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Buffett’s Final CEO Moves: Trims Apple, Buys NY Times

Shivangi

Feb 18, 2026 2:30 PM IST

Category News

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Synopsis

That was how the chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, went out, by repositioning his huge investment portfolio for a new age. The storied investor also slashed his Apple stake for the third consecutive quarter and blindsided the market with a fresh investment in The New York Times. With Greg Abel stepping into the role as new chief executive, these trades represent a move to diversify tech holdings and amass cash reserves. The company is ultimately a play on the continued success of Apple, even after the sale.

Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate run by Warren Buffett disclosed its last portfolio changes before his retirement as CEO. The company trimmed its stake in Apple by 4 per cent and began a new $350 million position in The New York Times. The moves served as a springboard to prepare the company for its new chief executive, Greg Abel, since January 2026, while keeping the firm stable and flush with cash for prospects.

Key Highlights

• Berkshire Hathaway cut its huge Apple investment by more than 4%.
• The company acquired over five million shares of The New York Times.
• These are Warren Buffett’s last portfolio moves as CEO.
• Greg Abel had officially succeeded as CEO on January 1, 2026.
• Apple is still the biggest bet in its huge portfolio.

The end of an era in Omaha

Warren Buffett, the world’s best-known investor, has just finished up his final moves at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett’s firm sold a sliver of its Apple stake during the last few months of 2025, according to a new government report. It’s a significant milestone as Buffett, 95 years old now, moved out of the CEO role in January. Though he will remain, Chairman, the daily decisions and the future of the company’s billions will be controlled by his successor, Greg Abel.

Turning attention to media and tech giants

The company acquired a big stake in The New York Times, valued at about $350 million. This is a rare incursion into traditional news for the conglomerate recently. And at the same time, Buffett made more tinkering adjustments to his technology investments. After making a massive purchase of Alphabet (Google’s parent) earlier in 2025, the firm held that position steady even as it slowly scaled back on its multiyear love affair with Apple.

Why Apple is being outflanked

Apple has long been the “crown jewel” of Buffett’s portfolio, but he’s scraped off pieces of it over the years. Despite a rising stock price last year, Apple outperformed the broader stock market. By selling some 10 million shares, Berkshire is freeing up cash and lowering its risk exposure should the tech market take a turn for the worse. But even on the day of the sale, Berkshire remained an owner of more than $60 billion worth of Apple stock, suggesting that they continue to believe in the iPhone maker’s prospects.

These moves are not just money-generating ones, they are also table setting for the new CEO. By clearing out some of these giant positions and amassing a record pile of cash, Buffett is handing Abel what amounts to a blank slate for his own purchases. Abel, who has headed Berkshire’s energy and utility businesses for years, is a very hands-on manager. Investors are now watching to see if he will follow Buffett’s way of buy and hold or steer the company more in a new direction.

A legacy of winning

As the “Oracle of Omaha” takes a step back, he passes on a company that has outperformed the market, sometimes by huge margins, for 60 years. A single share of Berkshire stock grew from a few dollars to several hundred thousand under his leadership. As the portfolio turns over, it’s holding to its basic aim: seeking out great companies and owning them for a long time. As the first annual meeting under new management draws near this May, all eyes will be on how the company negotiates this historic change in leadership.

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