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Warren Buffett's Successor, Greg Abel, Started His Tenure With a Bang by Slashing Berkshire's Chevron Stake and Making a Virtual Monopoly the New No. 5 Holding

2026-08-03 09:06 Sean Williams The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective TechnologyAISemiconductorsEquities BRK.ABRK.BCVXGOOGGOOGLGOOGMGOOGN

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Buffett’s Successor Shifts Berkshire’s Bet From Chevron to Alphabet

Greg Abel’s first big move was cutting Berkshire’s Chevron stake and ramping up Alphabet exposure, signaling a tech-tilt under new leadership.

When Greg Abel took the reins at Berkshire Hathaway, his portfolio changes sent a clear message: he’s less focused on energy and more on technology’s future. Trimming Chevron by a third is significant, especially after the energy rally we’ve seen. It suggests a belief that prices have peaked and that Chevron’s valuation no longer offers a margin of safety. Meanwhile, tripling Berkshire’s Alphabet stake and making it the fifth-largest holding speaks volumes about where Abel sees durable growth — AI-driven services and search dominance remain powerful moats. For South African investors, the lesson here isn’t to mimic Berkshire’s moves blindly but to watch how these trends impact USD/ZAR and local sectors like Naspers and Prosus, which are exposed to global tech trends. The rand often reacts to shifts in US tech sentiment and capital flows, and you may find opportunities in local counters if that tech optimism continues. However, a tech sell-off or regulatory crackdown could quickly reverse this optimism, so keep an eye on these risks. this is just our opinion and not financial advice

How I would invest

Trim energy-heavy exposures like Sasol and watch tech-linked names like Naspers with care. Use potential USD/ZAR weakness as a signal to accumulate tech exposures selectively.

What I would watch
  • Chevron
  • Alphabet
  • Naspers
  • USD/ZAR
What could go wrong
  • tech regulation or market volatility
  • energy sector correction
  • rand volatility due to global risk shifts
How strongly I feel

6/10

Greg Abel, Warren Buffett's successor as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, made significant portfolio changes in Q1 2026, reducing the company's Chevron stake by 35% while dramatically increasing its position in Alphabet to become Berkshire's new No. 5 holding. Abel's shift reflects profit-taking from Chevron's rally and a strategic pivot toward Alphabet's dominant search market position and AI growth potential.

Our take is based on reporting first published by The Motley Fool.

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