Warren Buffett Extends Stock Selling Streak to Three Years as Berkshire Shifts Focus
OMAHA, NE – November 1, 2025 – Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has marked its third consecutive year as a net seller of stocks, a notable departure for the famed investor as the company increasingly prioritizes large-scale acquisitions and prepares for a leadership transition. The trend continued through the second quarter of 2025, with Berkshire selling $3 billion in stocks on net, according to recent filings.
This sustained pullback from the stock market coincides with a period of significant market gains, particularly in the AI sector, where Berkshire has largely remained on the sidelines. As May, when Buffett announced his planned departure as CEO by year-end, Berkshire Hathaway shares have declined by 12%. The shift in investment strategy is widely viewed as a deliberate move to streamline operations for incoming CEO Greg Abel, who has been steadily assuming greater leadership responsibilities.
Buffett’s decision to step down and hand the reins to Abel has prompted speculation that the legendary investor is intentionally clearing the decks for his successor. While Buffett is expected to remain chairman, the recent $10 billion acquisition of Occidental Petroleum’s chemicals business – Berkshire’s largest deal since 2022 – signaled a clear shift in focus towards substantial, strategic acquisitions.
Notably, the Occidental deal was the first Berkshire announcement to feature a quote from Abel and omit any mention of Buffett, underscoring the evolving leadership dynamic. “It’s genius. It’s certainly a win-plus for Berkshire as it also helps the company that they own 30% of,” said Doug Leggate, a Wolfe Research energy analyst, following the acquisition. “it’s entirely self-serving, it’s logical, and-not in any nefarious way-definitely helpful.”
