Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc said on Monday it has begun investing in the stocks of four large drugmakers, betting on an industry that could benefit when the world begins emerging from the coronavirus pandemic.
In a regulatory filing detailing its U.S.-listed stock holdings as of Sept. 30, Berkshire disclosed $5.7 billion of new healthcare stakes, including more than $1.8 billion each in Abbvie Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Merck & Co and $136 million in Pfizer Inc.
In a regulatory filing detailing its U.S.-listed stock holdings as of Sept. 30, Berkshire disclosed $5.7 billion of new healthcare stakes, including more than $1.8 billion each in Abbvie Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Merck & Co and $136 million in Pfizer NSE -0.82 % Inc.
Shares of the drugmakers rose in after-hours trading.
The filing signals where Buffett and his portfolio managers Todd Combs and Ted Weschler see value. Buffett normally handles large investments for Berkshire’s $245.3 billion stock portfolio himself.
“COVID-19 has made us think differently about healthcare,” said James Armstrong, president of Henry H. Armstrong & Associates in Pittsburgh, which owns Berkshire stock.
“The sector has become more efficient as big drug companies partner with smaller, inventive rivals,” Armstrong added. “But you will always need companies with scale for manufacturing and distribution, including vaccines with global application.”
