Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has revealed that the company sold 115 million shares of Apple in the last quarter. This represents about 8% of Berkshire’s holdings in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).
Buffett explained that the decision to sell some shares was due to tax considerations and the current state of the equity markets. He also said that Berkshire still views Apple as a great business and that he is not selling any of his holdings in the company.
Berkshire sold Apple (AAPL) now so they will pay only 21% in taxes. With the political uncertainty ahead in an election year and current economic uncertainty that rate could go to 35% or more in the near future. He is looking to free up cash and not gamble losing tens or hundreds of millions of dollars if the next administration raises the tax rate. It has nothing to do with Apple as a company, it’s all about freeing up money for future investments when the time is right.
“We still like Apple a lot,” Buffett said in an interview with CNBC. “But we also have to be mindful of our tax situation. And with the stock market being so overvalued, we thought it was a good time to take some profits.”
Buffett’s comments come as Apple’s stock has been on a tear in recent months. The stock is up more than 30% since the beginning of the year and is now trading at an all-time high.
Buffett’s decision to sell some Apple shares is likely to be seen as a bearish sign by some investors. However, it is important to remember that Buffett is a long-term investor and that he has not sold all of his holdings in Apple.
In addition to discussing his decision to sell some Apple shares, Buffett also discussed his views on investing in general. He said that it is important to look at stocks as businesses, not just as investments. He also said that it is important to be patient and to not get caught up in the hype of the stock market.
“Investing is not about making quick profits,” Buffett said. “It’s about building a portfolio of great businesses and holding them for the long term.”
Buffett’s comments are likely to be closely watched by investors in the coming months. His views on the stock market and Apple are highly respected, and his decisions are often seen as a bellwether for the market.
Warren Buffett purchased Apple in 2016/2017, at an average price of around $35 per share. The stock price at this moment is around $225. He made an excellent investment, and he cashed a part of this profit. Apple is still 30 percent of his portfolio.
