Berkshire Hathaway extends stock selling streak to 14 quarters
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · May 3
Berkshire Hathaway extends stock selling streak to 14 quarters
12 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · May 3
In the first quarter ended 31 March 2026, the Greg Abel-led conglomerate was a net seller by $8.149 billion, taking cumulative net equity sales since October 2022 to about $194.8 billion.
The report says persistently rich US valuations are driving the caution, with the Buffett indicator at a record 226.8% on 30 April and the S&P 500 Shiller P/E above 41.
Abel, who succeeded Warren Buffett as chief executive on 31 December 2025, appears to be maintaining Buffett's value-first approach as warnings grow that expensive equities could face a sharp correction.
With a $370 billion war chest, where will Berkshire's new CEO hunt for bargains when the market finally cracks?
Is the AI-fueled market a new paradigm, or is Berkshire right to warn of a dot-com style collapse?
In Q1 2026, Berkshire Hathaway's cash reserves hit a record $397 billion, driven by strong operating earnings and continued net stock sales under new CEO Greg Abel. Abel's leadership marked a strategic shift, including exiting Kraft Heinz, trimming stakes in Apple, Bank of America, and Amazon, while increasing investments in Chevron, Chubb, and The New York Times. Despite solid insurance underwriting and BNSF gains boosting profits, consumer-facing businesses faced declines due to economic headwinds and reduced consumer confidence. The massive cash pile presents a deployment challenge, with Abel balancing cautious capital allocation amid limited attractive acquisition opportunities and a highly concentrated portfolio.