Berkshire's Greg Abel Sells UnitedHealth: Smart or Premature?

In Berkshire Hathaway's latest quarterly filing, Greg Abel, who now oversees 94% of the conglomerate's massive stock portfolio, conducted significant sales. The most notable exit was the complete sale of Berkshire's stake in UnitedHealth Group, a position of about 5.1 million shares acquired just last year.

This wasn't an isolated move. Abel also led Berkshire to exit positions in other well-known companies including Amazon, Mastercard, Visa, and Domino's Pizza. Many of these positions were likely initiated by former portfolio manager Todd Combs.

The proceeds from these sales were reportedly funneled into new and expanded holdings. Berkshire established new positions in Delta Air Lines and Macy's, and more than tripled its existing stake in Alphabet, the parent company of Google.

This activity marks one of the first major portfolio shifts under Abel's stewardship, signaling a move away from some legacy bets to fund new convictions. The sale of UnitedHealth is particularly eye-catching as it occurred just before the stock embarked on a significant rally.

The sale matters because it pits a fundamental, valuation-focused investment philosophy against short-term price momentum. UnitedHealth's stock has surged over 40% since April 1st, driven by strong earnings and positive news on Medicare reimbursements.

On the surface, selling right before such a rally seems like a mistake. However, Abel's decision underscores a focus on risk and future execution. UnitedHealth's management has admitted its turnaround is still a work in progress, and the stock's current valuation of 21 times forward earnings hinges on achieving a forecasted 12.3% earnings growth.

If UnitedHealth fails to meet these elevated expectations or sustain double-digit growth, the stock is vulnerable to a sharp pullback. The company's ability to leverage AI for cost savings and secure future Medicare increases are key, yet uncertain, drivers.

For investors, this highlights the classic tension between trading on price action and investing on business fundamentals. Abel's move suggests Berkshire is prioritizing the latter, willing to forgo further gains if the risk/reward profile no longer aligns with its standards.