Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Buffett's Berkshire Buys Google Parent Alphabet, Its Third-Largest Holding
Berkshire Hathaway is a very big company that invests in other companies.
Warren Buffett, a famous investor, used to be its boss, but he gave that job to Greg Abel in 2026.
Buffett still helps choose which stocks to buy.
For a long time, Berkshire was selling more stocks than it was buying.
Now it has started buying again.
The biggest new purchase is shares of Alphabet, the company that owns Google.
Buffett once said he missed his chance to invest in Google years ago, and that he "blew it."
Now Alphabet is Berkshire's third-biggest stock holding.
Apple is still the biggest.
The company also added more shares of Delta Air Lines, The New York Times and Macy's, while selling some Bank of America shares.
Berkshire Hathaway resumed net buying in Q2 2026, purchasing $23.5 billion in stocks and selling $3.7 billion after 14 straight quarters of selling.
Berkshire's Alphabet investment grew to $36.6 billion, making Google's parent its third-largest publicly traded holding behind Apple and American Express.
Warren Buffett confirmed he initiated the Alphabet purchase, telling CNBC on July 15: "I initiated it."
Berkshire added to Delta Air Lines, Lennar, The New York Times and Macy's, while cutting Bank of America for an eighth consecutive quarter.
Apple remains Berkshire's largest holding at about 22% of its roughly $299.3 billion, 29-company publicly traded portfolio.
- Who
- Berkshire Hathaway, with Warren Buffett initiating the Alphabet purchase; Greg Abel is the CEO since the start of 2026.
- What
- Berkshire Hathaway resumed buying stocks and grew its Alphabet stake to $36.6 billion, making it the company's third-largest holding.
- When
- Second quarter of 2026, reported in a 13F filing submitted on August 14; Buffett confirmed the move to CNBC on July 15.
- Where
- United States, as the 13F filing covers Berkshire's US-listed publicly traded stock holdings.
- Why
- Buffett previously said he missed the chance to invest in Google years ago, calling the advertising business strong and admitting "I blew it."
- Company
- Berkshire Hathaway
- Alphabet holding
- $36.6 billion, third-largest publicly traded holding
- Q2 2026 net stock purchases
- Nearly $19.8 billion ($23.5B bought, $3.7B sold)
- Filing
- 13F submitted after market close on August 14
- Largest holding
- Apple, about 22% of the portfolio
- Portfolio value
- About $299.3 billion across 29 companies
- Delta Air Lines stake
- $5.4 billion, an 8.7% stake making Berkshire the second-largest shareholder
- CEO transition
- Greg Abel took over as CEO at the beginning of 2026