Overview
- In his first quarter as CEO, Greg Abel disposed of 15 positions that Warren Buffett had initiated, including long-held winners such as Visa, Mastercard and the stake in Amazon.
- Abel concentrated new public‑equity capital into large stakes with Alphabet as the biggest purchase and Delta Air Lines as a major new holding, favoring lower‑dividend, growth‑oriented names.
- Those public‑market trades have run in parallel with big cash deployments, including Berkshire’s roughly $8.5 billion acquisition of Taylor Morrison and participation as a large investor in Alphabet’s equity raise.
- Observers say the moves show Abel will sell winners and losers when he expects better returns elsewhere, but they caution it is too soon to tell if this approach will be permanent.
- If sustained, the shift could reduce Berkshire’s emphasis on dividend income and increase portfolio turnover, so shareholders should watch upcoming quarterly filings for signs of a durable strategy change.