does berkshire hathaway own amazon stock? Quick Answer

Berkshire Hathaway's ownership of Amazon (AMZN)

does berkshire hathaway own amazon stock is a frequent question from investors and observers. In short: yes — Berkshire Hathaway publicly reported a position in Amazon beginning in the quarter ended March 31, 2019. This article explains the background, timeline, estimated size and significance of the holding, who made the trade, how that information is reported, key public comments, and important caveats for readers who want to verify current numbers using SEC filings and reputable financial trackers.

As of the 13F filings and media reports included below, Berkshire’s Amazon position has been described by several outlets as roughly in the single-digit millions to low double-digit millions of shares (frequently summarized as “about 10 million shares” in press coverage), but the exact count and dollar value change with quarterly filings and market prices. For time-sensitive figures we note reporting dates and sources.

Quick note on scope and tone: this article is factual and date-qualified. It is not investment advice. For current trade execution or custody of digital assets, consider Bitget and Bitget Wallet for secure account and wallet services.

Background

Berkshire Hathaway — investment approach

Berkshire Hathaway is a diversified holding company led by Warren Buffett (chairman and CEO) and supported by two investment managers who run significant portions of the public equity portfolio: Ted Weschler and Todd Combs. Berkshire reports its U.S. equity holdings quarterly via SEC Form 13F, which discloses long U.S. equity positions held at the end of each quarter. Berkshire’s approach is traditionally long-term and value-oriented, but the company has also allocated capital to growth names when its investment team identifies attractive long-term opportunities.

Amazon (AMZN) — company overview and investment appeal

Amazon.com, Inc. (ticker: AMZN) operates global e-commerce platforms and Amazon Web Services (AWS), its cloud-computing division. The company’s combination of scale in retail, recurring revenue from cloud services, and consistent reinvestment for growth has attracted many long-term investors seeking exposure to durable competitive advantages and growth potential.

Acquisition history and timeline

Initial purchase (Q1 2019)

Berkshire Hathaway’s publicly reported stake in Amazon began with the Form 13F filed for the quarter ending March 31, 2019. That filing showed a newly reported long position in Amazon shares. Media coverage at the time noted the purchase as notable because Warren Buffett historically avoided large stakes in many high-growth technology companies.

As of the 13F filed for the quarter ending March 31, 2019, multiple outlets reported Berkshire’s initial Amazon position. (Reporting date and sources: as of filings covering Q1 2019; see 13F data and coverage by Investopedia, Yahoo Finance, and GuruFocus.)

Subsequent adjustments (buys and partial sales)

After the initial 2019 entry, Berkshire’s Amazon holdings were adjusted in subsequent quarters. Some quarters showed increases, and others showed partial trims. Media and portfolio trackers (e.g., Stockcircle, GuruFocus, Nasdaq/Motley Fool summaries) catalog these activity points based on successive 13F filings. Transaction counts and sizes reported vary across trackers because of filing interpretation, rounding, and possible later amendments to filings.

For example, stock-transaction summaries compiled by data services list multiple buy entries in 2019 as Berkshire built its position and occasional small reductions in later quarters. Exact trade dates within a quarter are not visible in 13F filings; the filings only reflect positions held at the quarter’s end.

Reporting through SEC filings (Form 13F)

Form 13F is the U.S. SEC-required quarterly disclosure for institutional investment managers with at least $100 million in qualifying securities under management. These filings list long positions in U.S. exchange-traded equity securities as of the quarter’s end. For Berkshire, Form 13F is the primary, regulatory source used by journalists and data providers to identify the current share count and approximate market value of its public equity holdings.

Because 13F reporting is delayed (filed within 45 days of quarter-end) and limited in scope (long U.S.-listed equities only), many public summaries also rely on data aggregators to translate raw 13F numbers into readable holdings histories and dollar-value estimates.

Size and significance of the holding

Number of shares and estimated value

Multiple reputable sources summarized Berkshire’s Amazon stake as roughly 10 million shares at several reporting points. To remain factually cautious: media outlets and data trackers commonly describe the holding as in the single-digit millions to low double-digit millions, which translates to a multi-billion-dollar value at typical Amazon prices during 2019–2024 market ranges.

• As of the 13F for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, Berkshire reported an initial Amazon stake (source: SEC 13F filings; media summaries).
• As of mid-2024 reporting cycles, multiple trackers cited a holding primarily characterized as around 10 million shares in cumulative reporting, with market-value estimates varying by share price and reporting date (sources: GuruFocus, Nasdaq/Motley Fool, Yahoo Finance; see References).

Because market prices change daily, the dollar value of the stake will vary. Always verify the most recent 13F and market data to calculate up-to-date dollar values.

Percentage of Berkshire’s portfolio and Amazon’s outstanding shares

The Amazon stake has generally represented a small fraction of Berkshire’s overall publicly disclosed equity portfolio — typically under 1% of the total by market value in many reports — because Berkshire’s balance sheet includes very large positions in other public equities and wholly owned operating businesses. Relative to Amazon’s total outstanding shares, Berkshire’s holding was a very small percentage and therefore did not confer any controlling influence over Amazon’s corporate governance.

