Want to Invest Like Buffett? Here’s Exactly How to Follow His Every Move

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway must publicly disclose its U.S. stock holdings each quarter through SEC Form 13F filings. These reports, filed within 45 days of each quarter’s end, reveal every major stock position Berkshire holds, providing investors a free, transparent window into one of history’s most successful portfolios. But while you can see exactly what Buffett owns, copying him isn’t as simple, or as effective, as it sounds.

• Access Buffett’s holdings: Search “Berkshire Hathaway Inc.” on the SEC’s EDGAR database and open filings labeled “Form 13F-HR.” Each shows company names, share counts, and market values as of the quarter’s close.
• Use free trackers: Sites like Dataroma, WhaleWisdom, and GuruFocus summarize Buffett’s positions, portfolio weightings, and quarterly changes, making it easy to follow trends.
• Understand the delay: Each 13F reflects past holdings, up to 45 days old. By the time it’s public, prices often move, limiting your ability to match Buffett’s timing or entry price.
• Learn, don’t copy: Treat Buffett’s filings as an investing classroom, study his focus on durable brands, concentration over diversification, and long-term patience rather than mirroring every trade.
• Invest like Buffett—carefully: Buy Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B) shares for broad exposure, or use Buffett-style ETFs like Global X Guru Index ETF (GURU). Both simplify tracking but come with unique risks and costs.

For decades, Warren Buffett has been the gold standard of investing. The “Oracle of Omaha” transformed Berkshire Hathaway from a struggling textile company into a global conglomerate worth over $1 trillion, generating long-term returns that have made countless shareholders wealthy. His annual shareholder letters are read by millions, his investing principles are quoted endlessly, and his moves are followed obsessively by Wall Street.

But here’s what most people don’t realize: you don’t need millions of dollars or an MBA to see how Warren Buffett invests. Thanks to SEC Form 13F filings and modern technology, Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio holdings are publicly available every quarter، allowing everyday investors to study and even mirror his positions with just a few clicks, though not necessarily to replicate his exact strategy or results.

The Secret That’s Hiding in Plain Sight

Every institutional investment manager that exercises discretion over at least $100 million in Section 13(f) securities must file a quarterly report called Form 13F with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Under Rule 13f-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this filing discloses the manager’s long equity holdings، including the issuer name, number of shares, and market value. Berkshire Hathaway is no exception; as one of the largest institutional investors in the world, it reports its portfolio positions through Form 13F filings.

These filings are publicly available and free to access on the SEC’s EDGAR database. Managers must submit them within 45 days after the end of each calendar quarter, revealing their holdings as of the quarter’s close. In other words, Warren Buffett is legally required to “show his homework” four times a year، providing investors with a transparent look into Berkshire Hathaway’s stock portfolio.

How to See Buffett’s Exact Portfolio

You have several reliable ways to track Berkshire Hathaway’s stock holdings and quarterly changes.

Option 1: Go Directly to the Source

Visit the SEC’s EDGAR database and search for “Berkshire Hathaway Inc.”Look for filings labeled Form 13F-HR (the “Holdings Report”). Each 13F-HR lists every publicly traded U.S. equity Berkshire owned at quarter-end, company name, number of shares, and market value, filed within 45 days after each quarter closes, as required under Section 13(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Option 2: Use Portfolio-Tracking Websites

Free platforms such as Dataroma, WhaleWisdom, and GuruFocus compile 13F data from EDGAR and display it in easy-to-read tables. These sites let you view Berkshire’s current holdings, quarter-over-quarter changes, historical weightings, and long-term performance trends.

Option 3: Follow Financial News Coverage

Reputable outlets, CNBC, Bloomberg, Reuters, and The Wall Street Journal, publish detailed breakdowns immediately after each 13F release. Their summaries spotlight the biggest moves, including new positions, trimmed or exited holdings, and any notable sector shifts.

Understanding What You’re Seeing

When you open a 13F filing for Berkshire Hathaway on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) database, you’ll typically find around 40 to 45 U.S.-listed equity holdings. These quarterly filings disclose every stock Berkshire owns that meets federal reporting thresholds.

The Big Positions Matter Most

Buffett’s portfolio remains highly concentrated, the top five holdings make up roughly 70% of Berkshire’s U.S. equity portfolio. As of mid-2025, Apple alone represented more than one-fifth of that total. This structure reflects Buffett’s long-held belief that focused investing outperforms over-diversification.

Not Everything Is Buffett’s Pick

While Buffett manages core holdings such as Apple, Bank of America, and Coca-Cola, Berkshire’s investment managers Todd Combs and Ted Weschler oversee smaller positions. The 13F filing doesn’t specify which trades belong to whom, so investors can’t distinguish their individual portfolios.

The Timing Lag Is Real

Each 13F filing can be up to 45 days old by the time it’s released. For instance, positions as of March 31 may not appear until mid-May. This delay, confirmed by the SEC’s 13F reporting rule, means what you see is a snapshot of past holdings, not real-time data.

Three Ways to Actually Invest Like Buffett

Strategy 1: Buy Berkshire Hathaway Stock Itself

The simplest approach is to buy Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares (BRK.B) directly. Shares trade around $475–$480, offering investors a way to own a piece of everything in Buffett’s portfolio, plus wholly owned businesses such as GEICO, BNSF Railway, and Dairy Queen.

