Does Warren Buffett own CVS stock?

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No, Warren Buffett does not own CVS Health stock in the main Berkshire Hathaway portfolio.

  • Berkshire Hathaway's direct holdings: Warren Buffett sold Berkshire's entire direct stake in CVS Caremark (now CVS Health) back in 2012.
  • New England Asset Management (NEAM): A smaller subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway holds a small position in CVS Health (roughly 94,735 shares as of recent 13F filings), managed independently rather than directly by Buffett.
  • Chevron exception: Buffett does own shares of Chevron Corporation, which shares the ticker symbol CVX on the New York Stock Exchange, frequently causing confusion with CVS.

Who are the biggest shareholders of CVS?

The largest shareholders of CVS Health Corporation are major institutional investment management firms, led by BlackRock Inc. with roughly 9.6% of shares outstanding.

Top Institutional Shareholders

Institutional investors hold over 90% of CVS Health's total stock. The top institutional holders include:

  • BlackRock Inc.: ~9.63% (123.22 million shares)
  • Vanguard Capital Management LLC: ~6.51% (83.32 million shares)
  • Capital World Investors: ~5.86% (74.95 million shares)
  • State Street Corporation: ~4.71% (60.28 million shares)
  • Dodge & Cox Inc.: ~3.91% (50.01 million shares)

You can check more detailed, real-time updates directly on the CVS Health Largest Shareholders Page.

What 5 stocks is Warren Buffett buying?

Warren Buffett's company, Berkshire Hathaway, has recently increased its stakes or added new positions in several companies, highlighted by major tech and housing investments.

Recent Buys

  • Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL): Berkshire significantly boosted its stake in Google's parent company by over 83%, making it a massive holding.
  • Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL): The firm increased its position in the airline by roughly 44%.
  • Lennar Corp. (LEN/LEN.B): Berkshire boosted its shares in the major homebuilder as a value play in the housing market.
  • D.R. Horton Inc. (DHI): Berkshire established a new position in this major residential homebuilder.
  • Pool Corp. (POOL): Berkshire added to its existing stake in the swimming pool supplies distributor.

You can track official filings and portfolio shifts directly on the Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio Tracker.

Which billionaire eats McDonald's every day?

Warren Buffett eats a McDonald's breakfast every day on his drive to work.

Daily Breakfast Routine

  • Cost: He never spends more than $3.17.
  • Selection: His exact order ($2.61, $2.95, or $3.17) depends on how the stock market is doing.
  • Options: He chooses between two sausage patties, a sausage McMuffin, or a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit.

Is CVS a good stock to own?

CVS Health (CVS) is generally considered a solid value and dividend stock, though opinions are mixed on its immediate growth potential.

The Bull Case (Why it might be a good buy)

  • Attractive Valuation: The stock trades at a relatively low price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio near 11 to 23 depending on trailing or forward metrics, which appeals to value investors.
  • Strong Dividend: It offers a healthy dividend yield of around 3% to 3.5%, backed by steady cash flow.
  • Integrated Business Model: CVS is more than just a retail pharmacy; it owns the insurance provider Aetna and pharmacy benefit manager CVS Caremark, creating a massive, diversified healthcare ecosystem.
  • Wall Street Sentiment: Many analysts rate the stock as a Buy or Strong Buy, with consensus price targets higher than its current trading price.

The Bear Case (Risks to consider)

  • Competition: CVS faces heavy pressure from online and retail competitors like Amazon and Walmart.
  • Integration and Margin Pressures: Recent acquisitions and rising medical costs in its insurance segments can squeeze profit margins.
  • Regulatory Risks: The healthcare sector faces ongoing scrutiny and potential regulatory changes from Washington.

Warren Buffett Explains Why P/E Ratios move up

9 related questions found

What did Jim Cramer say about CVS stock?

Jim Cramer says investors should "own it, don't trade it" regarding CVS Health stock, calling it a terrific and sensational situation.

Key Reasons for Cramer's Bullish Stance

  • CEO Leadership: Cramer frequently praises CEO David Joyner for executing a strong turnaround, fixing front-of-store operations, and improving overall financial performance.
  • Aetna's Strength: He highlights the success of CVS's insurance arm, Aetna, stating that "Aetna is crushing it" and driving solid revenue growth within the healthcare benefits division.
  • Less Competition: Cramer notes that CVS is positioned well as the last major national drugstore chain standing while competitors like Rite Aid and Walgreens have struggled or closed locations.

