Which Stocks Is Warren Buffett Snatching Up as the Market Tumbles?

Over the past couple of years, Warren Buffett hasn't purchased numerous stocks, most likely due to their elevated valuations. Nevertheless, the decline in the stock market has led to considerable drops in the share prices of various companies that this renowned investor may find appealing.

It is certain that Buffett possesses ample funds at his disposal should he choose to invest more. Berkshire Hathaway concluded 2024 with an enormous war chest of $334 billion in cash. What shares is he acquiring amid the market downturn?

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Those we are aware of

Typically, the response to this query would be that we aren't aware of which specific stocks Buffett has been purchasing. Berkshire Hathaway sent their most recent 13F submission to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 14, 2025, detailing their portfolio as of the close of Q4. It’s likely they will not submit their subsequent 13F report with information about their positions for the first quarter until around mid-May.

Nevertheless, at times Buffett makes public statements regarding stocks he has previously acquired or divested before the 13F document is submitted. There are also instances where Berkshire needs to issue an additional regulatory report pertaining to their investment activities. This secondary scenario took place just last week.

On March 17, 2025, Berkshire disclosed that it had acquired extra shares in five different Japanese companies. Sumitomo (OTC: SSUM.F) (OTC: SSUM.Y) , Marubeni (OTC: MARUF) (OTC: MARUY) , Itochu (OTC: ITOCF) (OTC: ITOCY) , Mitsui (OTC: MITSF) (OTC: MITSY) , and Mitsubishi (OTC: MSBHF) (OTC: MTSU.Y) Buffett mentioned in his 2023 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders that these Japanese trading companies were part of a chosen list of stocks he intends to "hold permanently."

He suggested as well that Berkshire might increase its holdings in those Japanese equities in his latest letter to shareholders. Earlier this year, Buffett noted, " Over time , you may notice an uptick in Berkshire’s holdings across all five."

Other guesses

Could Buffett potentially purchase additional stocks amid this market downturn? It’s possible, yet we cannot confirm it definitively. However, based on my estimation, there’s a reasonable chance that he might have kept increasing his substantial position in Berkshire Hathaway's holdings. Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) .

Buffett has purchased Occidental shares in almost every quarter since he first established a stake in the oil and gas company back in early 2022. He informed Berkshire Hathaway’s shareholders that this is among the few stocks he wishes to hold onto long-term. Notably, Berkshire holds warrants which permit them to acquire additional Oxy stock at a predetermined price.

I wouldn't be astonished if Buffett has increased Berkshire's stake in this. Sirius XM Holdings (NASDAQ: SIRI) , anyway. It appears that the satellite radio operator has become one of the multi-billionaire investor's top picks recently. Sirius XM is also relatively inexpensive, with its shares trading at just 7.8 times future earnings.

Occasionally, Buffett gradually increases his holdings in companies across multiple quarters. It’s plausible that he—or one of his investment managers, Todd Combs and Ted Weschler—might be following this approach with the newer entries into Berkshire's portfolio like Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ) , Domino's Pizza (NASDAQ: DPZ) , and/or Pool Corporation (NASDAQ: POOL) .

If I were to guess which stock Buffett might be purchasing amid the general market downturn, my bet would fall on Constellation Brands. The company, famous for brands like Corona and Modelo, saw its share price drop significantly in 2025 following an underwhelming forecast for that year. While some investors fled, Buffett—who focuses on long-term prospects—might view this selloff as a chance to buy more shares.

Do you think you should also invest in these stocks?

Investors should not purchase any of these shares merely because Buffett is (or might be) acquiring them. Nonetheless, I believe that a few of these stocks deserve serious attention from investors.

Investors seeking income may appreciate Sirius XM's forward dividend yield of 4.5%. The appealing dividend seems secure given the company's low payout ratio. payout ratio at 31.5% along with robust free cash flow.

My personal favorite from the bunch is Occidental Petroleum, although I think it might be Buffett’s top choice as well. This firm stands out as a frontrunner in the North American oil and gas sector; they’re also at the forefront of innovation within their field. carbon capture and storage The technology sector is noted as well, with Oxy's stock appearing fairly priced at a forward P/E ratio of 13.4.

Is investing $1,000 in Occidental Petroleum at this moment a good idea?

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Keith Speights holds stakes in Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has investments in and endorses Berkshire Hathaway and Domino's Pizza. They also recommend shares in Constellation Brands and Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool possesses a disclosure policy .