What ETFs does Warren Buffett invest in like?
Warren Buffett has long recommended the S&P 500 index fund and ETF, and through his holding company Berkshire Hathaway, he also owns two of these types of investments: the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT: SPY).
Apple is Berkshire's largest public stock holding by far. Berkshire's $155 billion Apple stake is roughly four times larger than its second-largest holding. Buffett first bought Apple shares in the first quarter of 2016, and Apple's stock price is up more than 500% since the beginning of 2016.
| Stock | Number of Shares Owned | Value of Stake |
|---|---|---|
| Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) | 400,000,000 | $23.8 billion |
| Chevron (NYSE:CVX) | 126,093,326 | $18.9 billion |
| Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY) | 248,018,128 | $15.1 billion |
| Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC) | 325,634,818 | $11.3 billion |
The performance of an investment option is often one of the most critical aspects investors consider. The performance of these two ETFs will be highly dependent on the performance of the information technology sector. If information technology significantly outperforms other sectors, then QQQ will outperform VOO.
| ETF | Assets Under Management | Expense Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) | $70 billion | 0.10% |
| VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) | $16.3 billion | 0.35% |
| Invesco S&P MidCap Momentum ETF (XMMO) | $1.6 billion | 0.34% |
| SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) | $1.8 billion | 0.35% |
American Express. American Express continues to endure as one of Warren Buffett's favorite investments.
These were the stocks Buffett had in his portfolio heading into 2024. Some top picks of Berkshire are Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Coca-Cola Co (NYSE:KO) and Chevron Corp (NYSE:CVX).
- Palo Alto Networks Inc. (ticker: PANW)
- Nvidia Corp. (NVDA)
- Apple Inc. (AAPL)
- Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)
- Alphabet Inc. (GOOG)
- Tesla Inc. (TSLA)
- AllianceBernstein Holding LP (AB)
- Walt Disney Co. (DIS)
Key Points. Warren Buffett made his fortune by investing in individual companies with great long-term advantages. But his top recommendation for anyone is to buy a simple index fund. Buffett's recommendation underscores the importance of diversification.
| Stock | Q4 change in shares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. (AAPL) | -10,000,382 | -1.1% |
| Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY) | +243,715,804 | +8.7% |
| D.R. Horton Inc. (DHI) | -5,969,714 | Sold all |
| Paramount Global (PARA) | -30,408,484 | -32.4% |
Why not invest in QQQ?
QQQ usually declines more in bear markets, has high sector risk, often appears overvalued, and holds no small-cap stocks. This ETF allows traders to invest in the largest 100 non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq.
For investors seeking an alternative to QQQ's mega-cap exposure, the Invesco S&P 500 Top 50 ETF (XLG) is an excellent option. XLG tracks the S&P 500 Top 50 Index, which, like QQQ, is heavily weighted towards top-tier tech and consumer stocks.
Experts agree that for most personal investors, a portfolio comprising 5 to 10 ETFs is perfect in terms of diversification.
| Ticker | Fund | 10-Yr Return |
|---|---|---|
| VGT | Vanguard Information Technology ETF | 19.60% |
| IYW | iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 19.58% |
| IXN | iShares Global Tech ETF | 18.20% |
| IGM | iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 17.95% |
| Fund (ticker) | YTD performance | Expense ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) | 10.4 percent | 0.03 percent |
| SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) | 10.4 percent | 0.095 percent |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) | 10.4 percent | 0.03 percent |
| Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) | 8.6 percent | 0.20 percent |
| Symbol | Name | 5-Year Return |
|---|---|---|
| FNGO | MicroSectors FANG+ Index 2X Leveraged ETNs | 43.36% |
| TECL | Direxion Daily Technology Bull 3X Shares | 33.53% |
| SMH | VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 29.98% |
| ROM | ProShares Ultra Technology | 28.71% |
Top Warren Buffett Stocks By Size
Apple (AAPL), 905.6 million. Coca-Cola (KO), 400 million. Kraft Heinz (KHC), 325.6 million. Occidental Petroleum (OXY), 248.1 million.
In 2023, Forbes proclaimed Buffett a billionaire due to his $180-million stake in Margaritaville, an estimated $570 million from touring and recording, $140 million in planes, homes, and shares in Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett's company — no relation, though they are close friends), and a $50 million music catalog ...
The current portfolio value is calculated to be $347.36 Bil. The turnover rate is 1%. In Warren Buffett's current portfolio as of 2023-12-31, the top 5 holdings are Apple Inc (AAPL), Bank of America Corp (BAC), American Express Co (AXP), Coca-Cola Co (KO), Chevron Corp (CVX), not including call and put options.
NYSE: BRK.B
There's currently $167 billion on the books, which alone would be one of the world's largest companies at that market cap. It's safe to say that Berkshire Hathaway can be bought and held indefinitely without losing a wink of sleep.
What stocks has Warren Buffett held the longest?
American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), and Moody's Corporation (NYSE:MCO) are some of Warren Buffett's longest held stocks.
Berkshire Hathaway Doesn't Hold Nvidia Stock—Will Warren Buffett Come to Regret it?
Dassault Systemes SE (OTC:DASTY) French software company Dassault Systemes SE (OTC:DASTY) is one of the stocks American Congressmen are piling into in 2024. Congressman Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey bought shares worth between $1,001 - $15,000 in Dassault Systemes SE (OTC:DASTY) on March 13.
Underlying Nvidia's stock price increase is soaring demand for the company's GPUs. Demand for Nvidia's AI-focused chips soared 410% to $18.4 billion in the January 2024-ending quarter.
Nvidia stock is not a buy right now. However, if the stock climbs above its flat base, it would be a buy. A stronger rebound from the 10-week line also would put Nvidia in a buy zone.
