What Berkshire Hathaway's Quarterly 13F List Actually Covers

Warren Buffett built his reputation through Berkshire Hathaway, the listed holding company he has used to acquire businesses as varied as insurance, energy, transport and industrial operations. With more than 350,000 employees worldwide, Berkshire is far more than a stock portfolio. When Buffett does not buy an entire company, he often takes a stake, and this thematic list tracks only the US-listed equity positions Berkshire discloses to US regulators.

The list is based on the 13F filings that Berkshire Hathaway and similar investment managers are required to submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission each quarter. These reports cover institutions controlling more than $100 million in US-listed long positions, including registered investment advisers, banks, insurers, hedge funds, trust companies, pension funds and mutual funds.

Because the 13F form covers only securities traded on a US exchange, the list cannot capture Berkshire's non-US holdings or its wholly owned operating subsidiaries. The filing is published no later than 45 days after the end of the quarter, so the data is always a snapshot from the recent past. This page will be updated after each new disclosure of Berkshire's listed portfolio.

The Limits of the Oracle's Disclosure

Why a 13F Is Not a Live Portfolio

The 45-day publication delay and the US-only, long-only scope make the filing a rear-view mirror. It does not show short positions, non-US shares or private subsidiaries. For a company as diversified as Berkshire Hathaway, the US-listed equity book is only one part of a much larger enterprise.

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The Oracle's Influence on Reporting

Buffett's disclosures attract attention because of his long-term track record, but the mechanics of the 13F mean observers can only infer strategy after the fact. The list is best used as a starting point for understanding which US-listed companies Berkshire was willing to own at quarter-end, not as an immediate trading signal.

What to Check Before the Next 13F Update

  • Check the filing date before acting: the 13F is published up to 45 days after quarter-end, so the data shown may be more than six weeks old.
  • Keep the scope in mind: this list covers only Berkshire's US exchange-listed long positions, not its foreign holdings or wholly owned operating companies.
  • Use the list as a disclosure map: it will be refreshed after each quarterly 13F publication, so the next update will show Berkshire's latest reported US equity positions.