Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, historically cautious about investments in the technology sector, has made a remarkable shift. Over half of Berkshire’s $365 billion stock portfolio now consists of technology-focused businesses. Notably, 48.5% of this sum is concentrated in just two tech giants, popularly known as the “Magnificent Seven”. This exclusive group comprises Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta Platforms, and Tesla. The unique appeal of these stocks lies in their sheer size, technological prowess, and extensive resources.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Apple’s Strategic Position
Boasting a market capitalization of approximately $2.96 trillion, Apple currently ranks as the second most valuable publicly traded company, closely trailing Microsoft. Within Berkshire Hathaway’s stock portfolio, Apple remains the predominant holding by a wide margin.
In its last public filing, Berkshire disclosed ownership of over 915 million shares of Apple stock, valued at over $175 billion. This substantial position accounts for about 48% of the total stock portfolio owned by Buffett’s conglomerate.
Apple, known for its secrecy regarding AI endeavors, holds significant advantages in the field. The company possesses a vast user base that adores its range of mobile devices, computers, wearables, software, and services. Their loyal customers generate copious amounts of valuable data, which can be utilized by AI systems.
With a stronghold on smartphone unit sales globally, Apple captures around 85% of worldwide operating profits on smartphone sales. Additionally, the company maintains an early presence in the voice-based assistant space through its Siri software.
Apple’s foray into AI extends to a rumored self-driving smart car. The brand’s formidable reputation could revolutionize the automotive market by introducing an AI-powered computing platform on wheels, disrupting various industries.
Amazon’s AI Potentials
Berkshire Hathaway’s ownership of 10 million shares of Amazon stock, valued at approximately $1.5 billion, though a smaller fraction of its total stock portfolio, reflects the conglomerate’s sole investment in the Magnificent Seven beyond Apple.
Amazon, primarily recognized for its e-commerce dominance, derives the majority of its profits from Amazon Web Services (AWS), a leading force in the cloud infrastructure market. AWS anticipates growing demand for its infrastructure as more applications are developed, launched, and scaled on its platform.
Furthermore, Amazon’s expansive data on consumer preferences from its thriving e-commerce business acts as a foundation for its rapidly expanding digital advertising segment. By leveraging AI, more efficient digital ad targeting is made feasible, further propelling its ad business forward.
The potential of robotics and automation, powered by AI, promises to enhance warehouse operations, subsequently increasing profitability for Amazon’s online retail segment.
Amazon is poised to harness AI’s prowess across several business verticals, including its cloud unit, digital ads division, and e-commerce sector. Although a minor holding in Berkshire’s portfolio, future increases in Berkshire’s Amazon stock allocation seems probable.