Becker Business Podcast Summary

Episode Title: The Warren Buffett Big Five 1-7-26
Host: Scott Becker
Date: January 7, 2026
Theme: Analyzing Warren Buffett’s “Big Five” stock holdings and lessons for individual investors

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Scott Becker examines the “Big Five” companies that have historically formed the core of Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway’s investment portfolio. Becker breaks down each company’s significance, discusses why investors—including himself—track Buffett’s strategy, and shares personal reflections on investing and performance relative to following Buffett’s disciplined approach.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening Perspective: The Allure of the Buffett Portfolio

• Scott Becker sets the tone with an observation: If most investors had simply mimicked Buffett’s portfolio, they would have “done better than 99% of us have done investing individually” (01:00).
• He emphasizes the discipline and long-term focus underlying Buffett’s stock selections.

The “Big Five” Berkshire Hathaway Holdings

These five stocks comprise approximately 65% of Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio:

1. Apple

• Apple is described as “a mega cap company, second or third in market cap” (02:20).
• Buffett has “decreased his percentage... in Apple over the last few years as some of the growth has slowed” (02:35).
• Despite the recent reductions, Apple has been a core holding for years.

2. American Express

• Becker draws a parallel to Peter Lynch’s “invest in what you use” mantra: “I’m a constant user of our Amex. We use it for so many things. We love the service of Amex. I probably should have invested in a long time ago...” (03:15).
• While Becker is a fan, he admits he hasn’t invested in Amex or Apple directly.

3. Bank of America

4. Coca Cola

• Both are companies Becker personally invested in “several years ago” (04:00).
• He reflects: “They’ve ultimately done fine. Not great. I would have been much better off investing in the index fund probably, or investing in tech stocks and putting the money in the magnificent seven” (04:10).
• Nonetheless, these are staple, long-term holdings in both his and Berkshire’s portfolios.

5. Chevron

• Chevron “is going to get a kick and a surge now with what’s going on in the oil world” (04:40).
• Becker notes Chevron as another “big long term holding of Warren Buffett’s in Berkshire’s” (04:45).

Berkshire’s Investing Temperament

• Becker highlights the financial prudence of Buffett and Berkshire:
  • “They’re now sitting on 360 billion in cash. So they’ve been careful in how they put that money to work... They make us that are conservative investors feel good about ourselves because they’re sitting at so much cash.” (05:00)

Personal Reflection: Index Funds vs. Individual Stocks

• Despite investing in some of the same names, Becker admits:
  • “My guess is I’m better off sticking to the index funds. But hindsight is 20-20. If I stuck to the Warren Buffett model of investing, I’d be far better off than I am today.” (05:30)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Emulating Buffett:
  “If we would have in a disciplined way built our portfolios to mimic or model the Warren Buffett portfolio... we probably would have done better than 99% of us have done investing individually.” – Scott Becker (01:00)

• On Apple’s Evolution:
  “Buffett has decreased his percentage or share of holdings in Apple over the last few years as some of the growth has slowed at Apple.” – Scott Becker (02:35)

• On Personal Investing Lessons:
  “I probably should have invested in [Amex] a long time ago, but Amex and Apple are two of these five that we’ve not invested in directly.” – Scott Becker (03:15)

• On Bank of America and Coca Cola:
  “I think they’ve ultimately done fine. Not great. I would have been much better off investing in the index fund...” – Scott Becker (04:10)

• On Berkshire’s Cash Reserves:
  “They make us that are conservative investors feel good about ourselves because they’re sitting at so much cash.” – Scott Becker (05:00)

• On Portfolio Strategy:
  “If I stuck to the Warren Buffett model of investing, I’d be far better off than I am today.” – Scott Becker (05:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:00 – Why emulate Buffett’s portfolio
• 02:20 – Apple as a core holding and recent reductions
• 03:15 – American Express and “invest in what you use”
• 04:00 – Personal experience with Bank of America and Coca Cola
• 04:40 – Chevron and energy sector observations
• 05:00 – Berkshire’s massive cash position and investment discipline
• 05:30 – Reflection on index funds vs. Buffett’s approach

Conclusion

This episode offers a concise yet insightful look at the companies central to Warren Buffett’s investment philosophy, with Scott Becker blending market analysis, investor psychology, and personal investing anecdotes. The main takeaway: even simple emulation of disciplined, legendary investors like Buffett can outperform most personal investing efforts—a lesson Becker humbly reflects on for himself and his listeners.