Berkshire Hathaway Shares Dip 0.58% as $1.91B Volume Ranks 26th on Strategic Shift to Cyclical Sectors

On August 25, 2025, Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) closed with a 0.58% decline, trading at $489.00 per share. The stock saw a trading volume of $1.91 billion, ranking 26th in market activity for the day. Recent portfolio adjustments and sector bets by Warren Buffett’s conglomerate have drawn investor attention, particularly its $1.8 billion allocation to steelmaker Nucor and homebuilders D.R. Horton and Lennar. These moves signal a strategic shift toward cyclical industries, aligning with expectations of economic growth and infrastructure demand. Nucor’s competitive edge in low-cost mini-mill production and its 52-year dividend growth streak further underscore the investment’s appeal.

Berkshire’s decision to offload stakes in Apple and Bank of America, reducing positions by 69% and 41% respectively, highlights a rebalancing of its portfolio. The firm also entered new positions in UnitedHealth Group and Allegion, reflecting a mix of defensive and industrial plays. Analysts note that Nucor’s forward valuation (13x earnings) and exposure to rising steel prices—bolstered by Trump-era import tariffs—position it for earnings growth. Meanwhile, homebuilders D.R. Horton and Lennar benefit from long-term housing market tailwinds, including infrastructure projects and semiconductor fabrication expansions.

A backtested strategy involving the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume from 2022 to 2025 yielded a 31.52% total return over 365 days, with a Sharpe ratio of 0.79. The approach captured short-term momentum, achieving a peak daily gain of 4.95% and a trough of -4.47%. These results highlight the volatility inherent in high-volume trading strategies, though they suggest resilience in capturing market trends amid macroeconomic shifts.