Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel shifts capital from Amazon to Alphabet
The conglomerate’s latest SEC filing reveals a complete exit from Amazon and a significant expansion of its stake in Alphabet, marking a strategic pivot in the early days of Abel’s tenure.
Greg Abel, chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway, has executed a substantial realignment of the conglomerate’s technology holdings during the first quarter of 2026. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Berkshire Hathaway disclosed the sale of its entire position in Amazon shares and a decision to more than triple its stake in Alphabet Class A shares. The moves mark the first major portfolio adjustments under Abel, who succeeded Warren Buffett as CEO at the start of the year.
According to the Form 13F filing, Berkshire Hathaway now holds 54,249,798 Alphabet Class A shares, representing 5.9 per cent of the portfolio. The company also opened a new position in Alphabet Class C shares, acquiring 3,585,215 shares which account for 0.4 per cent of the portfolio. This expansion significantly builds upon an initial purchase of Alphabet shares made by Buffett in the third quarter of 2025.
The divestment from Amazon comes despite the company’s strong recent financial performance. Amazon reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 revenue of $213.4 billion, a 12 per cent increase year-on-year, alongside $25 billion in operating income. The stock subsequently surged 31.9 per cent in a single month, driven by investor demand and institutional buying pressure. Prior to the sale, Amazon’s holding represented just under 0.2 per cent of Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio.
While the filing does not explicitly state the rationale behind the trades, the shift aligns with Buffett’s long-standing preference for companies with durable competitive advantages and reasonable valuations. At the time of the trade, Alphabet was trading at approximately 19 times forward earnings estimates, a valuation considered attractive relative to peers. The conglomerate appears to be capitalising on Alphabet’s dominant position in global search, which holds roughly 90 per cent of the market, and its growing presence in cloud artificial intelligence services.
Abel has previously indicated an intention to follow the investment path established by Buffett, focusing on quality businesses held for the long term. The transition of power from Buffett to Abel has drawn close scrutiny from investors seeking insight into the future direction of the conglomerate. This quarter’s activity suggests a continued comfort with large-cap technology leaders, provided they offer a clear economic moat and disciplined valuation metrics.
