Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) investors have had a miserable year, with the company's share price down 7% compared to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (NYSE:SPY)'s 9% rise.
Fears of weaker demand in China, falling behind in AI, regulatory restrictions, and poor growth have been highlighted as causes for the bad start to the year. Mizuho analyst Jordan Klein warns that Apple faces another huge risk.
Klein added "would not be surprised if [Buffett] is selling right now" as he "knows when that 13F comes out showing he started to sell, that [Apple] shares will get killed as retail investors rush for the exit." Buffett liquidated 1% of his enormous Apple stock holdings in Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s (NYSE:BRK) latest 13F.
Given that Berkshire Hathaway holds 5.9% of all outstanding Apple shares, or 42.8% of its stock portfolio, selling more shares could impact the stock. Buffett says his "favorite holding period is forever," but Berkshire's portfolio has changed.
Berkshire also sold its investments in StoneCo Ltd. (NASDAQ:STNE), Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL), Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:GL), D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE:DHI), HP Inc. (NYSE:HPQ), and Paramount Global.
Last year's second quarter saw the D.R. Horton shareholding grow. Klein expects the stock to lag the market until the firm reveals its AI intentions at WWDC in June.
Wedbush Securities senior equities research analyst Dan Ives rates Apple's shares at $250, calling it a good purchase. He cited vast iPhone upgrade demand and great hopes of "AI finally coming to Cupertino (in California)."
Apple long-term investors benefit from ignoring short-term concerns and staying the course. The stock has more than 267% gained in five years. Investors who bought and held since its 1984 IPO would have gained almost 142,000%. Investors expecting for Berkshire's portfolio updates would likely have to wait until mid-May because 13Fs are due 45 days after a quarter ends.
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