Has Buffett sold again? Changes in Berkshire's holdings suggest Apple Inc. is being reduced again.

The latest regulatory documents show that Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A.US) owned by Buffett may have quietly reduced its large holding of Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) during the third quarter. According to the company's latest quarterly report, the cost of its consumer stock holdings decreased by about $1.2 billion compared to the previous quarter - these assets are mainly composed of Apple Inc. stock, indicating that this change in the books is likely due to further selling of Apple Inc. stock. In the third quarter, Apple Inc. stock price rose by more than 24%, providing Buffett with an ideal opportunity to take profits. It is understood that the "Oracle of Omaha," known for his long-term investments, made a remarkable series of reductions in Apple Inc. in 2024, astonishingly selling two-thirds of Berkshire's original holdings. In the second quarter of this year, Berkshire continued to reduce its holdings in Apple Inc. As of the end of June, the iPhone maker was still Berkshire's largest single holding, holding 280 million shares worth $57 billion. Later this month, Berkshire will submit detailed 13F filings to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, allowing investors to get a clearer understanding of the exact size of its Apple Inc. holdings. The filing will disclose all changes in individual stock holdings as of September 30. Buffett has previously hinted that reducing Apple Inc. stock holdings is for tax considerations, but some speculate that such a large-scale sell-off may indicate concerns about the overvaluation of the legendary investor towards Apple Inc. Some also believe that this is part of portfolio management - Apple Inc. stock once accounted for over 50% of Berkshire's portfolio, making the holding too large. Berkshire has been a net seller of stocks for 12 consecutive quarters, recouping more than $6 billion in cash in just the third quarter. A stock market valuation indicator that Buffett favored (the total market value of all publicly traded stocks in the U.S. compared to the U.S. Gross National Product) has reached a historically high level, reaching a warning level that he once described as "playing with fire."