Warren Buffett and his Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB) loaded on Apple (AAPL) and energy stocks in the fourth quarter, while trimming financials and slashing a relatively new position in Taiwan semiconductor (TSM).
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Berkshire Hathaway now owns a 5.8% stake in Apple after adding 20.76 million shares during the quarter, bringing its total holdings to 915.6 million as of Dec. 31, according to the company’s Schedule 13G filing. the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday.
western oil (OXY) was Buffett’s favorite energy play in the fourth quarter. Berkshire added 83.86 million OXY shares, with its 278 million shares representing a 28% stake in the company. OXY stock rose more than 2.4% on Tuesday after the filing, released during normal trading.
But Berkshire has reduced its Chevron (CLC) holdings of 2.38 million shares to 162.96 million. The company’s $29.25 billion stake represents 8.4% ownership of the gasoline giant.
Buffett has increased its stake in the consumer staples and condiments giant Kraft-Heinz (DIFFERENT). The Oracle of Omaha added 97 million shares during the fourth quarter, bringing the total to 422.64 million shares. Berkshire now owns 34.5% of Kraft, according to filing 13G.
The company has also strengthened its position in netflix (NFLX) rival Primordial (FOR), adding 2.420 million shares during the quarter. Buffett now owns a 15% stake in the streaming service after opening an early position in the first quarter of last year. PARA stock rose slightly overnight.
Berkshire increased its holdings in Louisiana-Pacific (LPX) by 21% by adding 1.249 million shares. Buffett now owns a 9.8% stake in the building materials maker after buying shares for the first time in the third quarter.
Buffett stock sales
Meanwhile, the conglomerate sold 268,823 shares of Hooks (KR), reducing its stake in KR to 50 million shares, or 6.9% of the company.
Buffett has sold 7.4 million shares of the video game maker Activision (ATVI) and 342.8 million shares of the drugmaker Merck (MCK).
Berkshire Hathaway reduced its bank holdings, selling 200,000 Ally (ALLY) shares and more than half of its BK shares. Buffett also cut his Bank of New York Mellon (BK) stakes, by 59% with the sale of 37 million shares during the fourth quarter.
Berkshire Hathaway nearly quit his position in American bank (USB). Buffett’s firm sold 71 million shares, or 91% of its stake. Berkshire now owns just 6.67 million shares after opening a first position in the first quarter of 2006.
This is the second consecutive quarter that Berkshire has reduced its holdings of KR, BK, ATVI and USB.
Buffett also switched to Taiwan Semiconductor. Berkshire sold 86% of its TSM shares after buying 60 million shares for more than $4.1 billion last quarter. TSM stock is up almost 22% in the past three months and 31.5% year-to-date.
But Taiwan Semi’s stock fell nearly 4% overnight.
After the changes, Apple remains the undisputed giant in Berkshire’s portfolio, accounting for 38.9% of total holdings. Bank of America (BAC) ranks second followed by Chevron, representing 11.19% and 9.78% of the portfolio respectively.
Berkshire disclosed its fourth quarter holdings in its Schedule 13-F filing on Tuesday evening, with the latest changes tracked by www.whalewisdom.com.
You can follow Harrison Miller for more stock info and updates on Twitter. @IBD_Harrison
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