Buffett's genius is always transparent because he has never veered from his most fundamental principle: to buy great companies at good prices, and hold them forever. This principle explains his top five holdings, which you probably would not find on the buy lists of most stock analysts. However, his top five holdings all have several things in common. They are big, well-run companies with strong balance sheets, and they generate a lot of cash that they return to shareholders through dividends.
1.Apple
At 23.84% of the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio, the company that Steve Jobs built is Buffett's largest holding. Berkshire Hathaway owns 251.9 million shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL) stock as of August 2018. This holding is valued at $46.6 billion. Apple passed Wells Fargo to take the #1 spot after Berkshire Hathaway bought additional Apple shares in February of 2018.
2.Wells Fargo & Company
At 12.82% of his portfolio, Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is Buffett's second-largest position and held the #1 spot for a number of years. Buffett started investing in Wells Fargo in 1989 and has been adding to his position ever since. He holds more than 452 million shares valued at $25.05 billion, as of August 15, 2018.
3.Kraft Heinz Company
Buffett’s third-largest holding came to him through a merger of food giants Kraft Food Group and H.J. Heinz Company. Buffett owned 500 million shares of Heinz prior to the merger. He facilitated the acquisition of working with his investment partner, 3G Capital, which owned a similar stake in Heinz. Buffett owns 325.6 million shares of the Kraft Heinz Company (KHC), valued at $20.45 billion, as of August 2018.
4.Bank of America
With 679 million shares to his name, Buffett's fourth-largest holding is in Bank of America (BAC). His holding is valued at $20 billion and makes up 9.79% of his portfolio. Bank of America is his second-largest holding in the finance sector after Wells Fargo.
5.Coca-Cola Company
Buffett once claimed he drinks about five cans of Coca-Cola per day, which may or may not be the reason why Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) stock is his fifth largest holding. It is certain he likes the durability of the company’s core product, which has remained virtually unchanged over time. Buffett started buying Coca-Cola shares in the late 1980s and did not stop until it comprised 25% of his portfolio, now that's a sugar addiction.
As of August 2018, Buffett holds 400 million shares with a $17.5 billion total market value and constituting 8.7% of his portfolio. As long as the company’s brand identity and global distribution systems remain world class, and its future cash flows remain high, Coca-Cola is likely to remain a top holding for Buffett.