According to 13F filings for the fourth quarter of 2014, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway made some interesting purchases and sales.
The overall value of the portfolio grew by $1 billion since the last 13F filing, to reach a figure of $109.4 billion. So just how did Berkshire Hathaway continue to grow its portfolio? Read on for a summary.
Significant sales
Berkshire Hathaway sold all of its 41,129,643 shares in Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), which represented 3.57% of its total portfolio. It also sold the 471,994 shares that it still held in ConocoPhillips (COP), completing its sell-off of the stock, which had been ongoing process for a while.
Other sales include the sale of 449,489 shares in Express Scripts (ESRX), which means Berkshire Hathaway no longer holds shares in the company. Smaller sales included 1,365,000 shares in Bank of New York (BK), and 1,123,975 shares in National Oilwell Varco Inc. (NOV).
New additions
One interesting addition was the purchase of 4,747,397 shares in Twenty-First Century Fox (FOXA), as well as the 8,438,225 shares Berkshire Hathaway bought in Restaurant Brands International (QSR).
Increased positions
Aside from the new purchases, Berkshire Hathaway significantly added to its positions in Deere & Co. (DE), buying 9,529,489 shares, equivalent to a 125.93% increase on its position from Q3.
The portfolio also saw the purchase of increased positions in General Motors (GM) and International Bus. Machines (IBM), in which Berkshire Hathaway bought 1,000,000 and 6,493,805 shares respectively.
Berkshire Hathaway increased its holdings in Precision Castparts (PCP), buying 771,466 additional shares, bought 1,248,141 more shares in Charter Communications (CHTR) and added 3,876,564 shares to its holdings in Suncor Energy Inc. (SU).
Other buys included the purchase of 684,356 shares in Mastercard Inc. (MA), 363,000 shares in Visa Inc. (V), as well as 925,990 shares in Viacom Inc. (VIAB).
The fund also made smaller purchases in DIRECTV Group Inc. (DTV), Liberty Global Inc. (LBTYA) and DaVita HealthCare Partners (DVA).
The Oracle of Omaha continues to cement his reputation as a shrewd investor that looks for long-term growth rather than short-term bonanzas.