Is CVS Pharmacy struggling?

Yes, CVS Pharmacy and its parent company, CVS Health, have faced significant financial and operational struggles, though they continue to bring in massive overall revenue.

Key Financial and Operational Pressures

  • High-Cost Acquisitions: CVS absorbed massive impairment charges—including a nearly $5.7 billion hit tied to its 2023 acquisition of primary care provider Oak Street Health, which underperformed relative to expectations.
  • Insurance Segment Strain: The Aetna health insurance division faced headwinds from high medical utilization rates and underpriced Medicare Advantage plans, prompting leadership changes and a retreat from the Affordable Care Act individual exchange market.
  • Retail and Staffing Challenges: Retail locations have dealt with understaffing, pharmacist burnout, falling prescription reimbursement rates, and intense competition from online retailers and big-box stores.

Strategic Retrenchment

  • Store Closures and Layoffs: CVS has cut thousands of corporate jobs and closed hundreds of underperforming retail and clinic locations.
  • Footprint Realignment: The company has begun testing smaller, pharmacy-focused store formats rather than traditional large-footprint retail layouts.
  • Revenue Resilience: Despite these deep structural pressures and strategic shifts, core pharmacy segments continue to post revenue growth, and the company maintains multi-hundred-billion-dollar revenue forecasts.

What are Warren Buffett's 3 stocks to hold forever?

Warren Buffett's three classic "forever" core stock holdings are The Coca-Cola Company, American Express, and Apple.

The Three Forever Stocks

  • The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO): Buffett first bought shares in 1988 and calls it one of the best businesses in the world. He praises its powerful global brand name, economic moat, and decades of reliable dividend growth.
  • American Express (NYSE: AXP): Held continuously since 1991, this financial firm features a loyal, affluent customer base and a strong closed-loop payment network.
  • Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL): Although Berkshire Hathaway has trimmed parts of its massive stake over time, Buffett has frequently highlighted Apple's unmatched consumer ecosystem and extreme brand loyalty as reasons it functions as a permanent core holding.

Which stocks are billionaires buying right now?

Billionaires and top hedge fund managers are currently piling into major tech, cloud, and semiconductor giants like Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms according to recent SEC 13F filings.

Top Billionaire Stock Picks

  • Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN): Heavily favored by billionaire money managers like David Tepper, Dan Loeb, and Bill Ackman, drawn in by the strength of Amazon Web Services (AWS) and e-commerce cost-cutting.
  • Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL / GOOG): Pushed higher by large stakes from Ken Griffin, Stanley Druckenmiller, and David Tepper due to growth in Google Cloud and Gemini AI integration.
  • Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META): Added by Daniel Sundheim and David Tepper, fueled by strong momentum in AI-driven advertising infrastructure.
  • Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE: TSM): Bought by top investors like Philippe Laffont and Chase Coleman as the primary manufacturer for advanced AI and graphics chips.
  • Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU) & Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX): Highlighted as prominent recent purchases by tech-focused funds run by Philippe Laffont and Steve Cohen.

You can review public quarterly disclosures and analyze tracking tools via WalletHub to monitor individual fund movements.

Who owns 90% of the stock market?

The Federal Reserve reports that the wealthiest 10% of Americans own roughly 87% to 93% of the U.S. stock market.

Ownership Breakdown

  • The Top 1%: Owns about 50% of all privately held stock wealth.
  • The Next 9% (90th to 99th percentile): Owns roughly 37% to 43% of the market.
  • The Bottom 90%: Owns the remaining 7% to 13% combined.
  • The Bottom 50%: Holds just 1% of total U.S. equities.

Why Ownership Is Concentrated

  • Retirement Accounts: While over 50% of U.S. households own some stock (mostly via 401(k)s or IRAs), lower- and middle-income families hold smaller total dollar amounts.
  • Accumulated Wealth: Wealthier families derive a much larger share of their overall net worth from equities, allowing market gains to compound rapidly at the top.