Investing.com -- Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRKa) (NYSE:BRKb) remains one of the most extraordinary success stories in corporate and investment history. From humble beginnings, a $100 investment in Berkshire shares back in 1965—when Buffett took control—would have grown to $5.5 million by the end of last year, according to the company’s own figures.
That compares to just $39,000 had the same amount been placed in an S&P 500 index fund with dividends reinvested. The gap illustrates not just outperformance, but a staggering wealth-creation machine that has compounded investor capital at roughly double the rate of the market for six decades.
The comparison with the broader market is so extreme that the S&P 500 appears flat on a long-term chart alongside Berkshire’s trajectory. This outperformance has been fueled by Buffett’s disciplined approach: a focus on high-quality businesses, patient capital allocation, and a preference for holding through cycles.
Berkshire’s equity portfolio continues to reflect those principles. Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) remains the largest single holding, worth roughly $60 billion. American Express (NYSE:AXP), Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO), Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC), and Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) are long-time staples, each representing multibillion-dollar commitments maintained over decades.
Buffett’s energy exposure is anchored by solid stakes in Chevron (NYSE:CVX) and Occidental (NYSE:OXY), while newer positions in Japanese trading houses suggest a continued tilt toward durable cash flow.
At the same time, Berkshire’s cash holdings have surged to a record $347.7 billion, which underscores Buffett’s caution in an expensive market and his readiness to strike when valuations become attractive.
“The one problem with the investment business is that things don’t come along in an orderly fashion, and they never will,” Buffett said at the most recent annual shareholder meeting. “We’re running a business which is very, very, very opportunistic.”
In a year in which he decided to finally step down as the company’s CEO, Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio reflects Buffett’s enduring investment principles: a focus on companies with strong fundamentals, long-term growth potential, and a commitment to holding investments over extended periods.