Buffett's firm adds Deere stake, ups bank holdings

[November 15, 2012]  OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Billionaire Warren Buffett's company revealed several new investments Wednesday, including a stake in Deere & Co., as part of a busy quarter of buying and selling for Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

The changes in Berkshire's investments as of Sept. 30 are detailed in a report the Omaha-based company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Berkshire said it held nearly 4 million shares of agricultural equipment maker Deere. The other new investments revealed Wednesday were: 1.6 million shares of Wabco Holdings and 1.25 million shares of Precision Castparts Corp.

Berkshire Hathaway officials do not typically comment on these quarterly filings, and Buffett did not respond immediately to a message about Wednesday's report.

During the third quarter, Berkshire added to its existing investments in Wells Fargo, Bank of New York Mellon Corp., General Motors, DirecTV, DaVita Inc., National Oilwell Varco Inc. and Viacom.

Berkshire also reduced its stakes in Johnson & Johnson, Kraft Foods, Lee Enterprises, Procter & Gamble and US Bancorp. It sold off 5.3 million shares of CVS Caremark Corp.

Investors watch Berkshire's investments closely because many often try to mimic Buffett's moves.

But the report doesn't distinguish between Buffett's stock picks and those made by the company's other investment managers, Todd Combs and Ted Weschler. Combs started at Berkshire last year, and Weschler started early this year.

Combs and Weschler each manage roughly $4 billion. Berkshire's stock portfolio was worth about $75.3 billion at the end of September.

Buffett has said that investments smaller than $300 million are likely to be the work of Combs or Weschler. Many of the changes reported Wednesday would likely be Combs' or Weschler's investments because they are below $300 million.

Besides investments, Berkshire owns more than 80 companies; including insurance, utility, railroad, furniture, jewelry, manufacturing, restaurant and apparel companies. Berkshire's insurance and utility businesses typically account for more than half of his company's net income.

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Online:

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.:
http://berkshirehathaway.com/

[Associated Press; By JOSH FUNK]

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