Berkshire's Cash Pile Fell From $400 Billion to $365.5 Billion as Greg Abel Became a Net Buyer for the First Time in 3 Years. What Does That Signal for Investors?

Berkshire Hathaway ended its 14-quarter streak as a net seller of equities in Q2 2026, purchasing $23.5 billion in stocks while selling only $3.7 billion, reducing cash reserves from $400 billion to $365.5 billion. Under new CEO Greg Abel, the company has made strategic portfolio adjustments including significant stake increases in Alphabet through a $10 billion private placement, acquisitions of Occidental Petroleum's chemicals business and Taylor Morrison homebuilder, and increased share buybacks. These moves signal management's confidence in identifying attractive investment opportunities while maintaining a fortress balance sheet with over $360 billion in liquidity.

08/19/2026, 12:30 PM • The Motley Fool

This Buffett Oil Stock Is Quietly Outperforming Chevron Under Greg Abel. Is It Worth Buying Now?

Occidental Petroleum has surged 36% since Greg Abel became Berkshire Hathaway's CEO in January, outperforming Chevron and the S&P 500. The rally was driven by U.S.-Iran tensions and crude oil price spikes. However, recent muted performance raises questions about sustainability. Future gains depend heavily on another crude oil price surge, particularly when China replenishes its strategic reserves, making Oxy a more volatile bet compared to Chevron's more stable outlook.

08/11/2026, 3:05 PM • The Motley Fool

Warren Buffett's Successor, Greg Abel, Has 63% of Berkshire Hathaway's $355 Billion Portfolio Invested in Just 5 Standout Stocks

Greg Abel, who took over as Berkshire Hathaway CEO on December 31, 2025, maintains Warren Buffett's portfolio concentration strategy with 63% ($222.3 billion) of the $355 billion portfolio invested in just five stocks. While Abel shares Buffett's focus on indefinite core holdings like Coca-Cola and American Express, he is distinctly more bullish on technology stocks including Apple and Alphabet. Berkshire has reduced its Bank of America position by 50% since mid-2024 as the stock no longer trades at a discount to book value.

08/07/2026, 5:06 AM • The Motley Fool

Greg Abel Hasn't Touched Berkshire's Energy Holdings. Is That a Signal?

Since becoming CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Greg Abel has significantly reshuffled the investment portfolio but notably left energy holdings untouched, including major stakes in Chevron and Occidental Petroleum, plus the wholly-owned Berkshire Hathaway Energy utility. This inaction may signal Abel's confidence in energy's value, particularly given rising electricity demand from AI and data centers, though the article cautions against reading too much into non-moves.

08/04/2026, 8:27 AM • The Motley Fool

Berkshire Hathaway Has Invested $23 Billion in This Stock Since Greg Abel Took Over as CEO. History Says There May Be More to Come

Since becoming CEO, Greg Abel has overseen Berkshire Hathaway's $23 billion investment in Alphabet stock, making it one of the conglomerate's five largest holdings. Based on historical patterns of high-conviction investing in companies like Apple and Visa, Berkshire may continue buying Alphabet shares. The investment is supported by Alphabet's strong Q2 financial results, robust cloud business growth, competitive advantages, and attractive valuation at 18.1x forward earnings compared to the tech sector average of 20x.

08/04/2026, 12:30 AM • The Motley Fool

Greg Abel Is Spending Berkshire Hathaway's Cash on Whole Companies Instead of Stocks. Here's What That Changes for Shareholders.

Greg Abel, Berkshire Hathaway's new CEO, is shifting the company's investment strategy toward acquiring whole businesses rather than stocks. With nearly $400 billion in cash, Abel has spent less than $3 billion on stock purchases while acquiring Taylor Morrison for $6.8 billion and completing the OxyChem purchase for $9.7 billion. This approach reflects Abel's preference for long-term operational control over portfolio trading, as he finds greater value in whole companies than in the current richly-valued stock market.

08/03/2026, 1:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Plug Power vs. Occidental Petroleum: Which Energy Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

The article compares two energy stocks with contrasting profiles: Plug Power, a speculative hydrogen pioneer burning cash while pursuing green hydrogen technology, and Occidental Petroleum, a profitable oil giant generating billions in free cash flow. Despite Plug Power's long-term potential in decarbonization, the author recommends Occidental Petroleum for 2026 due to its profitability, strong cash generation, and operational efficiency, while acknowledging commodity price volatility risks.

