Berkshire Hathaway purchased 39.8 million shares of Delta Air Lines, representing a 6.1% stake valued at $2.6 billion as of March 31, 2026 [1, 2]. This investment marks Berkshire Hathaway's return to the airline sector after it fully exited airline stocks during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 [2].
Delta became Berkshire Hathaway's 14th-largest holding at the end of the first quarter of 2026 [2]. The stake is part of a broader portfolio reshuffle under new CEO Greg Abel, who took over after Warren Buffett stepped down from the CEO role in 2026 but remains chairman and involved in investment decisions [2].
During the first quarter, Berkshire trimmed its holdings in Chevron and sold stakes in major companies including Mastercard, Visa, Amazon, UnitedHealth Group, Aon, Pool Corporation, Domino's Pizza, and Charter Communications [2]. The firm also initiated a new holding in Macy's worth approximately $55 million at the end of the quarter [2].
Berkshire Hathaway continues to hold a cash hoard near record levels, estimated at about $400 billion [2]. The Delta purchase signifies a shift by Berkshire toward selective reentry in sectors it had exited amid pandemic uncertainty.
The firm’s next portfolio update is expected with the release of second-quarter results later this year.