Relative ranking within Berkshire’s holdings

At times, Amazon was listed among Berkshire’s mid-to-larger public equity positions, sometimes placing in the mid-teens or top-20 public holdings depending on quarter-to-quarter adjustments and market moves in other holdings. Various portfolio trackers rank holdings by market value; the position’s ranking has fluctuated with price movements in Amazon and other portfolio names.

Decision-makers and rationale

Who initiated the trade

Warren Buffett has publicly acknowledged that one of Berkshire’s investment managers initiated the Amazon purchase. Media reports and Berkshire commentary attribute the initial buy to one of the two portfolio managers, Ted Weschler or Todd Combs, rather than Buffett himself. Buffett has also stated that he thinks he “should have bought earlier,” signaling he viewed the position favorably ex post.

Investment thesis cited

Reported rationales for Berkshire’s Amazon position center on long-term growth prospects tied to:

• Amazon’s large and growing e-commerce presence and marketplace scale;
• The high-margin, recurring revenue stream of Amazon Web Services (AWS);
• Strong competitive positioning and management capabilities.

These themes are consistent with Berkshire’s long-term orientation, but the firm’s ultimate investment decisions are tempered by internal risk/reward evaluations and capital allocation priorities.

Public statements and media coverage

Warren Buffett’s remarks

Buffett has been candid in media appearances and shareholder meetings about not buying Amazon earlier and has praised the performance of some tech-enabled businesses in hindsight. In public statements, he credited Berkshire’s investment managers for finding and executing the Amazon trade. (Reporting: see Investopedia, Yahoo Finance, and Motley Fool pieces summarizing Buffett’s comments and remarks in shareholder communications.)

Coverage in financial press and trackers

Major financial outlets and data services — including GuruFocus, Nasdaq/Motley Fool, Yahoo Finance, Stockcircle, and Investopedia — track Berkshire’s 13F filings and publish summaries of Amazon transaction history and estimated values. These outlets are typical sources for readers who want quick, interpreted views of changes in the holding.

As of specific reporting dates, these outlets have published transaction histories and holdings summaries: for example, Stockcircle published a multi-transaction summary of Berkshire’s Amazon buys and adjustments; GuruFocus maintains a holdings history table; Nasdaq and Motley Fool offered descriptive pieces quantifying Berkshire’s stake and evaluating Buffett’s take on the trade.

Reporting limitations and caveats

13F limitations and timing

Form 13F filings report positions at the end of a quarter and are filed up to 45 days later. They:

• Do not show intraday or mid-quarter trades;
• Do not show short positions, derivatives, or cash;
• Show only long U.S.-listed equity positions (so offshore or privately held equity, as well as many derivative exposures, are excluded).

Because of these constraints, 13F data give a lagged and partial view of an institutional manager’s exposure.

Data-provider differences

Different data providers can report different share counts or valuation breakdowns for the same position. Reasons include varying interpretation of filing footnotes, rounding, delayed amendments to filings, and whether aggregated holdings include positions managed by subsidiaries or separate legal entities. Users should consult the original 13F filings when accuracy matters.

Indirect holdings and corporate structure

Berkshire is a conglomerate with many operating subsidiaries. Some subsidiaries maintain separate investment portfolios (for example, insurance-affiliate investment accounts), and not all subsidiary exposures are attributable to Berkshire’s central equity-management team. Where relevant, media and 13F summaries aim to isolate the public-equity positions under Berkshire’s investment managers, but readers should be aware that the conglomerate structure can complicate simple attribution.

Market and investor implications

Significance for retail and institutional investors

When Berkshire buys or sells a name, many investors interpret the move as a signal because of Berkshire’s size and reputation. However, the presence of Berkshire in a company’s register is one data point among many. Observers should:

• Use 13F data as a starting point for research, not a substitute for independent analysis;
• Remember 13F data are delayed and incomplete (no real-time trade timing, and no short/derivative detail);
• Consider a firm’s fundamentals, valuation, risk factors, and one’s own investment horizon before making allocation decisions.

This article does not provide investment advice; it presents factual, verifiable information and points readers toward primary regulatory sources for verification.

Impact on Amazon’s ownership landscape

Berkshire’s reported stake in Amazon has been too small to affect control or operational strategy at Amazon. Berkshire’s position is notable more for the prestige and attention it brings rather than for corporate influence. Amazon’s ownership structure is dominated by many institutional and retail holders, and large voting control remains diffuse.

Frequently asked: direct answers and verification

• Q: does berkshire hathaway own amazon stock?

  • A: Yes. Berkshire reported a public equity position in Amazon beginning in the March 31, 2019 Form 13F.

• Q: does berkshire hathaway own amazon stock in large quantities?

