Warren Buffett’s top stocks zoom 50% this year, delivered $192 billion gains last year; which ones do you own?

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has the largest holdings in four stocks -- Apple, Bank of America, American Express, and Coca-Cola. Image: Reuters

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, holds an impressive investing record. The company delivered an annual average return of 20 per cent since 1965, according to Berkshire Hathaway’s 2020 shareholder letter. The benchmark S&P 500 index delivered annualised total return, including dividends, of a little over 10 per cent over the same 55 years. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has the largest holdings in four stocks — Apple, Bank of America, American Express, and Coca-Cola (as at the end of December 2020). These four stocks delivered a total of $192 billion gains in 2020, surging nearly 30 per cent from $148.05 billion in the preceding year. In the current year 2021 (year-to-date), Buffett’s portfolio stock prices have zoomed nearly 50 per cent.

Apple

In terms of market value, Berkshire Hathaway has the largest holding in Apple. The company in a shareholder letter said Berkshire’s investment in Apple illustrates the power of repurchases. It began buying Apple stock late in 2016 and by early July 2018, owned slightly more than one billion Apple shares. Berkshire held 907.5 million Apple shares or 5.4 per cent stake as of December 2020 for a total market value of $120.4 billion. So far this calendar year 2021, Apple shares have gained nearly 15 per cent to $148.56, from $129.41 as on January 4, 2021. According to Berkshire Hathaway’s letter to shareholders of 2019, the company owned 5.7 per cent stake or 947.7 million shares in the company with a market value of $33 billion.

Bank of America

Berkshire Hathaway’s second highest holding is in Bank of America Corp. Warren Buffett holds 1.03 billion shares worth $31.3 billion in Bank of America, or 11.9 per cent of the company. Bank of America Corp stock price has soared over 25 per cent in the last seven months, rising to $37.70, from $30.03 on the first trading day of CY 2021.

The Coca Cola Company

As of December 2020, Berkshire Hathway held 9.3 per cent stake or 400 million shares in Coca Cola — its third highest holding. Warren Buffett’s Coca Cola holdings market value was $21.93 billion. So far in the year, The Coca Cola Company stock price has surged over 8 per cent to $57.01 (as of Friday’s close), from $52.76 at the start of the calendar year 2021.

American Express Company

According to Berkshire Hathaway’s 2020 shareholder letter, the company had 150 million shares or 18.8 per cent stake in American Express Company, making it the fourth highest holding of Berkshire Hathaway. In the last seven months since the beginning of this year, American Express Company stock price has zoomed nearly 50 per cent (46.7 per cent). As of last close, American Express Company share price stood at $173.18, from $118.04 on 4th January 2021.