driven by tariff policies.