Analysis of Berkshire Hathaway's Q3 2025 Alphabet (GOOG) Investment and Purchase Date Availability

Berkshire Hathaway established a new position in Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) during Q3 2025, as disclosed in its Form 13F filing with the SEC on November 14, 2025 [1][2]. The conglomerate purchased 17.85 million shares of Alphabet Class C stock, valued at $4.3 billion as of September 30, 2025 [1]. This marked Berkshire’s first-ever investment in Google’s parent company, making Alphabet its 10th largest equity holding (representing ~1.4% of its $266.4 billion portfolio) [1][3].

Exact purchase dates are not publicly available, as Form 13F only discloses end-of-quarter positions and does not include transaction dates [1][2]. Since Berkshire’s stake in Alphabet is well below the 5% threshold requiring a Form 13D filing (which would include more detailed information), no additional regulatory disclosures provide precise timing [1][6]. Speculation suggests the purchase may have occurred after Alphabet’s late July Q2 earnings release, where the company beat revenue/earnings estimates and reported 4% paid click growth [6].

1. Data Limitation
   : The SEC’s Form 13F filing structure inherently limits transparency into the timing of institutional stock purchases, as it only requires quarterly position disclosures.
2. Strategic Shift
   : Berkshire’s first investment in Alphabet indicates a potential expansion of its tech exposure, aligning with the upcoming CEO transition to Greg Abel [1][4].
3. Timing Clue
   : While not confirmed, the post-Q2 earnings window is a plausible period for the purchase, given positive financial results and investor sentiment [6].

• Risks
  : Alphabet faces ongoing regulatory scrutiny (antitrust concerns) which could impact stock performance [3][6]. Berkshire’s upcoming leadership transition introduces uncertainty about future investment strategies [1][4].
• Opportunities
  : Alphabet’s strong AI growth (especially in Google Cloud) presents upside potential for the position [3][5]. Berkshire’s large cash reserves ($381.7 billion at Q3 end) may allow for additional purchases if the company sees further value [1][5].

• Stake Size
  : 17.85 million shares of Alphabet Class C stock [1][2].
• Value
  : $4.3 billion at Q3 end (September 30, 2025) and $4.9 billion by the November 14 filing date [1].
• Portfolio Rank
  : 10th largest holding in Berkshire’s equity portfolio [1][3].
• Exact Purchase Dates
  : Not publicly available; speculative timing after Alphabet’s Q2 earnings release (late July 2025) [6].