Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett's holding company, announced its third-quarter results on Saturday. Profits may have fallen, but cash holdings reached a new all-time high of $325 billion, an amount never before recorded for a private company. But why does Warren Buffett keep so much cash?
This year, Berkshire earned $97 billion on the $133 billion worth of shares sold, for a net profit of $76.5 billion after tax. Berkshire's operating profits fell 6% in the third quarter, due to hurricane-related insurance losses and higher reinsurance costs. Losses from Hurricane Helene cost $565 million, and expected losses from Hurricane Milton could reach up to $1.5 billion. Despite these challenges, Berkshire's Class A shares have risen 25% this year, outperforming the S&P 500.
Source : MarketScreener
Massive sales of its darlings
Over the past two years, Berkshire has sold $166 billion worth of shares, finding few attractive opportunities in the US stock market. Last quarter, Berkshire reduced its stake in Apple to $69.9 billion, selling around 100 million shares. In just over a year, Buffett has sold almost two-thirds of his Apple shares, which once accounted for $178 billion of Berkshire's portfolio. This massive sale is surprising, as Buffett had described Apple as one of Berkshire's "four giants", surpassing even Coca-Cola and American Express.
In addition to Apple, Buffett also reduced his stake in Bank of America, selling over $10.5 billion worth of shares. He found few other stocks of interest, buying only $1.5 billion worth of new shares.
About its war chest
The conglomerate's cash position thus reached a new all-time high of $325 billion, an amount never before recorded for a private company. The legendary American investor said he was comfortable with the idea of accumulating cash, judging the alternatives on the market to be unattractive at the moment. Buffett anticipates higher tax rates in the US, which could reduce Berkshire's profits on future share sales. Perhaps the Oracle of Omaha is also anticipating a recession and/or lower asset prices in 2025? Only time will tell.
Source : Financial Times
A pause in share buy-backs
Berkshire did not buy back any of its own shares last quarter, despite a record rise in its share price. He considers the share price too expensive, and will buy back his own shares when the market value falls below intrinsic value.
Instead, Buffett invested in short-term Treasury bonds, enjoying high yields despite the Federal Reserve's lowering of interest rates.
Buffett, aged 94, continues to run Berkshire, but Greg Abel, his designated successor, will face the challenge of managing this vast financial empire.
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