Berkshire Hathaway, under CEO Greg Abel, significantly increased its stake in Alphabet during the second quarter of 2026, making the Google parent company one of its top three U.S.-listed equity holdings by market value, behind only Apple and American Express [1]. According to a regulatory filing released on August 14, Berkshire owned approximately 106 million Alphabet shares valued at $37.9 billion at the end of June, representing an 83% increase in its position over the quarter [1]. This surge was largely attributed to a $10 billion private stock purchase announced in early June, intended to help Alphabet finance its substantial AI infrastructure expansion [1]. Warren Buffett, now serving as chairman, stated that he was the driving force behind the bullish stance on Alphabet, with support from Abel [1].
In addition to Alphabet, Berkshire expanded its investments in Delta Air Lines and the housing sector. The conglomerate's holding in Delta Air Lines rose by 44% to 57.3 million shares, valued at about $5.4 billion at the end of June [1]. This marks a notable return to airline stocks for Berkshire, which had previously exited the sector during the early stages of the pandemic [1]. In the housing sector, Berkshire increased its Class A shares of Lennar by nearly 30% to 13.1 million shares (worth $1.19 billion) and its Class B shares by 25% to roughly 298,000 shares [1]. The company also disclosed a new, albeit small, position in D.R. Horton, holding 3,600 shares at the end of June [1].
The second quarter marked a strategic shift for Berkshire, as it ended a 14-quarter streak of net stock sales and became a net buyer of equities, with nearly $20 billion in net purchases [1]. As a result, Berkshire's cash reserves decreased to $365.5 billion at the end of June from a record $397.4 billion three months earlier, reflecting increased investment activity and share repurchases [1]. The quarter also saw the completion of Berkshire's acquisition of Taylor Morrison, a homebuilder based in Scottsdale, Arizona [1].
No specific analyst opinions or forward-looking statements were provided in the article, but the data indicates a renewed appetite for equity investments at Berkshire Hathaway after a prolonged period of caution [1].
CONCLUSION
Berkshire Hathaway's aggressive buying in Alphabet, Delta Air Lines, and housing stocks signals a renewed confidence in select sectors and a shift from its previous conservative stance. The substantial investments and end to net stock sales suggest Berkshire is positioning itself for growth opportunities in technology, travel, and housing. The market is likely to view these moves as a positive indicator of Berkshire's outlook on these industries.