BACRP - Tracking Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio - Q4 2022 Update

Summary

• Berkshire Hathaway's 13F stock portfolio value increased from ~$296B to ~$299B.
• Their largest three holdings are at ~60% of the entire portfolio.
• Berkshire Hathaway increased Louisiana-Pacific while decreasing US Bancorp, Bank of New York Mellon, Taiwan Semi, and McKesson Corp.

This article is part of a series that provides an ongoing analysis of the changes made to Berkshire Hathaway's ( BRK.A ) ( BRK.B ) 13F stock portfolio on a quarterly basis. It is based on Warren Buffett's regulatory 13F Form filed on 2/14/2023. Please visit our Tracking 10 Years Of Berkshire Hathaway's Investment Portfolio article series for an idea on how his holdings have progressed over the years and our previous update for the moves in Q3 2022.

During Q4 2022, Berkshire Hathaway's 13F stock portfolio value increased ~$296B to ~$299B. The top five positions account for ~76% of the portfolio: Apple Inc., Bank of America, Chevron, Coca-Cola, and American Express. There are 47 individual stock positions many of which are minutely small compared to the overall size of the portfolio.

Warren Buffett's writings ( pdfs ) are a treasure trove of information and are a very good source for anyone starting out on individual investing.

Note 1: Berkshire Hathaway also has a ~130M share position in BYD Company ( OTCPK:BYDDY ) at a cost-basis of ~8 HKD per share. It currently trades in Hong Kong at ~239 HKD. Berkshire's ownership is down from 225M shares as of Q3 2022.

Note 2: It was disclosed in August 2020 that Berkshire had built ~5% stakes in five Japanese trading businesses: ITOCHU, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, and Sumitomo. The stakes were increased to ~6.5% each this quarter. The 2021 AR had the following regarding these positions - 5.6% ownership stake in ITOCHU Corporation ( OTCPK:ITOCF ) at a cost-basis of $23.52, 5.5% ownership stake in Mitsubishi Corporation ( OTCPK:MSBHF ) at a cost-basis of $25.72, and 5.7% ownership stake in Mitsui & Company ( OTCPK:MITSF ) at a cost-basis of $17.29. ITOCF, MSBHF, and MITSF currently trade at $31.44, $34.94, and $29.91 respectively.

Note 3: Since November 2015, Warren Buffett is known to own ~8% of Seritage Growth Properties ( SRG ) at a cost-basis of $36.50 in his personal portfolio. It currently trades at $12.22. SRG is an REIT spinoff from Sears that started trading in July 2015.

New Stakes:

None.

Stake Disposals:

None.

Stake Increases:

Apple Inc. ( AAPL ): AAPL is currently the largest 13F portfolio stake by far at ~39%. It was built between Q1 2016 and Q1 2018 at a cost-basis of ~$35 per share. Since then, the activity had been minor. The stock currently trades at ~$153. There was a marginal increase this quarter.

Note: Berkshire has a ~5.8% ownership stake in the business.

Paramount Global ( PARA ): PARA is a 0.53% of the portfolio position purchased in Q1 2022 at prices between $27.85 and $38.48. There was a ~14% stake increase next quarter at prices between ~$24.25 and ~$38. That was followed with a similar increase last quarter at prices between ~$19 and ~$27. The stock currently trades near the low end of their purchase price ranges at $22.45. There was a minor ~3% stake increase this quarter.

Louisiana-Pacific ( LPX ) : The 0.10% LPX position was established last quarter at prices between ~$48.40 and ~$65 and it is now at $66.65. There was a ~22% stake increase this quarter at prices between ~$51 and ~$66.

Note: Berkshire has a ~9.8% ownership stake in the business.

Stake Decreases:

Chevron Corp. ( CVX ) : CVX is a large (top three) ~10% of the portfolio position purchased in Q3 2020 at prices between ~$72 and ~$91. Q1 2021 saw a ~50% selling at prices between ~$85 and ~$112 while in Q3 2021 there was a ~25% stake increase at prices between ~$94 and ~$106. That was followed with another one-third increase next quarter at prices between ~$102 and ~$119. Q1 2022 saw a whopping ~315% stake increase at prices between ~$119 and ~$171. The stock currently trades at ~$172. There were minor increases in the last two quarters and a marginal reduction this quarter.

