Under New CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Purchases Delta Air Lines and Triples Its Stake in Alphabet

Key Highlights

• Berkshire Hathaway has revealed a new $2.65 billion investment in Delta Air Lines, marking its first foray into the airline sector since divesting in April 2020.
• The firm increased its Alphabet holdings by more than three times, bringing the total to nearly 58 million shares valued at approximately $17 billion.
• Since taking the helm as CEO on January 1, Greg Abel has liquidated positions in Visa, Mastercard, Amazon, UnitedHealth, and Domino’s Pizza.
• During the first quarter of 2026, Berkshire executed $15.94 billion in stock purchases and $24.09 billion in sales.
• The portfolio adjustment included new or increased stakes in Macy’s and the New York Times.

(SeaPRwire) –   According to a regulatory filing published Friday, Berkshire Hathaway significantly restructured its equity portfolio during the first quarter of 2026, highlighted by a notable return to airline stocks and a major expansion of its Alphabet position.

These strategic shifts occurred under the leadership of Greg Abel, who succeeded Warren Buffett as CEO on January 1.

Delta Air Lines Re-enters the Portfolio

As of March 31, Berkshire held a 6.1% stake in Delta Air Lines, consisting of 39.8 million shares with a market value of $2.65 billion. This move signals the firm’s reentry into the aviation industry after a six-year hiatus.

Delta Air Lines, Inc., DAL

In April 2020, at the onset of the pandemic, Buffett divested Berkshire’s holdings in Delta, American Airlines, Southwest, and United Airlines, citing a fundamental shift in the aviation landscape.

Following the announcement, Delta shares climbed 3.3% in after-hours trading.

Berkshire Hathaway made another big portfolio shift in Q1

Warren Buffett’s firm exited Amazon $AMZN, added to Alphabet $GOOGL, and trimmed Bank of America $BAC and Chevron $CVX

— Trader Edge (@Pro_Trader_Edge) May 16, 2026

Delta is currently regarded as one of the most efficiently managed major U.S. airlines. While the carrier has benefited from the post-pandemic recovery in travel demand, it continues to navigate challenges related to rising fuel expenses.

Alphabet Position More Than Tripled

Berkshire also aggressively expanded its investment in Google parent company Alphabet, raising its stake from roughly 18 million shares to nearly 58 million. With a valuation of about $17 billion, the holding now ranks among Berkshire’s largest common stock positions.

During the fourth quarter of 2025—Buffett’s final full quarter as CEO—Berkshire did not increase its Alphabet holdings.

Divestments Under Abel

Abel has offloaded several positions previously associated with former investment manager Todd Combs, who departed Berkshire in December 2025 to join JPMorgan Chase.

Berkshire fully exited its investments in Visa, Mastercard, Amazon, UnitedHealth, Domino’s Pizza, Aon, Charter, Diageo, and Pool Corp.

Additionally, the firm reduced its Chevron stake by 35%, though the company remains Berkshire’s fifth-largest equity holding.

Minor Portfolio Additions

Regarding new acquisitions, Berkshire purchased 3 million shares of Macy’s, valued at $55 million. Macy’s stock rose 6.3% in after-hours activity.

Furthermore, the firm roughly tripled its investment in the New York Times, resulting in a holding of approximately 15 million shares worth about $1.3 billion.

In February, Abel noted that he manages 94% of Berkshire’s equity portfolio, with the remaining 6% overseen by investment manager Ted Weschler.

As of March 31, the total value of Berkshire’s equity portfolio was $288 billion.