Berkshire Hathaway trims Apple stake, buys NYTimes stock in Buffett’s last moves as CEO

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway made some significant moves in the fourth quarter, according to a new securities filing. The conglomerate trimmed its stake in Apple by 4.3%, bringing the investment down to $61.96 billion. Despite the reduction, Apple remains Berkshire’s largest equity holding.

Berkshire also started a new position in The New York Times, with a relatively small stake of $351.7 million. This position ranks 29th out of Berkshire’s 41 total holdings. The conglomerate had previously trimmed its stake in Apple in the third quarter and also cut its equity holding in the tech giant in the second quarter of last year.

While Apple had a positive year in 2025, with a 9% increase in its stock price, it underperformed the S&P 500, which gained over 16% during the same period. Apple’s stock has been struggling this year, falling approximately 3% and experiencing its worst day since April 2025 just last week.

It is unclear whether these moves were made by Warren Buffett himself or by investment managers Todd Combs and Ted Weschler. Buffett has traditionally viewed Apple more as a consumer products company than a pure technology play. These adjustments to the portfolio may indicate Buffett’s efforts to make it more manageable for his successor.

The fourth quarter also marked the transition of leadership at Berkshire, with Greg Abel taking over as CEO at the beginning of the new year. Prior to Buffett’s departure, structural changes were announced within the company, including the resignation of Todd Combs, who joined JPMorgan Chase in January.

Buffett had announced at Berkshire’s annual meeting last year that he intended for Abel to succeed him as CEO. Although Buffett is no longer the chief executive, he remains the chairman of the board. These shifts in leadership and investment strategy demonstrate Berkshire’s ongoing evolution under new leadership.