08/02/2026, 8:30 AM • The Motley Fool

Warren Buffett's Legacy Oil Bet Is Paying Off Under Greg Abel. Nobody's Talking About It.

Since Greg Abel became CEO of Berkshire Hathaway on January 1, 2026, the company's investments in Chevron and Occidental Petroleum have been among its top performers, gaining 20.3% and 27.3% respectively through July 28. Both oil stocks represent Buffett's legacy energy bets, with Chevron offering integrated operations and reliable dividends, while Occidental Petroleum provides exposure to exploration and production with strong cash flow growth.

07/30/2026, 7:05 PM • The Motley Fool

Energy Transfer vs. Occidental Petroleum: The Better Energy Buy for the Second Half of 2026

The article compares two energy sector investments: Occidental Petroleum, an upstream oil and natural gas producer that benefits from rising commodity prices but carries volatility risk, and Energy Transfer, a midstream MLP that charges fees for moving energy and offers stable, high dividend yields. The choice depends on investor risk tolerance and price outlook for the second half of 2026.

07/25/2026, 12:15 PM • The Motley Fool

Prediction: If Oil Holds Above $100, Occidental Petroleum Stock Could Return 20% By Year-End

Occidental Petroleum (OXY) stock could rise approximately 20% to $70 per share by year-end if WTI crude oil remains above $100 per barrel. Currently trading at $58, OXY is highly sensitive to oil prices due to its upstream-focused business model. The company maintains a breakeven point of $40-45 per barrel and generates rapid free cash flow above $60 per barrel. Recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz closure support elevated oil prices, while OXY's integration of CrownRock assets and expansion of carbon capture services position it for growth.

07/24/2026, 9:30 AM • The Motley Fool

UWM Walked Away From the Two Harbors Bidding War. That Might Be the Best News for Shareholders.

United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) lost a bidding war to acquire Two Harbors Investment Corp to privately-held CrossCountry Mortgage. While UWM's final offer of $12.50 per share was higher than CrossCountry's winning $12 per share bid, analysts view UWM's decision to walk away as prudent. Given UWM's unsustainably high 20% dividend yield and earnings that don't cover dividend payments, avoiding the costs and complexity of a contentious merger protects shareholder value.

07/09/2026, 10:15 PM • The Motley Fool

Why Occidental Petroleum Stock Crushed it on Wednesday

Occidental Petroleum stock surged nearly 4% after analyst Stephen Richardson from Evercore ISI upgraded the company from underperform to outperform with a price target increase to $65 from $58. The upgrade was driven by the company's significantly improved balance sheet through debt reduction, which should boost free cash flow. Richardson also cited the company's attractive valuation and elevated oil prices from geopolitical tensions as supporting factors.

07/08/2026, 6:07 PM • The Motley Fool

ConocoPhillips or Occidental Petroleum: Which Oil Stock Should You Buy Now?

The article compares two major oil producers: ConocoPhillips, a globally diversified company with strong financials and cash flow projections, and Occidental Petroleum, which is pivoting toward carbon capture technologies after divesting its chemical business. The author recommends ConocoPhillips due to its lower debt, higher returns on capital, and reliable dividend payments, despite acknowledging both companies' potential.

07/01/2026, 3:24 PM • The Motley Fool

This 3% Yielding Energy Stock Has Hiked Its Dividend for 43 Straight Years. Here's Why I'd Buy It Without Hesitation Right Now.

ExxonMobil has raised its dividend for 43 consecutive years and is on track to become a Dividend King. The company's diversified business model across upstream, midstream, and downstream operations, combined with geographic diversification across 56 countries, provides resilience against oil price volatility. Trading at 12x forward earnings with a 3% yield, the stock is viewed as an attractive value investment even as crude oil prices have pulled back from recent highs.

07/01/2026, 2:08 PM • The Motley Fool

Berkshire Hathaway has 9% of its Portfolio in These Oil Stocks. Should it Sell Now That the War With Iran is Winding Down?

Berkshire Hathaway's energy holdings in Chevron and Occidental Petroleum have declined from 13% to 9% of its portfolio due to stock price movements and strategic trimming under new CEO Greg Abel. Despite the winding down of Middle East conflict, the article argues these investments are based on long-term strategic value rather than geopolitical timing, and suggests Abel is unlikely to make dramatic changes to the energy positions.

07/01/2026, 11:15 AM • The Motley Fool