is warren buffett selling his stocks

A data-backed, neutral summary of Berkshire Hathaway’s net-selling trend through 2025. This article explains what Berkshire sold and bought, why analysts think it happened, how to verify the moves,...

2025-09-05 00:55:00

By Ravi Clark

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Quick answer and reading plan

As of Dec 28, 2025, investors asking "is warren buffett selling his stocks" are referring to a clear, documented pattern: Berkshire Hathaway has been a net seller of U.S. publicly traded equities across multiple quarters in 2023–2025. This piece explains what was sold and bought, key dollar figures reported in 2025, the growth of Berkshire’s cash and short-term Treasury holdings, how the activity is tracked, and what analysts and the press have said about the possible reasons and investor implications. You will find a quantitative snapshot, a timeline of major reports, neutral interpretations from major outlets, and references to original filings for verification.

As you read, note that this article cites published reporting and SEC-related disclosure dates so you can check primary sources for verification.

Background — Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway

Warren Buffett is the long-time chairman and chief executive associated with Berkshire Hathaway’s investment approach: largely concentrated, value-oriented, long-term holdings across public equities and wholly owned businesses. Historically, Buffett favored buy-and-hold positions in companies with durable competitive advantages and predictable cash flow. That long-term, value-first framework is why the market scrutinizes any change in Berkshire’s public equity allocations: large trades by Berkshire can reflect either opportunity-taking by the managers or a change in valuation assessment.

Berkshire’s equity portfolio is managed collectively by the chairman and a small team of senior investment managers. Over the last decade, a few large holdings (notably Apple) dominated a material share of the public equity value, so reductions in those positions generate headlines and measurable portfolio shifts.

Recent selling activity (2022–2025)

Short answer: Berkshire Hathaway was a net seller of marketable equities over many quarters in 2023–2025. Major financial outlets reported repeated, multi‑billion-dollar sales in 2025 alongside selective, much smaller purchases. The company also accumulated a very large cash and short-term Treasury position.

As of Nov 1, 2025, Fortune reported a string of net-selling quarters and an expanding cash hoard following the company’s Q3 results. (Source date: Nov 1, 2025.)
As of Nov 3–4, 2025, CNBC and Newsweek reported specific quarterly sell figures (for example, roughly $6.1 billion sold in Q3 2025 per Newsweek) and possible reductions in holdings such as Apple. (Source dates: Nov 3–4, 2025.)
By Dec 10 and Dec 28, 2025, aggregated media summaries (Motley Fool / Nasdaq / Investopedia) described cumulative 2025 sales and also highlighted that purchases during 2025 were materially smaller in dollar terms than the sales. (Source dates: Dec 10 and Dec 28, 2025.)

These reports describe a consistent pattern by which Berkshire trimmed or sold sizeable positions while holding or increasing cash and short-term U.S. Treasury bills.

Quantitative snapshot

Below are headline, source-attributed figures reported in major outlets (dates shown as reported):

"Nearly $184 billion in net sales over the prior three years" — figure reported in late-2025 coverage summarizing cumulative net selling across 2023–2025 (reported context: late 2025; see Motley Fool/Nasdaq summaries). (As of Dec 28, 2025, according to The Motley Fool / Nasdaq reporting.)
2025 aggregate selling: various reports summarized that Berkshire sold tens of billions in 2025 alone — multiple outlets cited total sold amounts such as "over $24 billion" (Dec 10, 2025, Nasdaq/Motley Fool syndicated summary) and other multi‑billion quarterly figures across Q1–Q3 2025.
Q3 2025 selling: Newsweek reported about $6.1 billion sold in Q3 2025. (As of Nov 4, 2025, according to Newsweek.)
Apple reductions: reporting across Nov–Dec 2025 described continued trimming of the Apple stake, which had been reduced materially since late 2023; one report noted Apple remained a large holding but at much lower exposure than at its peak.
Cash and short-term Treasuries: multiple outlets reported Berkshire’s cash and short-term investments approaching or near $400 billion by late 2025, with short-term U.S. Treasury holdings used as the parking place for that liquidity. (As of Nov–Dec 2025, according to Fortune / Motley Fool coverage.)
Purchases vs. sales in 2025: coverage indicated the amount bought in new or added positions in 2025 (examples include purchases or additions totaling roughly $14 billion as reported in mid-December summaries) was small relative to sales. (As of Dec 10 & Dec 28, 2025, according to Nasdaq/Motley Fool and Investopedia.)

