For six decades, Warren Buffett built an empire at Berkshire Hathaway by identifying high quality companies and holding them with ironclad discipline. After retiring at the end of 2025, Buffett passed the torch to Greg Abel, a man he carefully groomed for the role during Abel’s tenure as vice chairman of non insurance business operations. While leadership has changed, the strategy remains remarkably consistent. Abel has signaled his commitment to the established playbook of favoring durable businesses at fair prices, a philosophy reflected in the current state of the portfolio where a staggering sixty eight percent of assets are concentrated in just five stocks.
This tight concentration centers on heavy hitters including American Express, Coca Cola, Bank of America, Alphabet, and Apple. Most of these have been staples for years, though Alphabet is a more recent addition that Abel has aggressively expanded this year. Among these giants, Apple stands out as the most compelling opportunity heading into September. The tech titan is currently navigating a pivotal transition following Tim Cook’s departure earlier this month, with John Ternus taking over as CEO. Unlike his predecessor’s broad operational focus, Ternus brings a deep background in hardware engineering that suggests a renewed emphasis on raw product innovation.
Investors are particularly focused on Apple’s upcoming launch event on September ninth, which is expected to showcase new iPhones and watches alongside a highly anticipated update to Siri. Because Apple was perceived as lagging behind competitors in the artificial intelligence race, this rollout serves as a critical test of their AI capabilities and could include the debut of their first ever folding phone. These developments provide Ternus with a platform to define his vision and potentially unlock new growth drivers for the company’s ecosystem.
While some analysts point to Apple’s premium valuation as a deterrent, others argue that its massive competitive moat justifies the price tag. The company possesses an incredibly loyal user base that fuels record breaking recurring revenue through its various digital services. By combining this financial stability with an aggressive push back into AI and cutting edge hardware under new leadership, Apple emerges as the standout choice for those looking to follow Greg Abel’s lead this month.