  • A: Berkshire’s reported stake has been described in media reports as roughly around 10 million shares at certain reporting points. The position is meaningful in absolute-dollar terms but small relative to Berkshire’s total equity portfolio and tiny relative to Amazon’s total shares outstanding. Verify exact counts by checking the latest 13F.

• Q: does berkshire hathaway own amazon stock now?

  • A: To answer "now," consult the latest SEC Form 13F filing for Berkshire Hathaway and current market data. 13F filings for quarter-ends are the authoritative public disclosure for long U.S. equity positions.

• Q: does berkshire hathaway own amazon stock because Buffett wanted it?

  • A: Public commentary indicates at least one of Berkshire’s portfolio managers initiated the purchase. Buffett has publicly credited his managers and acknowledged he could have bought earlier; he did not claim sole initiation in primary statements covered by press reports.

These FAQs repeat the central question (does berkshire hathaway own amazon stock) to make verification straightforward for readers.

How to verify holdings yourself

1. Check Berkshire Hathaway’s latest Form 13F (filed with the SEC) for the quarter-end of interest to see the reported share count and value for AMZN as disclosed on that filing. Form 13F is the regulatory primary source.
2. Cross-check with reputable data aggregators (e.g., GuruFocus, Stockcircle, Nasdaq/Motley Fool summaries) that parse 13F filings and produce historical holding tables.
3. Use the quarter-end market price to convert reported share counts into an estimated dollar value for the holding as of the filing date.

As of the 13F filings available through mid-2024, multiple data providers summarized Berkshire’s Amazon position as approximately 10 million shares in cumulative reporting snapshots (source: GuruFocus, Nasdaq/Motley Fool, Stockcircle; see References). Always record and quote the filing date when reporting counts.

Reporting examples with dates (sourced statements)

• "As of March 31, 2019, Berkshire Hathaway’s Form 13F included an initial long position in Amazon." (Source: SEC 13F filings and contemporaneous media coverage.)

• "As of data summaries through mid-2024, multiple outlets reported the Amazon stake in the single-digit to low double-digit millions of shares, often summarized as about 10 million shares." (Sources: GuruFocus, Nasdaq/Motley Fool, Yahoo Finance — reporting timeframe: mid-2024 snapshots of historical 13F data.)

• "As of reporting in industry trackers, the Amazon position has been a small percentage of Berkshire’s public-equity portfolio and an even smaller fraction of Amazon’s total outstanding shares." (Sources: Stockcircle, GuruFocus, Yahoo Finance.)

Additional context on institutional holding disclosure

Institutional holdings are widely tracked because they provide transparency into large manager positions. But practical limitations mean:

• Filings are delayed and may omit intraday trading and derivatives
• Filings report positions at a specific cut-off and so are point-in-time
• Different providers may present slightly different historical tallies due to filing interpretation

For the clearest view of whether "does berkshire hathaway own amazon stock" at a given moment, the best practice is: consult the most recent 13F filing and cross-reference reputable data providers that publish parsed results.

See also

• Berkshire Hathaway
• Warren Buffett
• Amazon (AMZN)
• U.S. SEC Form 13F
• Todd Combs
• Ted Weschler

References (selected primary and reputable secondary sources)

• SEC Form 13F filings for Berkshire Hathaway (primary regulatory source; quarterly filings provide share counts and values).
• Stockcircle — "Warren Buffett: 5 Amazon.com transactions (Berkshire ...)" (transaction-history summary and interpretation).
• GuruFocus — "Warren Buffett's Amazon.com Inc (AMZN) Holding History" (holdings history and valuation snapshots).
• Yahoo Finance — coverage of Berkshire’s Amazon stake and contextual analysis.
• Nasdaq / The Motley Fool — "How Much Amazon Stock Does Billionaire Warren Buffett Own?" (figures and commentary in accessible format).
• Investopedia — "Berkshire Hathaway Has Bought Amazon Shares" (background and Buffett comments summarized).
• The Motley Fool — related coverage on billionaire holdings and Amazon.
• Wikipedia — "List of assets owned by Berkshire Hathaway" (for broader corporate holdings context).

Note on dates: where specific numbers are cited above, they are presented with commentary that the exact figure depends on the reporting date and 13F filings. For precise, up-to-date counts and dollar values, consult the latest SEC 13F filing for Berkshire Hathaway and the contemporaneous market price of AMZN.

Important caveats and closing guidance

• does berkshire hathaway own amazon stock? Yes, publicly reported beginning in Q1 2019. That is a factual, documented position based on SEC Form 13F disclosures and corroborated by multiple reputable financial outlets.

• The exact number of shares and current market value change quarter to quarter. For accuracy, reference the latest 13F filing and reputable data providers.

• The presence of Berkshire in a company’s shareholder list is informative but not prescriptive. This article does not recommend buying or selling securities.

Further exploration: if you want to follow institutional holdings, set alerts for Berkshire’s 13F filings and use trusted data services to monitor changes. For custody and trading of digital assets related to company research or tokenized exposure, consider Bitget and Bitget Wallet for secure services tailored to active traders and long-term holders.

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