Berkshire first acquired 225 million BYD shares in 2008 for $ 230 million at Munger’s advising. At the 2009 yearly conference, Munger protected the move, claiming that while it appeared like “Warren and I have actually gone crazy,” he saw BYD and its owner Wang Chuanfu as a “damn wonder.”
That phone call confirmed prescient. BYD’s shares rose about 3, 890 % during Berkshire’s holding period, turning a small expense right into one of its most profitable worldwide equity wagers.
Cutting the risk
Berkshire began reducing its placement in August 2022, after the value of its risk jumped 41 % in the second quarter to $ 9 billion. By June 2024, Berkshire had sold virtually 76 % of its holdings, leaving simply under 5 % of BYD’s superior shares.
As soon as Berkshire went across listed below the 5 % disclosure threshold under Hong Kong’s exchange rules, its subsequent sales went unreported. Since March 31 this year, Berkshire Hathaway Power’s quarterly declaring detailed the worth of the BYD stake at no. A representative verified to CNBC that all continuing to be shares had been marketed.
Buffett’s take
Buffett hasn’t outlined in-depth factors for the divestment. However in 2023, he informed CNBC that BYD is an “phenomenal business” led by an “remarkable individual,” while adding: “I believe that we’ll find things to do with the money that I’ll feel much better concerning.”
That comment came around the exact same time Berkshire unloaded nearly all of its $ 4 billion stake in Taiwan Semiconductor simply months after purchasing in. Buffett claimed after that he had “reassessed” geopolitical threats connected to China’s case over Taiwan, mentioning: “It’s a harmful globe.”
As of June 30, 2025, Berkshire’s biggest disclosed public stock holdings extended the united state, Japan, and Hong Kong, according to its August 14 declaring. Itochu’s position was last upgraded on March 17, 2025, and Mitsubishi’s on August 28, 2025
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