This is how much Warren Buffett reportedly made from selling BYD shares after 17 years of investment

Warren Buffett BYD investment: Billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has officially sold off its entire stake in BYD, bringing an end to a 17-year investment in the Chinese electric vehicle maker, one that saw the stock surge more than 4,500% from the day before the first purchase to March 31 this year, as per a report.

Berkshire Hathaway First Bought BYD Shares in 2008

Buffett’s firm first bought 225 million shares of BYD in September 2008, and at the time, BYD was a little-known battery provider for cell phones, as per a Bloomberg report. Over the years, it transformed into China’s largest electric and hybrid vehicle manufacturer.

Warren Buffett’s Firm Began Trimming Its BYD Stake in 2022

Berkshire began reducing its stake in mid-2022, and by last year, it had dropped below 5%, a threshold that meant Berkshire was no longer required to disclose future sales to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, as per the report.


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Investment Now Listed as Zero

According to a CNBC report, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, the subsidiary that held the BYD shares, listed the value of the investment as zero as of March 31. A spokesperson for the US firm confirmed to CNBC on Sunday that Berkshire had exited its entire holding, as per the report.

BYD Stock Drops 3.6% After Berkshire’s Exit

Following the news, BYD shares fell as much as 3.6% on Monday, marking its biggest drop in three weeks, reported Bloomberg. The stock has also fallen about 30% from its all-time high reached just four months ago, as competition in China’s EV market intensifies, as per the report.

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Buffett’s longtime business partner, Charlie Munger, had originally recommended the investment in BYD, alongside Himalaya Capital’s Chairman Li Lu.

BYD Responds to Warren Buffett’s Exit

Responding to the news, BYD’s general manager for branding and public relations, Li Yunfei, wrote on Chinese social media platform Weibo that, “In stock investing, buying and selling are normal practices,” adding, “We’re grateful to Munger and Buffett for their recognition of BYD, and for their 17 years of investment, support, and companionship," as quoted by Bloomberg.

FAQs

How long did Warren Buffett invest in BYD?
Berkshire Hathaway held BYD shares for 17 years, starting in 2008, as per the Bloomberg report.

How much did BYD stock rise during Buffett’s investment?
BYD stock surged more than 4,500% from the day before the initial purchase to March 31 this year, as per the Bloomberg report.