Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Doubles Money in Coca-Cola, American Express, and Moody's

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Before retiring as CEO on Dec. 31, 2025, billionaire Warren Buffett saw his company, Berkshire Hathaway, transform into a trillion-dollar powerhouse. Berkshire's longest-tenured holdings, including Coca-Cola, American Express, and Moody's, have been generating eye-popping yields relative to their cost bases, with Berkshire doubling its money in these stocks every 21 to 30 months.

Why it matters

Buffett's investing prowess, particularly in long-term, dividend-paying stocks, has been a key driver of Berkshire Hathaway's success over the decades. As the company transitions to new leadership, the continued performance of these "forever" holdings will be crucial to maintaining Berkshire's status as a financial powerhouse.

The details

Berkshire Hathaway's longest-held investments, Coca-Cola (since 1988), American Express (since 1991), and Moody's (since 2000), have extremely low cost bases due to Buffett's long-term buy-and-hold strategy. This has allowed the dividend income alone from these stocks to double Berkshire's initial investment every 21 to 30 months. The companies' well-defined competitive advantages, such as Coca-Cola's global brand recognition, American Express's affluent customer base, and Moody's hedged business model, have contributed to their consistent performance.

• Berkshire Hathaway's longest-held investment is Coca-Cola, which Buffett first purchased in 1988.
• Berkshire Hathaway has held American Express since 1991.
• Berkshire Hathaway has held Moody's since 2000.