So Warren Buffett just dropped his quarterly 13F filing (think of it as his investment diary that he’s legally required to share), and boy, did the market pay attention. When the Oracle of Omaha speaks – or in this case, when his $260 billion portfolio speaks – people listen.
Here’s the tea: Berkshire Hathaway added six new stocks to their collection, and one of them absolutely exploded. We’re talking about UnitedHealth Group, which shot up 14% faster than you can say “healthcare crisis.”
The UnitedHealth Comeback Story
Now, this is where it gets interesting. Buffett actually owned UnitedHealth way back in the 2000s but dumped it around 2010. Fast forward 15 years, and he’s back with a vengeance – dropping $1.57 billion on over 5 million shares. That’s not pocket change, even for someone sitting on $340 billion in cash (yes, you read that right).
Why UnitedHealth? Well, it’s basically on sale right now – down 40% this year with a P/E ratio of just 11. For Buffett, that’s like finding a designer jacket at a thrift store. Plus, it checks all his boxes: market leader, insurance company (he loves those), and beaten down enough to be a proper value play.
The market’s reaction was swift and brutal – in the best way possible. UnitedHealth jumped to around $308 per share on Friday, because when Warren Buffett gives you his stamp of approval, investors tend to follow like lemmings.
But Wait, There’s More
UnitedHealth wasn’t the only new kid on the block. Buffett also scooped up:
- Nucor (steel manufacturer) – $857 million worth
- Lennar and DR Horton (homebuilders) – because apparently someone thinks the housing market isn’t completely insane
- Lamar Advertising and Allegion – smaller bets but still noteworthy
Meanwhile, he completely ghosted T-Mobile after a five-year relationship. Ouch.
The Apple Situation Continues
Here’s the plot twist that keeps giving: Buffett is still dumping Apple stock like it’s going out of style. He sold another 20 million shares this quarter, bringing his Apple holdings down from a whopping 49% of his portfolio at the end of 2023 to “just” 22% now. That’s a two-thirds reduction in less than two years.
Is he seeing something we’re not? Or is he just taking profits on what’s been an incredible run? Your guess is as good as mine, but when someone who’s made a career out of being right starts selling, it’s worth paying attention.
The bottom line? At 94, Buffett is still making moves that send shockwaves through the market. Whether you follow his plays or not, there’s something oddly comforting about knowing the world’s most famous investor is still out there, turning market chaos into cold, hard cash.