Berkshire's B Shares Rank 31st in Trading Volume as Buffett Bets on UnitedHealth Amid Regulatory and Pricing Challenges

Berkshire Hathaway’s Class B shares rose 0.40% on Aug. 14, with $2.00 billion in trading volume ranking it 31st in market activity. The conglomerate disclosed new investments in UnitedHealth Group, acquiring 5.04 million shares valued at $1.57 billion as of June 30. This position ranks as the 18th largest in Berkshire’s equity portfolio, trailing Amazon and Constellation Brands. The move follows UnitedHealth’s 46% year-to-date decline amid regulatory scrutiny over Medicare billing practices, a cyberattack, and leadership changes.

Berkshire also increased stakes in DR Horton, Lennar, Nucor, and Allegion, while reducing its Apple holdings by 20 million shares in Q2. The company sold $3 billion more in stocks than it purchased during the period, maintaining $344.1 billion in cash equivalents. Despite these shifts, the stock purchases—including Nucor, Lamar Advertising, and Chevron—lifted their after-hours prices, reflecting investor confidence in Buffett’s investment strategy. The conglomerate remains silent on whether Buffett, his lieutenants, or incoming CEO Greg Abel orchestrated specific transactions.

Buffett, turning 95 in late August, has historically criticized U.S. healthcare costs as a “tapeworm” on economic growth. His recent UnitedHealth acquisition contrasts with his past healthcare initiatives, such as the failed joint venture Haven with Amazon and JPMorgan. UnitedHealth’s shares surged 8.5% post-disclosure, though the insurer continues to grapple with public backlash over rising medical costs and federal investigations.

The 1-day return for a strategy buying top 500 stocks by trading volume from 2022 to present was 0.98%, yielding a total 31.52% over 365 days. This suggests short-term momentum capture but underscores market volatility and timing risks inherent in such approaches.