Berkshire Dumps Mastercard in Q1 Portfolio Cleanup After Selling 16 Stocks
MA•Berkshire Hathaway's new CEO Greg Abel sold 16 stocks in the first quarter, exiting its Mastercard position as part of a portfolio cleanup after Todd Colmes left. The move coincided with a tripled Alphabet stake and increased Delta Airlines exposure under Abel's leadership.
1. CEO’s First-Quarter Portfolio Moves
In Q1, Greg Abel sold 16 equity positions and notably tripled Berkshire’s Alphabet stake while boosting exposure to Delta Airlines. These shifts mark Abel’s first major rebalancing efforts since succeeding Warren Buffett, signaling a more flexible sector approach.
2. Exit of Mastercard Position
As part of the divestitures, Berkshire fully exited its Mastercard holding alongside stakes in Visa, Amazon, UnitedHealth and Domino’s. This broad sell-off aligns with the departure of portfolio manager Todd Colmes and reflects a cleanup of positions lacking continued conviction.
3. Implications for Mastercard
The sale reduces institutional backing for Mastercard and may pressure the stock in the near term. Investors will watch for potential valuation adjustments and whether other large holders follow Berkshire’s lead in trimming Mastercard exposure.
