Archive · 2 Nov 2025
Berkshire Hathaway Sells Stocks for 12th Quarter Amid Record Cash Pile and CEO Transition
Berkshire Hathaway, a big company run by Warren Buffett, has sold more of its investments than it has bought for the last three years straight.
This means they are holding onto a lot of cash, more than ever before, reaching $381.7 billion.
Even though the company is making more money, especially from its insurance businesses, Warren Buffett is also not buying back the company's own stock.
This is partly because stock prices have been going up, making selling more attractive than buying.
Warren Buffett is also getting ready to step down as the main boss at the end of the year, and the new leader, Greg Abel, will decide what to do with all the saved-up money.
The company's stock has also dropped a bit since it was announced Buffett would be leaving his CEO role.
Berkshire Hathaway sold $6.1 billion more in stocks than it purchased in the third quarter, marking the 12th consecutive quarter of net stock sales.
The company's cash reserves have reached a record high of $381.7 billion.
Warren Buffett has not bought back Berkshire Hathaway stock for five straight quarters.
Third-quarter operating earnings surged 34% to $13.49 billion, boosted by lower insurance losses.
Warren Buffett is preparing to step down as CEO at the end of the year, with Greg Abel set to take over as CEO while Buffett remains chairman.
- Who
- Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway
- What
- Berkshire Hathaway has sold more stocks than it bought for the 12th consecutive quarter, resulting in a record cash pile of $381.7 billion. Operating profit increased by 34%.
- When
- Third quarter of the fiscal year; Warren Buffett to step down as CEO at the end of the year.
- Where
- Berkshire Hathaway's global operations.
- Why
- Increased stock sales and a halt in stock buybacks have built up cash reserves. Rising stock prices across sectors have created more selling opportunities than buying opportunities for Buffett. Lower insurance losses boosted operating profit.
Capital Deployment and Shareholder Returns
Capital Preservation and Market Caution
Stock Buybacks
Capital Deployment and Shareholder Returns
Despite a 12% drop in Berkshire's stock price since May and significant cash reserves, the company has refrained from repurchasing its own shares for five consecutive quarters, foregoing a potential boost to shareholder value.
Capital Preservation and Market Caution
The sustained selling of stocks and lack of buybacks are building a record cash pile of $381.7 billion, signaling a cautious approach amid economic uncertainty and changing market conditions, prioritizing liquidity and flexibility.
Investment Strategy
Capital Deployment and Shareholder Returns
With elevated stock prices, Warren Buffett has found more opportunities in selling equities than buying them, a strategy maintained for the past three years.
Capital Preservation and Market Caution
Berkshire's sustained defensive stance on equity markets, indicated by net stock sales since 2022, suggests a preference for holding cash due to global economic shifts and the potential for future strategic uses, such as dividends.
- Stock Sales in Q3
- $6.1 billion (net)
- Stock Purchases in Q3
- $6.4 billion
- Consecutive Quarters of Net Stock Sales
- 12
- Consecutive Quarters Without Stock Buybacks
- 5
- Record Cash Reserves
- $381.7 billion
- Q3 Operating Profit
- $13.49 billion (up 34%)
- Q3 Net Income
- $30.8 billion (up 17%)
- Berkshire Hathaway Stock Price Change (since May)
- Down 12%
Sources
Berkshire Hathaway Q3: Record $381.7 billion cash pile, earnings up 34%
Berkshire Hathaway's profits rise 17% as Warren Buffett prepares to step down as CEO
Berkshire Hathaway’s cash pile hits record $381.7 billion as operating profit surges 34%
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway sees cash pile at record high of $382 billion, earnings soar
