Berkshire Hathaway Increases Alphabet Stake to $36.6 Billion

CEO Greg Abel announced that Berkshire Hathaway increased its stake in Alphabet Inc. during the second quarter, adding $17 billion in shares. This follows an initial $10 billion investment made 15 months ago at a 6.5% discount. The conglomerate now holds approximately 106 million shares worth $36.6 billion, establishing Alphabet as its third-largest common stock holding.

Abel attributed the increased investment to Alphabet's position as a "significant player" in artificial intelligence. He noted that Berkshire's internal visibility into how AI delivers benefits across its various portfolio companies drove the incremental interest in the Google parent company.

Beyond equity, Abel identified the expansion of AI data centers as a primary growth opportunity for Berkshire Hathaway Energy. He observed that data centers accounted for roughly 8% of the load for the company's Iowa-based energy business last year. Abel stated his view that energy would be the primary constraint for the continued growth of AI.