Buffett Successor’s Debut: Cuts Chevron Stake, $8.5 Billion Taylor Morrison Acquisition

Berkshire Hathaway trimmed its Chevron position by approximately $8 billion in the first quarter, reducing its stake from roughly 6.6% to 4.2%, while remaining the fourth-largest shareholder. The average disposal price was about $182.59. Berkshire established its initial position in 2020 at a cost of around $65 and increased its holdings in 2022 at an average price of about $124. Chevron's share price hit a record high in March following a surge in oil prices, offering an ideal exit window.

As of the end of March, Berkshire's cash and Treasury holdings reached a record high of $397 billion. The capital freed up by this divestment has, to some extent, provided liquidity support for acquisitions.

Berkshire Hathaway is acquiring all outstanding shares of Taylor Morrison for $72.50 per share, representing an equity value of approximately $6.8 billion and a total enterprise value of $8.5 billion including debt, a 24% premium over the target's closing price last Friday.

Taylor Morrison is one of the top ten residential homebuilders in the U.S., having delivered nearly 13,000 homes in 2025. This transaction will link Berkshire's existing residential ecosystem—including paint brand Benjamin Moore, roofing materials supplier Johns Manville, manufactured home builder Clayton Homes, and its insurance and mortgage businesses—to create an integrated footprint spanning materials, development, and financial services.

Abel’s timing is intriguing. Late May data showed that U.S. new home sales fell to an annualized rate of 623,000 units, far below expectations; 30-year mortgage rates remained at 6.89%; and the inventory turnover cycle lengthened to 9.8 months. The residential market is currently in a trough.

But Berkshire’s tradition is precisely to be contrarian. At the May shareholder meeting, Abel clearly stated that he would continue the value investing system: taking heavy positions in high-quality assets, holding for the long term, and strictly adhering to a margin of safety. Taylor Morrison CEO Palmer remarked that Berkshire’s long-term capital provides the most stable anchor for the multi-year residential development cycle.

Since the second quarter of 2025, Berkshire has been gradually acquiring shares of Lennar ( LEN ), DR Horton ( DHI) and other homebuilders; this full acquisition marks an upgrade from "passive holding" to "active operational control." This is the first major signal of industrial integration strategy in the Abel era.

Abel assesses that the long-term structural shortage in the U.S. residential market will ultimately drive a recovery. If correct, this investment is poised to replicate Chevron-style excess returns; if the recovery lags, the nearly $400 billion cash reserve provides an ample buffer.

Over the next six to twelve months, whether capital continues to rotate from energy into other cyclical sectors will serve as a key window for observing investment trends in the post-Buffett era.

This content was translated using AI and reviewed for clarity. It is for informational purposes only.