Note: Berkshire has a ~8.7% ownership stake in the business.

Note 2: Berkshire likely avoided disclosing these stakes in the Q3 2020 13F filing by making use of the " section 13(f) Confidential Treatment Requests ". An amendment filed later disclosed the activity.

Activision Blizzard ( ATVI ): ATVI is a 1.35% of the portfolio position established in Q4 2021 at prices between ~$57 and ~$81. Next quarter saw the stake increased by ~340% at prices between ~$63 and ~$82. Q2 2022 also saw a ~6% further increase. The stock currently trades at ~$77. There was a ~25% reduction over the last two quarters.

Note: Microsoft ( MSFT ) is acquiring Activision Blizzard in a $95 per share all-cash deal announced last April. In December, FTC filed an antitrust lawsuit to block the merger.

Kroger Company ( KR ) : KR is a 0.75% of the portfolio position established in Q4 2019 at prices between $24 and $29. The five quarters through Q3 2021 had seen a ~225% stake increase at prices between ~$30 and ~$40. The stock currently trades at $43.63. Last three quarters had seen a ~20% selling at prices between ~$44 and ~$52. There was a marginal further trimming this quarter.

Note: Berkshire's ownership stake in Kroger is ~7%.

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. ( BK ) : BK is a 0.38% of the 13F portfolio stake. The bulk of the original position was purchased in Q2 2012 at prices between $19.50 and $25. Recent activity follows: 2017 saw a ~180% increase at prices between $43.50 and $55 while 2018 saw another one-third increase at prices between $44.50 and $58.50. Last quarter saw a ~14% selling at prices between ~$39 and ~$45. That was followed with a ~60% reduction this quarter at prices between ~$37 and ~$46. The stock currently trades at $51.71. Berkshire's cost-basis on BK is ~$46 per share.

McKesson Corp. ( MCK ) and Ally Financial ( ALLY ): MCK is a 0.36% of the portfolio position established during the last two quarters at prices between ~$245 and ~$336. There was a ~11% trimming this quarter. The stock is now at ~$366. The 0.24% ALLY stake saw a whopping ~235% increase in Q2 2022 at prices between ~$32 and ~$53. The stock currently trades at ~$32.61. There was marginal trimming this quarter.

Note: Berkshire has a ~9.8% ownership stake in Ally Financial.

Taiwan Semi ( TSM ) : TSM is a now a small 0.21% of the portfolio stake. A fairly large stake was purchased last quarter at prices between ~$69 and ~$92. This quarter saw the position sold down by ~85% at prices between ~$60 and ~$83. The stock currently trades at ~$98.

U.S. Bancorp ( USB ): The USB stake has been in the portfolio since 2006. The original position was tripled during the 2007-2009 timeframe. It was then kept relatively steady till Q2 2013 when ~17M shares were purchased at prices between $32 and $36. H1 2018 had seen a ~16% increase at prices between $49 and $58 and that was followed with a ~25% increase in Q3 2018 at prices between $50 and $55. Last quarter saw a ~35% reduction at prices between ~$40 and ~$49. This quarter saw another ~90% selling at prices between ~$39 and ~$46. The stock is now at $49.13. Berkshire's cost-basis is ~$38.

Kept Steady:

Bank of America ( BAC ): Berkshire established this large (top three) ~11% of the portfolio position through the exercise of Bank of America warrants. The warrants had a strike price of $7.14 compared to the current price of $35.62. The cost to exercise was $5B and it was funded using the $5B in 6% preferred stock they held. There was a ~30% stake increase in Q3 2018 at prices between $27.75 and $31.80. Since then, the activity has been minor.

Note: Berkshire's overall cost-basis is ~$14 and ownership stake is at ~13%.

American Express ( AXP ) and Coca-Cola ( KO ): These two very large stakes were kept steady during the last ~10 years. Buffett has said these positions will be held "permanently". Berkshire's cost-basis on AXP and KO are at around $8.49 and $3.25 respectively and the ownership stakes are at ~20% and ~9.2%, respectively.

Kraft Heinz Co. ( KHC ): KHC is currently a fairly large position at 4.43% of the portfolio. Kraft Heinz started trading in July 2015 with Berkshire owning just over 325M shares (~27% of the business). The stake came about because of two transactions with 3G capital as partner: a ~$4B net investment in 2013 for half of Heinz and a ~$5B investment for the acquisition of Kraft Foods Group in early 2015. Berkshire's cost-basis on KHC is ~$30 per share compared to the current price of $39.88.

