Warren Buffett appears to be clearing out Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)'s portfolio of its PetroChina ADR (NYSE: PTR). shares. Berkshire actually owns the regular shares, not the ADRs. According to Reuters, Berkshire Hathaway has reduced its stake to about 3.1%, and since the required filings with the Security and Exchange Commission happen in the rears, Berkshire Hathaway may have disposed of all its shares by now.
When I posted Serious Money: Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) cuts PetroChina (PTR) holdings again, I was under the impression that Buffett had maintained a sizable position in the stock. By most standards, this might still be the case, but as a percentage of what Berkshire held, it is clear now that it has decided to unload the stock, siding with its more vocal shareholders that it had no business supporting a company doing business with a Somalian Sudanese government which has demonstrated contempt for human rights and ignored international calls for change.
Although Buffett has been selling, and others may follow his lead, PetroChina shares remain up significantly for the year, and are near all-time highs now. PetroChina closed at $187.59 on Wednesday, climbing nearly 1% on the day.
Disclosure: I own both BRK.B and PTR.
To find potential opportunities and verify my track record, read Chasing Value or Serious Money.
Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the principal for design and research at an architecture & planning firm.
Why isn't Bank of America updating its shareholders on CEO situation?
Before the bell: Futures sharply lower on Dubai's debt problems
Will Rich Ross really have a positive impact on Disney's movie operations?
