Warren Buffett’s final months as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway culminated in a significant investment in The New York Times Company. During the last quarter of 2025, Berkshire acquired approximately 5.1 million shares of the iconic newspaper publisher, valued at about $352 million by the end of December. This strategic move reflects Buffett’s longstanding interest in the media sector, marking a notable chapter in his extensive investment career.
In addition to the New York Times stake, Buffett and his investment managers, Ted Weschler and Todd Combs, adjusted their holdings in other major companies. They decreased their stakes in Apple and Bank of America by approximately 4% and 9%, respectively. Notably, Berkshire significantly reduced its position in Amazon, selling off 77% of its shares, which led to a dramatic decline in the investment’s value from $2.2 billion in September to $525 million by December’s close.
Berkshire Hathaway also made adjustments across its portfolio, increasing investments in companies like Chubb and Chemical while divesting from others such as Aon. Despite these changes, the company maintained its stake in Alphabet, which saw a remarkable increase in value from around $4.3 billion to $5.6 billion during the same period, reflecting a surge in the parent company of Google.
Buffett, now 95 years old, has been at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway since 1965, transforming it from a struggling textile manufacturer into a formidable conglomerate worth over $1 trillion. He stepped down from the CEO role at the beginning of 2026, with Greg Abel assuming leadership. Abel is expected to uphold Buffett’s legacy, with plans to release his inaugural letter to Berkshire shareholders later this month.
As Buffett transitions from his role, he has faced challenges in finding appealing investment opportunities. Over his last few years leading Berkshire, the company has been a net seller of stocks for twelve consecutive quarters. Additionally, there has been a notable absence of share buybacks for the past five quarters, contributing to a record cash reserve of over $350 billion.
This substantial cash position reflects Buffett’s cautious approach in a market where he has struggled to identify undervalued assets. As Berkshire Hathaway navigates this new chapter under Abel’s leadership, investors and analysts alike will be closely monitoring the company’s strategic decisions in the months ahead.
