• Warren Buffett has acknowledged regret over selling part of Berkshire Hathaway's Apple stake and indicated interest in adding to the position if pricing becomes attractive again.
• The comments come after Buffett stepped down as CEO, offering a rare look at how Berkshire's investment thinking may evolve under the new leadership structure.
• Apple remains one of Berkshire Hathaway's most influential holdings, so any future move in the position could be closely watched by investors.

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B) is trading at a recent share price of $479.75, with a value score of 5. Over the past 3 years the stock has returned 52.5%, and over 5 years it has returned 79.3%, reflecting a long term track record that many investors still monitor closely despite more recent weakness.

Recent returns have been softer, with a 3.5% decline over the past 30 days, a 3.4% decline year to date, and an 8.0% decline over the past year. Against that backdrop, Buffett's openness to revisiting the Apple position provides an additional factor to watch when considering how Berkshire might deploy capital in one of its most important holdings in future.

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Buffett’s admission that he sold Apple too early, and his willingness to add again at lower prices, gives you a clearer read on how Berkshire may think about capital deployment after his CEO exit. It shows that Apple is still viewed as a core, high conviction equity holding, even as Berkshire recently parked US$17b in Treasury bills and signalled that broad equity valuations do not yet look compelling. For shareholders, this mix of caution on overall markets and selectiveness on Apple suggests a preference for patience and liquidity until prices line up with Berkshire’s required return thresholds. It also underlines that Buffett remains actively engaged in investment decisions day to day, even with Greg Abel now as CEO, which can matter for confidence after Berkshire’s recent share price softness and an 8 session losing streak in March.

The Risks and Rewards Investors Should Consider

• ⚠️ Concentration risk in a single large tech holding such as Apple can amplify the impact of stock specific moves on Berkshire’s equity portfolio value.
• ⚠️ Analysts have flagged 1 major risk, with earnings expected to decline by an average of 3.5% a year over the next 3 years, so timing and sizing any additional Apple purchases will sit against that earnings outlook.
• 🎁 Apple remains one of Berkshire’s most influential holdings, and Buffett’s interest in buying more at lower prices indicates a willingness to lean into positions that Berkshire views as high quality when valuations align.
• 🎁 Berkshire is described as trading at good value compared with peers and industry, and also at a sizeable discount to one fair value estimate, which may give management room to be selective and patient on new equity purchases.

What To Watch Going Forward

Next, keep an eye on two things. First, Berkshire’s quarterly filings for any change in the Apple stake, which will show whether comments about buying more translate into action if the share price pulls back. Second, watch how Berkshire balances large equity positions like Apple with its sizeable cash and Treasury holdings and new commitments such as reinsurance programs, as that mix will influence both risk profile and sensitivity to market swings.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.