Occidental Petroleum ( OXY ): Berkshire made a $10B investment in OXY in April 2019 through 100,000 preferred shares that has a liquidation value of $100,000 per share. Those shares pay 8% dividend, and the transaction came with warrants to purchase 83.86M shares at $59.62. In Q1 2022, Berkshire purchased ~136.4M shares at prices between ~$31 and ~$59 per share. That was followed with a ~22M share net-increase in Q2 2022 at prices between ~$57 and ~$60. The stock currently trades at $66.34. Last quarter also saw a ~23% stake increase at prices between ~$57 and ~$75.

Note: Including warrants, Berkshire owns ~28% of the business (~277M shares).

Moody's Corp. ( MCO ): MCO is a 2.30% of the 13F portfolio stake. It is a very long-term position and Buffett's cost basis is $10.05. The stock currently trades at ~$309. Berkshire controls ~13% of the business.

Citigroup Inc. ( C ) and HP Inc. ( HPQ ): The 0.83% of the portfolio stake in Citigroup was purchased in Q1 2022 at prices between ~$53 and ~$68 and it is now below the low end of that range at $51.61. HPQ is a 0.94% of the portfolio stake established in Q1 2022 at prices between ~$34 and ~$40 and the stock currently trades below the low end of that range at $30.40.

DaVita Inc. ( DVA ) : DVA is a 0.90% of the portfolio position that was aggressively built over several quarters in the 2012-13 timeframe at prices between $30 and $49. The stock currently trades at ~$83 compared to Berkshire's overall cost-basis of ~$45 per share. Q3 2020 saw a ~5% (2M shares) selling at $88 per share.

Note: Berkshire's ownership stake in DaVita is ~40%.

VeriSign Inc. ( VRSN ) : VRSN was first purchased in Q4 2012 at prices between $34 and $49.50. The position was more than doubled in Q1 2013 at prices between $38 and $48. The buying continued till Q2 2014 at prices up to $63. The stock currently trades at ~$214 and the position is at 0.88% of the portfolio (~10% of the business).

Liberty SiriusXM Group ( LSXMA ) ( LSXMK ): The tracking stock was acquired as a result of Liberty Media's recapitalization in April 2016. Shareholders received 1 share of Liberty SiriusXM Group, 0.25 shares of Liberty Media Group and 0.1 shares of Liberty Braves Group for each share held. Berkshire held 30M shares of Liberty Media for which he received the same amount of Liberty SiriusXM Group shares. There was a ~40% stake increase in Q2 2017 at a cost-basis of ~$40 per share. Q2 2020 saw another ~27% stake increase primarily through the $25.47 per share rights offering the company announced last May. Last November, Berkshire exchanged their 43.66M share stake in Sirius XM for 5.35M additional shares of Liberty Sirius XM Class A tracking stock in a transaction with the parent business. The stock currently trades at ~$35, and the stake is at 0.83% of the portfolio.

General Motors ( GM ) : GM is a 0.56% of the 13F portfolio position that was first purchased in Q1 2012 at prices between $21 and $30. By Q3 2017, the position size had increased by around six-times (10M shares to 60M shares). Q4 2017 saw a reduction: ~17% selling at prices between $40.50 and $46.50. There was a ~38% stake increase in Q4 2018 at prices between $30.50 and $38.50. H1 2021 saw a ~17% selling at prices between $40.50 and $64. That was followed with a ~15% reduction in Q2 2022 at prices between ~$31.50 and ~$43. The stock currently trades at $42.43. Berkshire's cost-basis on GM is ~$31. Last quarter also saw a ~5% trimming.

Aon plc ( AON ): AON is a 0.44% of the portfolio position established in Q1 2021 at prices between ~$202 and ~$234. Next quarter saw a ~7% increase at prices between ~$230 and ~$259. The stock currently trades at ~$312.