Note: All dollar values above are reported figures aggregated from major press coverage in late 2025; verify exact numbers in Berkshire Hathaway’s SEC and shareholder disclosures for formal confirmation.

Notable transactions and portfolio changes

The press focused on several headline moves in 2025 that exemplify the net-selling trend. Below are the most frequently reported transactions and context noted by financial media in late 2025.

Major sales (examples)

Apple reductions: Multiple reports in 2025 documented ongoing reductions of Berkshire’s Apple position that began in late 2023. By late 2025, the Apple holding had been cut substantially from its earlier peak; outlets cited the sale of large dollar amounts over successive quarters. (As reported Nov–Dec 2025; see CNBC, Motley Fool coverage.)
Bank of America, Chevron and others: Reporting in late 2025 noted that sizable portions of other long-standing positions had been trimmed or sold, with examples given such as sizable reductions in financial and energy positions. One aggregated report noted dozens of stocks had been fully sold out of Berkshire’s marketable holdings over the recent period. (As of Dec 2025 reporting.)
Aggregate multi‑billion quarterly disposals: Quarterly reporting for 2025 highlighted quarters with multi‑billion-dollar net sales (for example, Q3 2025 with reported sales in the low‑single-digit billions and other quarters with larger amounts), contributing to a net-sell streak across many quarters. (Sources: Newsweek, CNBC, Fortune, late 2025 reporting.)

Major purchases (examples)

Selective smaller purchases: Media summaries noted that while Berkshire sold large amounts overall, the purchases that did occur in 2025 were much smaller on aggregate. Examples cited included increased stakes or selective buys in companies such as Alphabet and additions related to Occidental, as well as modest new or increased positions in insurance and industrial-related equities. (Reported in Dec 2025; see Nasdaq and Motley Fool recaps.)
Opportunistic additions: Some purchases were characterized as opportunistic or tactical (adding to small or mid-size positions rather than replacing the dollar volume of sales). The purchases reported in 2025 were typically small compared with the sizable proceeds raised from sales.

Reasons and interpretations offered by analysts and press

Analysts and financial commentators cited several explanations for why Berkshire moved to sell large amounts of public equities and build cash/T-bill balances in 2023–2025. Coverage is interpretative; readers should consult primary filings for the underlying numbers.

Common explanations reported in late 2025 include:

Valuation concerns: Coverage emphasized that some of Berkshire’s longtime holdings had reached much higher market valuations (for example, Apple trading at elevated forward P/E levels), prompting profit-taking where managers judged prices exceeded intrinsic value.
Taking gains and tax/timing considerations: Several reports noted tax considerations and capital-gains timing as drivers: selling into favorable tax windows and locking in gains rather than waiting while valuations rose.
Rotation to cash and optionality: A prominent theme in late-2025 reporting was the accumulation of a very large cash and short-term Treasury position — described as optionality: holding liquidity to deploy into attractive opportunities if valuations correct.
Portfolio rebalancing and concentration risk reduction: Media noted that trimming outsized positions reduced concentration risk (e.g., Apple’s weight in the public equity portfolio had been very large historically).
Manager-level decisions and operational delegation: Observers highlighted that some portfolio moves could be attributed to Berkshire’s investment deputies (Ted Weschler and Todd Combs) rather than Buffett alone, particularly for smaller tech-oriented positions added recently.
Succession and transition context: Late-2025 commentary connected the selling pattern with Berkshire’s leadership transition (Buffett’s announced retirement at end of 2025), suggesting managerial prudence and a preference for liquidity heading into a succession change — though press coverage presented this as interpretation rather than explicit company guidance.

How the activity is tracked and verified

Primary sources for verifying Berkshire’s buys and sells are public regulatory and company disclosures. The two most direct verification channels are:

SEC filings (Form 13F): Quarter‑end 13F filings list long equity positions held by institutional managers. They provide a lagging but standardized snapshot of holdings at quarter close. 13Fs do not capture intraperiod trades or short positions and omit municipal bonds/unregistered holdings.
Berkshire Hathaway’s own regulatory and shareholder reporting: Berkshire’s quarterly shareholder reports, earnings releases, and the company’s filings contain management commentary and line items (such as marketable equity holdings, cash and short-term investments) that help track changes in aggregate positions and cash balances.

Limitations and timing:

Disclosure lag: 13F filings are submitted with a lag and show positions as of quarter end, so exact trade dates and intraday changes require matching multiple filings and press reports.
Aggregate vs. security-level nuance: Some press reports infer sales from both 13F deltas and known share disposals; headline totals are often aggregates calculated by reporters and may differ from company-reported numbers until Berkshire’s official filings specify exact amounts.
Short-term Treasuries and cash: Berkshire’s balance of cash and short-term investments appears as a consolidated figure in quarterly reports; the composition (e.g., T-bills vs. commercial paper) is disclosed in aggregate rather than trade-by-trade.

For the most definitive verification, consult Berkshire Hathaway’s quarterly reports and the SEC’s Edgar database for Forms 13F and other filings.

Market and investor reactions

Media and investor reaction to Berkshire’s net-selling stance in 2025 fell into two broad camps:

Signal/Warning interpretation: Some commentators read the sizeable cash accumulation and repeated net selling as a cautionary signal — Berkshire was moving to cash because managers found few attractively valued opportunities in a high-valuations market. Coverage emphasized the historical pattern where Buffett raised cash ahead of weaker market returns.
Tactical or portfolio-management interpretation: Other analysts framed the activity as disciplined portfolio maintenance: locking gains, reducing concentration risk, and creating optionality without signaling an imminent market crash.

Reported market impacts included short-term headline-driven volatility in particular names (for example, stocks rumored to have been trimmed saw additional press and price reaction), and sustained interest in Berkshire’s cash position as a macro-level datapoint for valuation debates.

Media also tracked Berkshire’s share price reaction to quarterly results, noting that investor sentiment can be influenced by large portfolio shifts but that Berkshire is a diversified conglomerate where operating earnings and insurance float remain key value drivers.

Timeline of notable public reports (chronology)

Q3 2025 filings and Q3 earnings coverage (late Oct–Nov 2025): Reports documented multi‑billion-dollar sells in Q3 and flagged the rising cash/T-bill balance. (See Fortune, Newsweek — reported Nov 1–4, 2025.)
Nov 3, 2025: CNBC flagged possible further trimming of Berkshire’s Apple stake in Q3 2025. (Reported Nov 3, 2025.)
Nov 4, 2025: Newsweek reported roughly $6.1 billion sold in Q3 2025 and cited the growing cash pile. (Reported Nov 4, 2025.)
Dec 10, 2025: Nasdaq (syndicating Motley Fool content) summarized that Buffett sold over $24 billion worth of stock in 2025 while recent purchases were much smaller in total value (reported Dec 10, 2025).
Dec 28, 2025: Investopedia and Motley Fool assembled end‑of‑year commentary summarizing Berkshire’s selling pattern, the sizeable cash hoard, and what the moves might reveal about market trends ahead. (Reported Dec 28, 2025.)

These public reports track the evolution of the story and link back to Berkshire’s quarter‑end disclosures.

Implications for investors

This section gives neutral, factual takeaways based on reporting; it does not provide investment advice.

Context matters: Large institutional actions illustrate manager views about valuations and optionality but are not simple buy/sell signals for individual investors. Berkshire’s size, tax posture, and time horizon differ materially from retail investors.
Watch primary filings: For verification, follow Berkshire’s quarterly reports and 13F filings. Press summaries are useful, but filings provide the definitive numbers for holdings and cash balances.
Diversification and concentration: The selling illustrated one risk management response to concentration — trimming outsized positions reduces portfolio concentration risk.
Cash as indicator: Media interpreted Berkshire’s large cash and Treasury holdings as a signal that managers found fewer attractive opportunities at current prices; some readers treat that as a cautionary datapoint when assessing valuation risk.

Practical suggestion (neutral): Use Berkshire’s actions as one of many inputs in a broader investment process that accounts for time horizon, tax situation, and personal risk tolerance; do not mechanically copy headline trades without context.

Criticisms and controversies

Press coverage and analyst commentary in 2025 also highlighted criticisms and debates surrounding Berkshire’s approach:

Hoarding cash vs. reinvesting: Critics questioned whether holding an unusually large cash pile was optimal, arguing that extended cash accumulation reduces compounded returns if attractive reinvestment opportunities are scarce.
Reduced confidence vs. tactical moves: Some observers read net selling as diminished confidence in public equities; others argued it reflected routine portfolio management and opportunism.
Succession timing: With Buffett’s announced retirement at the end of 2025, some commentators speculated publicly about whether the selling pattern reflected a transition-related risk posture, though direct evidence tying transactions to succession decisions is interpretative rather than categorical.

Coverage made clear that these points are debated among market participants and that reporting presented multiple viewpoints.

How to follow updates and primary sources

To verify ongoing changes and get the most up-to-date, primary-level information, consult:

Berkshire Hathaway quarterly shareholder reports and 8‑K/10‑Q filings for company disclosure of cash balances and management commentary. (Check the filing date on each report.)
SEC Forms 13F (quarterly) for institutional equity position snapshots as of quarter end. These filings are lagged but standardized.
Reputable financial press summaries and aggregated reporting (for example, the outlets named in the References), while remembering to cross-check with filings for exact amounts and dates.

When reading press coverage, always confirm figures against Berkshire’s own filings for accuracy.

References

As of the dates shown below, the following articles and reports were used to assemble this summary. Check the linked sources and Berkshire’s official filings to confirm figures and dates.

Investopedia — "What Warren Buffett’s Recent Stock Moves Reveal About Market Trends Ahead" — https://www.investopedia.com/what-warren-buffett-s-recent-stock-moves-reveal-about-market-trends-ahead-11876085 (reported Dec 28, 2025)
The Motley Fool — "Warren Buffett Sends Wall Street a Final $400 Billion Warning" — https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/12/28/buffett-sends-wall-street-a-final-400-billion/ (reported Dec 28, 2025)
The Motley Fool — "Warren Buffett Just Hit the Sell Button for $4.1 Billion" — https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/11/03/buffett-just-hit-the-sell-button-for-41-billion/ (reported Nov 3, 2025)
Nasdaq / Motley Fool syndicated summary — "Warren Buffett Sold Over $24 Billion Worth of Stock in 2025..." — https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/warren-buffett-sold-over-24-billion-worth-stock-2025-his-recent-14-billion-purchases-sends (reported Dec 10, 2025)
CNBC — "Warren Buffett may have cut Berkshire's stake in Apple again in the third quarter" — https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/03/warren-buffett-may-have-again-cut-berkshires-stake-in-apple-in-q3-.html (reported Nov 3, 2025)
Newsweek — "Warren Buffet sells off $6 billion in stock" — https://www.newsweek.com/warren-buffet-sells-6-billion-stock-10987580 (reported Nov 4, 2025)
Fortune — "Legendary investor Warren Buffett marks 3 straight years as a net seller..." — https://fortune.com/2025/11/01/warren-buffett-stocks-net-selling-berkshire-hathaway-q3-earnings-investment-portfolio-cash/ (reported Nov 1, 2025)

Note: For definitive verification of quantities, dates, and holdings, consult Berkshire Hathaway’s official filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Berkshire’s shareholder materials.

Practical next steps and resources

If you want to follow Berkshire’s holdings and stay updated on filings:

Track Form 13F filings (quarterly) to see changes in reported public equity positions.
Read Berkshire Hathaway’s quarterly shareholder letters and earnings releases for management commentary and balance-sheet figures (cash and short-term investments).
For investors interested in trading or custody tools, consider secure, regulated platforms and wallets. If you wish to use an exchange service or web3 wallet to manage tradable assets, explore Bitget’s platform and Bitget Wallet for custody and trading infrastructure (verify jurisdictional availability and compliance for your region).

Further reading will help you keep context: Berkshire’s long-term letters to shareholders remain a strong primer on Buffett’s investment philosophy and how taking gains or holding cash has been used historically.

More about verification (short reminder): always compare press-compiled totals with Berkshire’s official filings to confirm exact dollar amounts and dates.

Explore more: To follow filings and company disclosure yourself, bookmark the SEC Edgar page for Berkshire Hathaway and set alerts for new filings.

End of article. (This article is factual and neutral; it is not investment advice. Figures cited are drawn from the press coverage listed above and should be verified in Berkshire Hathaway’s official SEC and shareholder disclosures.)

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