Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has been on a selling streak, shedding a total of 19.2 million Bank of America shares over the course of three days. The conglomerate sold the shares for almost $779 million at an average price of $40.52 per share. This selling streak spanned 12 consecutive days, with total sales now exceeding $3.8 billion.
As a result of these recent sales, Bank of America has slid to the No.3 spot on Berkshire’s list of top holdings. The bank now trails behind Apple and American Express in terms of value. Apple holds the top spot with a valuation of $37.7 billion, while Bank of America stands at $37.2 billion. Before the selling spree, BofA was Berkshire’s second biggest holding. Berkshire remains the bank’s largest shareholder with a 12.1% stake.
Market Performance and Financial Sector Struggles
Bank of America’s stock has experienced a 5.2% drop this week, reaching as low as $38.98 during Thursday’s trading sessions. These declines have been attributed to recession fears impacting the financial sector as a whole. Despite the recent setbacks, BofA has shown resilience year-to-date, boasting a gain of over 17%, outperforming the S&P 500.
Buffett’s History with Bank of America
Warren Buffett’s relationship with Bank of America dates back to 2011 when he famously invested $5 billion in the bank’s preferred stock and warrants following the financial crisis. This move not only provided financial support to the struggling lender but also helped restore confidence in its stability. In 2017, Buffett converted his warrants, solidifying Berkshire’s position as BofA’s largest shareholder. At that time, Buffett declared that it would be a “long, long time” before he considered selling the shares, citing his admiration for the bank’s business, valuation, and management.
Under the leadership of Brian Moynihan, who has been at the helm since 2010, Bank of America reported strong results for the second quarter. The bank showcased growth in investment banking and asset management fees, along with a positive outlook on net interest income. Despite the current challenges facing the financial sector, BofA has been able to navigate the turbulent waters and deliver promising results under Moynihan’s guidance.
Leave a Reply