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Buffett's Bombshells: Succession, Apple Selloff, and a $1.6B Healthcare Bet

Buffett's Bombshells: Succession, Apple Selloff, and a $1.6B Healthcare Bet

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 Berkshire Hathaway BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.

Berkshire Hathaway has been a whirlwind of activity and intrigue in the past few days. First, the big news rippling through the financial world: Warren Buffett announced at the annual shareholders meeting earlier this month that he’s stepping down as CEO at the end of the year, handing the baton to Greg Abel while remaining as chairman. The suddenness of the announcement, after more than six decades at the helm, sent shockwaves through Wall Street, especially given Berkshire’s stock is outperforming the market. Buffett’s departure marks the end of an era, and his comments at the meeting, particularly his criticism of tariffs—without naming names—were unusually direct. Notably, Berkshire Hathaway issued a statement denying any endorsement of the Trump administration’s trade policies after a video circulates implying otherwise, underscoring Buffett’s reluctance to wade into politics despite increasing public pressure.

On the portfolio front, Berkshire’s latest 13F filing was a treasure trove. Most headline-grabbing was another reduction in Apple—Berkshire sold 20 million shares, taking the stake down to 280 million, a clear signal of profit-taking after years of spectacular gains. Likewise, Bank of America was trimmed by more than 26 million shares. But this wasn’t just a defensive maneuver; Berkshire deployed capital into a host of new areas, most notably ramping up its stake in Chevron and Constellation Brands—suggesting a careful tilt towards energy and durable consumer demand.

The biggest splash was Berkshire’s move into healthcare with a $1.6 billion stake in UnitedHealth, sparking a 12 percent rally in the battered insurer and earning praise as the “perfect Buffett play” from Creative Planning CEO Peter Mallouk. The investment comes at a moment when UnitedHealth is reeling from regulatory scrutiny and leadership turmoil, indicating Berkshire’s knack for spotting hidden value in troubled giants. Alongside this, Berkshire piled into homebuilders Lennar and DR Horton for nearly $1 billion—a bold bet on housing supply shortages and the eventual rebound in residential real estate, as covered exhaustively by business press.

Further intrigue surfaced around rumors of a Bell Laboratories acquisition. While Berkshire hasn’t confirmed or denied, flight records from NetJets traced Buffett, Abel, and Howard Buffett to Madison, Wisconsin on August 4, lending circumstantial heft to the story. Worth watching: Berkshire’s director Chris Davis’s firm sold nearly a third of its Berkshire shares, but Davis himself didn’t touch his personal stake—he recused himself as a board member, reiterating unwavering long-term commitment.

Social media buzzed with hot takes on all these moves, especially Buffett’s succession plan and outspoken comments on tariffs. Meanwhile, Fortune spotlighted Buffett’s contrarian stance that academic pedigree means little in CEO selection, reinforcing a philosophy obsessed with innate talent and ethical rigor.

All in all, Berkshire Hathaway showed a measured mix of harvesting big winners, seeding new bets in resilient sectors, and exhibiting Buffett’s signature blend of caution and optimism—each move scrutinized for clues about the future direction under new leadership. If any headline matters most, it’s the confirmation that Buffett is stepping aside, but the company’s strategy and culture remain as intriguing and enigmatic as ever.

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