James Brumley, The Motley Fool
Thu, December 25, 2025 astatine 8:56 AM CST 7 min read
-
Lots of investors don’t admit conscionable however important the recognition paper institution American Express is to Berkshire Hathaway.
-
There was a clip erstwhile Alphabet would person ne'er adjacent been allowed to go portion of Berkshire's portfolio.
-
Health insurer UnitedHealth Group’s challenges are overmuch greater than the company-specific ones.
With Warren Buffett's 55-year tenure arsenic Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) CEO and main stock-picker acceptable to travel to a adjacent astatine the extremity of this year, plentifulness of investors are understandably disappointed. After all, they'll nary longer beryllium capable to transcript the occasional prime from the Oracle of Omaha's market-beating portfolio. If you're looking for an thought you cognize for definite is simply a Buffett-approved pick, you'd amended enactment soon earlier these stock-selection duties are passed connected to his successor.
Still, it's not similar Buffett's been perfect. Even helium acknowledges helium makes the occasional investing misstep.
With that arsenic the backdrop, here's a person look astatine a mates of existent Berkshire holdings that would apt enactment for your portfolio arsenic well, and 1 sanction Warren Buffett precocious bought that you mightiness not privation to ... astatine slightest not yet, and possibly never.
Given however infrequently it's highlighted arsenic a Buffett pick, galore investors are amazed to larn that recognition paper powerhouse American Express (NYSE: AXP) is Berkshire Hathaway's second-biggest banal trade; the presumption is worthy astir $58 cardinal and accounts for much than 18% of the conglomerate's portfolio. Even much telling is that it's besides 1 of Berkshire's longest-held undisturbed holdings. Whereas Buffett's been steadily paring backmost supersized stakes successful Apple and Bank of America, Berkshire's 151.6 cardinal shares successful American Express are the aforesaid fig of shares it has owned since archetypal buying it backmost successful 2006. This speaks volumes astir semipermanent assurance successful the company.
That being said, it's not hard to recognize wherefore Buffett is specified a large fan.
While not arsenic large as Visa oregon Mastercard, nor increasing arsenic rapidly arsenic either 1 close now, AmEx caters to much affluent consumers who aren't truly rattled by economical headwinds. The company's third-quarter gross maturation accelerated to a year-over-year gait of astir 11%, coming successful astatine a small implicit $18.4 cardinal versus analysts' estimates of lone $18.05 billion. Then, successful aboriginal December, American Express reported a 9% year-over-year summation successful user spending during the Thanksgiving vacation weekend, with its wealthiest cardholders pumping up their spending adjacent more, proving the paper company's resilience.

2 hours ago
2




English (CA) ·
English (US) ·
Spanish (MX) ·