Warren Buffett’s investment choices often draw attention, especially during turbulent market times. Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway, has a market cap over $1 trillion as of April 7, 2025. Many investors look to Buffett’s stock portfolio for inspiration, as he is known for investing in high-quality businesses that perform well during economic downturns.
One of Berkshire Hathaway’s longest-held stocks is Coca-Cola, which makes up 9.5% of its portfolio. Coca-Cola’s resilience can be attributed to the consistent demand for its products regardless of the economic climate and its impressive pricing power. The company has increased its annual dividend for 63 consecutive years, earning it the title of a Dividend King.
Another Buffett-favored stock is Amazon, despite its stock facing challenges in 2025 due to President Trump’s new tariff plan. However, Amazon’s core strength lies in its cloud platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is less impacted by tariffs since it provides digital services. Apple is another prime candidate in Buffett’s portfolio.
Despite short-term struggles due to tariffs, Apple’s long-term outlook remains strong.
Buffett’s high-quality stock picks
The company has announced a four-year, $500 billion investment in the U.S. to build up its manufacturing capacity, which could help avoid tariffs.
Apple also has strong pricing power and growth opportunities in its services segment. Mastercard is another outstanding stock in the current environment. Even without inflation, Mastercard is a strong investment due to its leading payment network and significant exposure to international markets, where there’s more room for growth.
Kroger, a grocery chain, is another “defensive” stock worth considering. Buffett held 50 million shares of Kroger at the end of 2024. The company navigated high inflation well in recent years and should continue delivering strong performance in 2025.
Lastly, Berkshire Hathaway itself is a comprehensive investment. From 1965 through the end of 2024, Buffett guided Berkshire to a return of over 5,500,000%, with the stock reaching new highs in the first quarter of 2025. Despite potential recession risks, Berkshire’s stock climbed 17% in the first quarter of 2025, and the company entered the year with over $330 billion in cash ready to be invested.
