Abel Surpasses Buffett in Top Holding with $47 Billion Bet on Japan

Greg Abel's tenure as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway has been marked by significant changes to its $360 billion investment portfolio. Since taking over from Warren Buffett on December 31, Abel has made his mark, jettisoning 16 stocks and piling into Google parent Alphabet.

However, it appears that Alphabet is not the top holding in Berkshire's portfolio. According to recent figures, Abel has nearly $47 billion invested in a group of Japanese stocks, led by the sogo shosha - Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Itochu, Marubeni, and Sumitomo.

The reason for this investment strategy is likely due to valuation. The stock market entered 2026 at its second-priciest valuation in history, making it challenging for investors to find bargains. Japanese stocks, on the other hand, have been trading at more attractive price-to-earnings ratios compared to U.S. stocks.

The sogo shosha and Tokio Marine offer robust capital-return programs, featuring steady dividends and share buybacks, which is in line with Abel's investment approach. Like his predecessor, he favors businesses that offer value and reward long-term investors.