Pros: True diversification across public holdings and private subsidiaries; no need to rebalance; Buffett’s team manages all investment decisions; lower transaction costs.
Cons: No dividends (Berkshire’s yield is 0%); investors can’t control individual positions; includes private businesses that may not suit everyone.

Strategy 2: Replicate the Portfolio Manually

You can mirror Berkshire’s portfolio by buying the same publicly traded stocks in similar proportions. Focus on the top holdings like Apple, Bank of America, and Coca-Cola, which typically represent about 70% of the portfolio’s value.

Pros: Full control of positions; option to exclude stocks you dislike; potential to harvest tax losses; ability to collect dividends from individual holdings.
Cons: Requires significant capital for diversification; ongoing monitoring and rebalancing; transaction costs; and a 45-day delay in 13F filings means investors are always slightly behind.

Strategy 3: Use a Buffett-Tracking Fund or ETF

Another option is to invest through funds that follow Buffett-style strategies. While pure Berkshire-only ETFs are rare, several value-focused funds, such as the Global X Guru Index ETF (GURU), aim to replicate top investor portfolios, including Berkshire’s.

Pros: Professional management, automatic rebalancing, and easy diversification through fractional ownership.
Cons: Management fees; performance may differ from Berkshire’s exact holdings; some funds include non-Buffett stocks based on their methodology.

The Critical Caveats You Must Understand

Before you rush to copy Warren Buffett’s every move, consider these key limitations.

You’re Not Buying at His Price

By the time a Form 13F filing shows Buffett’s purchases, markets often react with a “Buffett bump,” pushing prices up 5–10%. You’ll never get the same entry price he did.

You Don’t Have His Timeline

Buffett’s favorite holding period is effectively forever. He can hold through multiple market cycles, while most investors sell during downturns. Without his patience and discipline, matching his returns is nearly impossible.

You’re Missing the Full Picture

A 13F only lists publicly traded U.S. stocks. It excludes Berkshire’s private companies, bonds, cash, and derivatives. Much of Berkshire’s value lies in subsidiaries like GEICO, BNSF Railway, and Dairy Queen, detailed in its annual report.

He Has Advantages You Don’t

Buffett negotiates special deals unavailable to regular investors. His 2008 Goldman Sachs and Bank of Americainvestments included preferred shares and warrants, terms not accessible to the public.

Context Matters

Buffett might sell for reasons unrelated to performance, regulations, rebalancing, or capital needs. Without context, copying his trades can easily mislead.

What You’ll Actually Learn From Watching Buffett

Even if you don’t copy his portfolio exactly, following Berkshire Hathaway’s 13F filings offers valuable education for investors seeking to understand how great capital allocators think.

Pattern Recognition: Over time, Buffett consistently favors businesses with strong brands, durable cash flows, and clear competitive advantages. His long-term holdings such as Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express reflect this philosophy. Tracking these moves helps investors recognize what predictable, well-managed companies look like.

Conviction in Action: Buffett doesn’t spread his bets thin. His top positions, like Apple and Bank of America, often make up the majority of Berkshire’s stock portfolio. This focus shows how conviction and concentration can outperform excessive diversification when paired with deep understanding.

Patience Personified: Some of Buffett’s holdings have remained in the portfolio for decades. Coca-Cola and American Express have delivered compounding returns since the late 1980s and early 1990s, demonstrating how long-term ownership amplifies wealth creation through consistency and time.

Opportunism in Crisis: During market turmoil, Buffett often takes advantage of fear. His 2008 deal with Goldman Sachs secured preferred shares with lucrative terms, exemplifying his belief in buying quality assets when others are selling. While not every downturn results in large public purchases, the principle remains: preparation and patience create opportunity.

The Bottom Line

Yes, you can invest like Warren Buffett by studying his Form 13F filings and either buying Berkshire Hathaway stock directly or replicating its disclosed holdings. The process is straightforward and legally accessible to any investor.

However, the real question is whether you should. Copying Buffett’s portfolio gives you exposure to some of the world’s strongest companies, hand-picked by one of history’s most successful investors, but it also comes with major limitations. You’ll always be at least one quarter behind, you won’t have Buffett’s private-deal access, and you’ll lack the context that drives his decisions.

A smarter approach is to treat 13F data as a learning tool rather than a shopping list. When Berkshire adds a position, ask why. Study the company’s fundamentals, competitive edge, and valuation. Learn Buffett’s principles, such as buying businesses with durable advantages and holding for the long term, and apply them to your own research.

Buffett didn’t build his fortune by copying anyone else’s trades. He succeeded by developing an independent philosophy grounded in discipline, patience, and deep understanding.

The 13F tells you what he owns, but only you can build the mindset that turns knowledge into wealth. To start, visit SEC EDGAR and search “Berkshire Hathaway 13F.” The best investing education in the world is available for free, you just have to study it.

About this topic
This article forms part of Mooloo’s investing education series, which explains how markets work, how risk and returns are generated, and how investors can make better long-term decisions.

Learn more in our How Investing Works guide.