Warren Buffett Reveals Regret on Apple Stock Sale, Acknowledges Significant Returns

Warren Buffett acknowledged selling AAPL shares "too soon," confirming that Berkshire Hathaway booked over $100 billion in pre-tax profits on its Apple investment despite exiting the bulk of its position through 2023 and 2024. In characteristic fashion, Buffett softened the admission: "I sold it too soon, but I bought it even sooner, so yeah."

Berkshire began accumulating Apple shares around 2016, building a stake that peaked at roughly $170 billion in market value. The firm reduced the holding by approximately two-thirds over 2023 and 2024, with the most recent tranche sold in February 2026, leaving a position worth approximately $40 billion — still 22.6% of Berkshire's total equity portfolio and its single largest holding. Buffett called Apple "remarkable" and said it is "better than any business we own outright."

Despite the regret, Buffett stated he would not add to Berkshire's AAPL position at current market prices, underscoring that the admission was retrospective rather than a buy signal. For Apple investors, the commentary provides an implicit endorsement of the company's underlying business quality from one of history's most respected capital allocators, even as the stock remains subject to broader macro volatility and the ongoing AI capital expenditure cycle.