In its latest quarterly filing, Berkshire Hathaway reveals a revived interest in the airline industry with a significant Delta stake and other strategic moves, signalling a shift under new leadership.
Berkshire Hathaway’s latest quarterly filing has given investors an early glimpse of how Greg Abel may be shaping the conglomerate’s portfolio after taking over as chief executive at the start of 2026.
The disclosure, filed on Friday and reported by CNBC, showed Berkshire building a substantial new position in Delta Air Lines, buying 39.8 million shares worth about $2.6 billion at the end of March. The stake made Delta one of Berkshire’s larger holdings and helped lift the airline’s shares on Monday as the market digested the move.
The purchase also marked a return to a sector Warren Buffett once abandoned. In 2020, Berkshire exited its entire US airline portfolio after the pandemic upended travel demand, selling its stakes in United, American, Southwest and Delta. The new position suggests that view may be changing under Abel, or at least that Berkshire sees value in the industry again.
Berkshire also initiated a new holding in Macy’s, with CNBC saying the position was worth roughly $55 million at the end of the first quarter. The department store stock rose after the filing became public, as investors interpreted the move as another sign that Berkshire is widening its hunt for opportunities beyond its traditional core.
Other reports on the filing indicate the reshuffle was broader than the two headline additions. Kiplinger said Berkshire also increased its stake in Alphabet and added to positions in The New York Times and homebuilder Lennar, while trimming or exiting holdings including Amazon, Visa, Mastercard, UnitedHealth, Aon, DaVita, Chevron and Bank of America. That pattern points to a portfolio that is becoming more selective and, in some areas, more concentrated.
According to Kiplinger, Berkshire’s five largest holdings at the end of the quarter remained Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola, Bank of America and Chevron, which together accounted for about two-thirds of the portfolio’s value. That concentration underlines how much of the group’s equity book still rests on a small number of long-held bets, even as Abel begins to leave a mark.
The changes do not yet amount to a wholesale break with Buffett’s approach, but they do hint at a more active reshaping of the portfolio as Berkshire moves into a new era of leadership.
- https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/18/berkshire-portfolio-revamp-delta-airlines-macys-unitedhealth.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/stocks/warren-buffett-stocks-berkshire-hathaway-portfolio – As of Q1 2026, under CEO Greg Abel, Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio underwent significant changes, including new investments in Delta Air Lines and Macy’s, and exits from Amazon, Visa, and Mastercard. The top five holdings—Apple, American Express, Coca-Cola, Bank of America, and Chevron—accounted for 67% of the portfolio’s value. The reshuffle indicates a shift towards tech and media sectors, moving away from banking and payment processors. ([kiplinger.com](https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/stocks/warren-buffett-stocks-berkshire-hathaway-portfolio?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/stocks/stocks-berkshire-hathaway-bought-sold-q1-2026 – In its first quarter under CEO Greg Abel, Berkshire Hathaway initiated stakes in Delta Air Lines and Macy’s, tripled its investment in Alphabet, and expanded positions in The New York Times and Lennar. The company sold off significant stakes in Chevron, Bank of America, and DaVita, and exited holdings in Amazon, Visa, Mastercard, and UnitedHealth Group. This portfolio overhaul reflects a strategic shift towards new sectors and a streamlined investment approach. ([kiplinger.com](https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/stocks/stocks-berkshire-hathaway-bought-sold-q1-2026?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/berkshire-invests-in-delta-sheds-several-stocks-including-amazon-unitedhealth-4693996 – Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a $2.65 billion investment in Delta Air Lines and a small stake in Macy’s, while selling many smaller holdings, including Amazon.com and UnitedHealth Group. The portfolio reshuffling followed the promotion of Greg Abel to CEO, marking a new era for the company. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/berkshire-invests-in-delta-sheds-several-stocks-including-amazon-unitedhealth-4693996?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/berkshire-adds-delta-and-macys-stakes-in-first-quarter-4693992 – Berkshire Hathaway initiated positions in Delta Air Lines and Macy’s during the first quarter under CEO Greg Abel. The company also exited positions in Aon PLC, Amazon.com, Domino’s Pizza, Mastercard, Visa, and UnitedHealth Group. These moves reflect a strategic shift in Berkshire’s investment approach. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/berkshire-adds-delta-and-macys-stakes-in-first-quarter-4693992?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.harianbasis.co/en/berkshire-hathaway-portfolio-delta-macys-stakes – Berkshire Hathaway altered its investment portfolio during the first quarter, marking the first period under new leadership. A regulatory filing released on Friday indicated that the conglomerate secured brand new positions in both Delta Air Lines and Macy’s. This strategic shift occurred during Greg Abel’s initial quarter serving as CEO of the conglomerate. ([harianbasis.co](https://www.harianbasis.co/en/berkshire-hathaway-portfolio-delta-macys-stakes?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.alphapilot.tech/discover/berkshire-hathaway-overhauls-portfolio-greg-abel-exits-amazon-and-unitedhealth-while-betting-on-delta-and-macys-s – Berkshire Hathaway revealed a significant portfolio reshuffle, with Greg Abel liquidating positions in Amazon and UnitedHealth to fund new stakes in Delta Air Lines and Macy’s. This overhaul comes as Berkshire reported Q1 2026 revenue of $93.68 billion, reflecting a shift in investment philosophy toward sector-specific monopolies and distressed retail. ([alphapilot.tech](https://www.alphapilot.tech/discover/berkshire-hathaway-overhauls-portfolio-greg-abel-exits-amazon-and-unitedhealth-while-betting-on-delta-and-macy-s?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article discusses recent changes in Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio, including new investments in Delta Air Lines and Macy’s, as well as increased stakes in Alphabet. These developments were reported by multiple reputable sources, such as Kiplinger ([kiplinger.com](https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/stocks/stocks-berkshire-hathaway-bought-sold-q1-2026?utm_source=openai)) and the Associated Press ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/701542f66ea6d8a4192e7279c8cc4edb?utm_source=openai)), within the past week. However, the original publication date of the article is not specified, which raises concerns about its freshness. ([fool.com](https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/05/19/greg-abels-first-full-quarter-running-berkshire/?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes attributed to sources like Kiplinger and the Associated Press. However, without access to the original article, it’s challenging to verify the exact wording and context of these quotes. This lack of direct verification raises concerns about the accuracy and authenticity of the quoted material.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article cites reputable sources such as Kiplinger and the Associated Press. However, without access to the original publication, it’s difficult to assess the independence and credibility of these sources fully. Additionally, the article’s reliance on secondary reporting without direct access to the primary sources diminishes its overall reliability.
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio changes align with reports from reputable sources. However, the lack of direct access to the original article and its sources introduces uncertainties about the accuracy and completeness of the information presented.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article discusses recent changes in Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio, including new investments in Delta Air Lines and Macy’s, as well as increased stakes in Alphabet. While these developments are reported by reputable sources, the lack of direct access to the original publication and its sources raises concerns about the freshness, accuracy, and independence of the information presented. The inability to verify the exact wording and context of the quotes further diminishes the overall reliability of the article. Given these uncertainties, the content cannot be fully verified, leading to a ‘FAIL’ verdict with medium confidence.