Berkshire takes bigger bite of Apple

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway on Monday said it has increased its stake in Apple by 55 per cent, boosting its bet on the iPhone and iPod maker.

Berkshire owned 15.23 million Apple shares worth $1.46 billion as of June 30, up from 9.81 million shares as of March 31, according to a regulatory filing from Buffett’s Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate.

The filing also said Berkshire cut its stake in Walmart Stores, the world’s largest retailer, by 27 per cent to about 40.23 million shares from 55.24 million.

Walmart has been in Berkshire’s portfolio for more than a decade.

It was unclear whether Buffett or one of his portfolio managers, Todd Combs and Ted Weschler, are investing in Apple.

Berkshire owned more than $133 billion of equities as of June 30. Buffett is typically responsible for larger investments such as Walmart, while his deputies handle smaller investments.

“They have more of a trading orientation than Buffett, and may view Apple as attractive because the stock appears cheap or may have a catalyst later this year,” Jim Shanahan, an equity analyst at Edward Jones, said in a phone interview. “If Warren Buffett is buying a stock, he’s probably not going to sell it, or at least not sell for a very long time.” Berkshire also owns roughly 90 businesses including Geico car insurance, the BNSF railroad, Dairy Queen ice cream, Duracell batteries, and Fruit of the Loom underwear. It also paid $32.1 billion in January for aircraft and industrial parts maker Precision Castparts Corp, Buffett’s largest purchase.

Share prices often rise when investors perceive that Berkshire has given them its imprimatur, including the 3.7 per cent one-day boost that Apple got in May after Berkshire unexpectedly revealed it had taken a stake.

Berkshire revealed its higher Apple stake on the same day George Soros’ firm Soros Fund Management and Leon Cooperman’s Omega Advisors said they dissolved their own Apple stakes.

Icahn in April said he had sold his entire Apple stake, citing concerns about China’s policies regarding the company. He later said he would reinvest in Apple if his concerns ebbed.

Monday’s Berkshire filing also disclosed other portfolio changes, among them lower stakes in farm equipment maker Deere & Co and Canadian oil and gas company Suncor Energy, and a higher stake in John Malone’s telecommunications company Liberty Global.

It also reflected Berkshire’s more than 14 per cent stake in oil refiner Phillips 66.

Shanahan said he believes Berkshire has been shedding Walmart shares at least in part to buy Phillips 66. He has a “buy” rating on Berkshire.

Berkshire’s filing showed that food company Kraft Heinz was the company’s largest equity investment as of June 30, at $28.81 billion, followed by Wells Fargo & Co.