11 Stocks Warren Buffett Has Held the Longest

Warren Buffett is famous for seeking out and buying undervalued equities and shunning overvalued ones. As one of the most renowned investors of all time, Buffett seeks stocks to buy and hold based on their unique products or place in the economic landscape.

While the priorities of the CEO of a holding company like Berkshire Hathaway may differ, there's a lot that those looking to start investing can learn from the famed Oracle of Omaha. 

To start, let's look at some of Buffett's longest-held stocks and why he has maintained his positions.

(Note that there have been other stocks that he has held for more extended periods, but for this article, we are only highlighting stocks in which he currently has a position.)

Held since 2011

As one of the two leading credit card processors, Mastercard benefits from the "network effect." This means that as more companies use their products and services, they and Mastercard become more valuable. 

This is a key trait Buffett looks for when choosing stocks for his portfolio.

Held since 2011

Since Mastercard and Visa control over 85% of the credit card market, owning both stocks makes sense in a world moving toward cashless transactions. 

Like Mastercard, Visa also benefits from the "network effect." Both stocks show strong earnings growth and aren't trading at inflated levels, making them great candidates for Buffett's portfolio—and possibly yours if you're looking to improve your financial fitness and get ahead financially.

Held since 2011

This company is the leading provider of kidney dialysis services and one of Buffett's strongest positions in the healthcare sector. 

The stock's gains over the last year reflect the company's success with global expansion into Latin America. DVA doesn't offer dividends but trades at a discount when you look at its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, making it an attractive pick.

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Held since 2000

One of Buffett's longest-held stocks, Moody's offers business credit ratings and has a near-monopoly on this service.

Buffett's original stake translated to 15% of the company's stock. While he has since trimmed his holdings to 24.7 million shares from 48 million, he hasn't made any adjustments since 2013. 

He notes that Moody's has an economic "moat" in its enduring reputation, which his business partner Charlie Munger compares to Harvard University.

Held since 1991

Buffett's initial stake in AmEx dates back to the 1960s when the famous "Salad Oil Scandal" tanked the credit card company's reputation and caused significant financial damage.

However, Buffett saw past the bad press and realized that AmEx still had the trust of its customers, so he took a small stake in the company. In 1991, he expanded this to a $300 million position.

Held since 1988

The 1987 stock market crash wasn't kind to Coke's stock price, but it was the perfect time for Buffett to snatch up shares of the soft drink mogul at a discount.

In a Berkshire Hathaway chairman's letter, he noted that he anticipates holding Coca-Cola forever. The company's attractive features included an appealing global brand and a strong distribution network.

Held since 2012

While it might not be a sexy stock, VeriSign provides the necessary services you're taking advantage of now — web domain registration and internet infrastructure. 

Although the company's growth has slowed, it has predictable, recurring customer income, making it a vital component of Buffett's portfolio.

Held since 2015

Kraft Heinz hasn't had a great return in recent years, but Buffett hasn't sold his position.

The packaged food giant has been undercut by Walmart's private labels and other store brands, but Buffett is still confident that Kraft Heinz has several strong brands that will withstand the tests of time and generics.

He may also have hope for a turnaround as the new chief marketing officer, Miguel Patricio, has seen great success in increasing prices to offset inflation.

Held since 2016

Like many other investors, Buffett holds Apple due to the iPhone's strong brand appeal and loyal customer following. However, Buffett sold off a good portion of his Apple stock, although he still holds 300 million shares.

Experts speculate this could be due to a rise in capital gains taxes or an overconcentration of the stock in Buffett's portfolio.

Held since 2016

Charter Communications, the parent company of Time Warner Cable and Spectrum, provides cable TV, sports, and news networks. Since his initial purchase of 9.34 million shares in 2016, Buffett has sold off small chunks of the stock between 2017 and 2021.

Despite a falling stock price, the Oracle has held his position since then, possibly due to the company's small gains in rural areas and streaming services or his penchant for undervalued companies.

Held since 2011

Buffett bought $5 billion of Bank of America stock in 2011 and has steadily purchased more until July 2024, when he began selling off the stock.

Buffett's stake is less than 10% of the bank's stock. While the rationale behind this sell-off hasn't been made public, it's important to note that Bank of America is still the third-largest holding in Buffett's portfolio.

Warren Buffett doesn't always choose winning stocks, but his track record speaks for itself. The Oracle of Omaha has beaten the S&P 500 over the last 20 years by nearly double.

And while you can't match your portfolio exactly to Warren Buffett's, you can rely on the same principles he uses for success to build your wealth: Purchasing stocks that are undervalued, favoring companies with economic "moats" to protect their success, and choosing securities and industries that are enhanced with the "network effect" to make them relevant for years to come.