Charter Communications ( CHTR ): CHTR is a 0.43% of the portfolio position. It was established during the last three quarters of 2014 at prices between $118 and $170. In Q2 2015, the position was increased by ~42% at prices between $168 and $193 and that was followed with another ~21% increase the following quarter at prices between $167 and $195. The six quarters through Q4 2018 had seen a combined ~25% selling at prices between $250 and $395 and that was followed with a ~20% reduction in Q1 2019 at prices between $285 and $366. H2 2021 saw another ~25% reduction at prices between ~$605 and ~$821. The stock currently trades at ~$400 compared to Berkshire's cost-basis of ~$178.

Celanese Corp. ( CE ): The 0.33% CE stake was purchased over the last three quarters at prices between ~$88 and ~$174 and the stock currently trades at ~$122.

Amazon.com ( AMZN ): AMZN is a 0.30% of the portfolio stake established in Q1 2019 at prices between ~$75 and ~$91 and increased by ~11% next quarter at prices between ~$85 and ~$98. The stock currently trades at $99.70.

Snowflake Inc. ( SNOW ): SNOW had an IPO in September 2020. Shares started trading at ~$229 and currently goes for ~$171. Berkshire acquired ~2% of the business at the IPO price of ~$120 per share.

T-Mobile US ( TMUS ): TMUS is a small 0.25% of the portfolio stake purchased in Q3 2020 at prices between ~$104 and ~$119 and more than doubled next quarter at prices between ~$110 and ~$135. It currently trades at ~$148.

RH Inc. ( RH ): The 0.21% of the portfolio RH position was established in Q3 2019 at prices between $119 and $174 and increased by ~40% next quarter at prices between $165 and $242. Q1 2022 saw another ~20% stake increase at prices between ~$321 and ~$538. The stock currently trades at ~$327. Last quarter also saw a ~9% stake increase.

Note: Berkshire controls ~9.9% of the business.

Markel Corp. ( MKL ): The 0.21% MKL stake was built over the last two quarters at prices between ~$1187 and ~$1504 and it now goes for ~$1348.

Liberty Media Formula One ( FWONK ): FWONK is a small 0.15% of the portfolio position built at prices between ~$52 and ~$70. The stock is now at ~$71.

Nu Holdings ( NU ): NU had an IPO last December. Shares started trading at ~$10 and currently goes for ~$5. Berkshire's ~$1B stake goes back to a funding round in early 2021 when the valuation was ~$30B. Current valuation is ~$18B.

Floor & Décor Holdings ( FND ): The 0.11% of the portfolio FND position was established in Q3 2021 at prices between ~$104 and ~$131. Q1 2022 saw a ~470% stake increase at prices between ~$81 and ~$130. The stock is now at ~$100.

StoneCo Ltd. ( STNE ) : STNE is a 0.03% position purchased in Q4 2018 at ~$21 per share. Q1 2021 saw a ~25% reduction at prices between ~$60 and ~$94. The stock is currently at $9.76.

Note: Berkshire has a 4.1% ownership stake in StoneCo. In October 2018, WSJ reported that Berkshire had invested ~$300M each in two Fintech's - India's Paytm and Brazil's StoneCo. The Paytm investment was made in August 2018 while the STNE purchase was following its IPO in October 2018.

Marsh & McLennan ( MMC ) : MMC is a small 0.02% of the portfolio stake established in Q3 2020 at prices between ~$107 and ~$119. There was a ~25% stake increase in Q4 2020 at prices between ~$103 and ~$119. That was followed with a similar increase next quarter at prices between ~$108 and ~$122. Q2 2021 saw an about turn: ~20% selling at prices between ~$122 and ~$142. That was followed with a roughly one-third reduction next quarter at prices between ~$139 and ~$161. The stake was almost eliminated in Q4 2021 at prices between ~$151 and ~$174. The stock is now at ~$167.

Globe Life ( GL ), Jefferies Financial Group ( JEF ), Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ), Liberty ( LILA ) ( LILAK ), Mastercard ( MA ), Mondelez International ( MDLZ ), Procter & Gamble ( PG ), SPDR S&P 500 ( SPY ), United Parcel Service ( UPS ), Vanguard S&P 500 Index ( VOO ), and Visa Inc. ( V ): These small positions (less than ~1% of the portfolio each) were kept steady this quarter. Berkshire's ownership stake in Global Life is ~6%.

The spreadsheet below highlights changes to Berkshire Hathaway's 13F stock holdings in Q4 2022:

For further details see: