(For a convenient comparison, here's a post from last quarter that summarizes Berkshire's 2nd Quarter 13F-HR.)
There was plenty of buying and selling during the quarter. Here's a quick summary of the changes:*
Added to Existing Positions
IBM (IBM): 1.47 million shares (1% incr.); tot. stake $ 11.7 bil.
Phillips 66 (PSX): 31.8 mil. shares (107%); tot. stake $ 4.72 bil.
Charter (CHTR): 1.77 mil. shares (20%); tot. stake $ 1.81 bil.
General Motors (GM): 9.0 mil. shares (21%); tot. stake $ 1.50 bil.
I've included above only those positions worth at least $ 1 billion at the end of the 3rd quarter. In a portfolio this size -- more than $ 246 billion (equities, fixed income, cash, and other investments) as of the latest available filing with roughly half made up of common stocks** -- a position that's less than $ 1 billion doesn't really move the needle much.
Shares that were bought among positions worth less than $ 1 billion include Suncor (SU), Liberty Media (LMCK and LMCA), Axalta (AXTA), Liberty Global (LBTYA), and Twenty-First Century Fox (FOXA).
New Positions
Kraft Heinz (KHC): 326 mil. shares; total stake $ 23.0 bil.
AT&T (T): 59.3 mil. shares; total stake $ 1.93 bil.
A deal to combine Kraft and Heinz was announced earlier this year and closed on July 2nd, 2015. So, as a result, Berkshire now owns nearly 27% of the common stock in the combined Kraft Heinz Company. The stake is being accounted for using the equity method. See Note 7 in Berkshire's latest 10-Q for additional details. The investment now represents one of Berkshire's largest positions.
The new AT&T shares are a result of the deal to acquire DirecTV (DTV).
Berkshire also has very small new positions in Liberty LiLAC (LILA and LILAK) as a result of a distribution from Liberty Global (LBTYA and LBTYK).
It turns out that some Phillips 66 shares were actually purchased during the 2nd quarter but not disclosed until later.
Berkshire's 2nd Quarter 13F-HR filing had indicated some activity was being kept confidential. That filing said: "Confidential information has been omitted from the public Form 13F report and filed separately with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission."
We now know it was the Phillips 66 position that was omitted.
(Last quarter's 13F-HR made it appear as if Berkshire had sold its stake in Phillips 66. In fact, they were quietly adding to the position with SEC approval.)
This separate 13F-HR/A filing reveals the specific number of shares of Phillips 66 that were bought during that time.
Berkshire's latest 13F-HR filing did not indicate any activity was kept confidential.
Occasionally, the SEC allows Berkshire to keep certain moves in the portfolio confidential. The permission is granted by the SEC when a case can be made that the disclosure may cause buyers to drive up the price before Berkshire makes its additional purchases.
Occasionally, the SEC allows Berkshire to keep certain moves in the portfolio confidential. The permission is granted by the SEC when a case can be made that the disclosure may cause buyers to drive up the price before Berkshire makes its additional purchases.
Reduced Positions
Wal-Mart (WMT): 4.20 million shares (6% decr.); tot. stake $ 3.64 bil.
Goldman Sachs (GS): 1.67 million shares (13%); tot. stake $ 1.90 bil.
Deere & Co. (DE): 258 thousand shares (1%); tot. stake $ 1.26 bil.
Warren Buffett told CNBC he sold the shares of Wal-Mart and Goldman Sachs to help fund the acquisition of Precision Castparts (PCP) deal, not because his of the two companies has become negative.
Shares that were sold among positions worth less than $ 1 billion include Bank of New York Mellon (BK), WABCO (WBC), Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI), and Media General (MEG).
Sold Positions
Positions that show as sold outright include Viacom (VIAB), DirecTV (DTV), and Kraft (KRFT). DirecTV is, once again, the result of the deal with AT&T while the Kraft share are related to the deal to combine Kraft and Heinz.
Todd Combs and Ted Weschler are responsible for an increasingly large number of the moves in the Berkshire equity portfolio. These days, any changes involving smaller positions will generally be the work of the two portfolio managers.Wal-Mart (WMT): 4.20 million shares (6% decr.); tot. stake $ 3.64 bil.
Goldman Sachs (GS): 1.67 million shares (13%); tot. stake $ 1.90 bil.
Deere & Co. (DE): 258 thousand shares (1%); tot. stake $ 1.26 bil.
Warren Buffett told CNBC he sold the shares of Wal-Mart and Goldman Sachs to help fund the acquisition of Precision Castparts (PCP) deal, not because his of the two companies has become negative.
Shares that were sold among positions worth less than $ 1 billion include Bank of New York Mellon (BK), WABCO (WBC), Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI), and Media General (MEG).
Sold Positions
Positions that show as sold outright include Viacom (VIAB), DirecTV (DTV), and Kraft (KRFT). DirecTV is, once again, the result of the deal with AT&T while the Kraft share are related to the deal to combine Kraft and Heinz.
(Though some of the holdings they're responsible for have become more substantial over time.)
Top Five Holdings
After the changes, Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio of equity securities remains mostly made up of financial, consumer and, to a lesser extent, technology stocks (mostly IBM).
1. Wells Fargo (WFC) = $ 24.1 bil.
2. Kraft Heinz (KHC) = $ 23.0 bil.
3. Coca-Cola (KO) = $ 16.0 bil.
4. IBM (IBM) = $ 11.7 bil.
5. American Express (AXP) = $ 11.2 bil.
As is almost always the case it's a very concentrated portfolio. The top five often represent 60-70 percent and, at times, even more of the equity portfolio. The large stake in Kraft Heinz has, in fact, simply made the portfolio even more concentrated. In addition, Berkshire owns equity securities listed on exchanges outside the U.S., plus fixed maturity securities, cash and cash equivalents, and other investments.
The portfolio excludes all the operating businesses that Berkshire owns outright with ~ 340,000 employees (25 being at headquarters) according to the latest letter.
Here are some examples of Berkshire's non-insurance businesses:
MidAmerican Energy, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, McLane Company, The Marmon Group, Shaw Industries, Benjamin Moore, Johns Manville, Acme Building, MiTek, Fruit of the Loom, Russell Athletic Apparel, NetJets, Nebraska Furniture Mart, See's Candies, Dairy Queen, The Pampered Chef, Business Wire, Iscar, Lubrizol, and Oriental Trading Company.
(Among others.)
In addition, the insurance businesses (BH Reinsurance, General Re, GEICO etc.) owned by Berkshire have naturally provided plenty of "float" for their investments over time and continue to do so.
See page 125 of the 2014 annual report for a full list of Berkshire's businesses.
Adam
Long positions in BRKb, WFC, KO, AXP, and PSX established at much lower than recent market prices. Also, long positions in WMT established at slightly lower than recent market prices and IBM established at higher than recent prices. (In each case compared to average cost basis.)
* All values shown are based upon the last trading day of the 3rd quarter.
** Berkshire Hathaway's holdings of ADRs are included in the 13F. What is not included are shares listed on exchanges outside the United States. The status of those shares, if a large enough position, are updated in the annual letter. So the only way any of the stocks listed on exchanges outside the U.S. will show up in the 13F is if Berkshire buys the ADR. Investments in things like preferred shares (and valuable warrants, where applicable, as explained in the recent letters) are also not included in the 13F.
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