Berkshire May Sell Nearly All Kraft Heinz Stake, Signaling Post-Buffett Portfolio Shift

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B) is preparing to potentially sell "up to" nearly all of its 27.5% stake in Kraft Heinz (KHC), valued at $7.5 billion, according to a recent SEC filing. This marks a significant potential portfolio adjustment by new CEO Greg Abel and signals possible selling pressure for the long-underperforming investment. The filing indicates the sale is not certain and may not be a single transaction. Kraft Heinz shares closed at $23.20 on January 23, down 1.4% for the week. Berkshire's cost basis for the stake was $9.8 billion, representing an unrealized loss of approximately $2.3 billion. Analysts view the potential move as an effort by Abel to streamline the portfolio early in his tenure, which would further swell Berkshire's cash pile—already over $350 billion as of late September—and increase pressure to deploy capital or address shareholder calls for dividends.