does warren buffett own wells fargo stock — timeline & status

Does Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway) own Wells Fargo stock?

If you searched for "does warren buffett own wells fargo stock", this article gives a clear, sourced answer and full context. Short answer: Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett’s investment vehicle, owned Wells Fargo (WFC) for decades but reduced and ultimately disclosed selling its remaining shares in Q1 2022. The sale was widely reported in major outlets in May 2022 and marks the end of a long chapter in Buffett’s bank investments.

Background: Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, and public-stock positions

Warren Buffett generally holds public-equity positions through Berkshire Hathaway rather than in a personal brokerage account. Questions like "does warren buffett own wells fargo stock" refer to Berkshire’s portfolio disclosures (not Buffett’s private accounts). Institutional ownership is publicly visible via Berkshire’s SEC filings—most notably quarterly Form 13F filings and Berkshire’s shareholder letters.

Acquisition history: when Berkshire built its Wells Fargo stake

Berkshire’s relationship with Wells Fargo dates back to the late 1980s and early 1990s. Berkshire began purchasing WFC stock in that period and steadily increased its position over the following decades. By the 2000s and 2010s, Wells Fargo had become one of Berkshire’s largest bank holdings, accumulated through repeated purchases and a long-term buy-and-hold approach.

The long history of transactions and position growth can be tracked through public filings and portfolio trackers. For readers asking "does warren buffett own wells fargo stock" historically, the answer is clearly yes for many years prior to 2022—Wells Fargo was a core bank holding for Berkshire for roughly three decades.

Investment thesis and rationale for owning Wells Fargo

Berkshire’s original thesis for owning Wells Fargo centered on the bank’s strong retail franchise, low-cost deposit base, branch network, and high returns on equity. Buffett has historically favored businesses with durable competitive advantages (or "economic moats") and predictable earning power. Wells Fargo’s cross-selling model and large retail footprint fit that profile during the years Berkshire accumulated its stake.

Wells Fargo scandals and regulatory challenges

Wells Fargo’s public troubles—most notably the fake-accounts scandal that surfaced in 2016—changed the bank’s risk profile. The scandal led to fines, settlements, and intense regulatory scrutiny. One major regulatory action was the Federal Reserve’s 2018 asset cap, which limited Wells Fargo’s balance-sheet growth until management and governance issues were satisfactorily remedied.

These governance and regulatory concerns are central to answering the query "does warren buffett own wells fargo stock" in a modern context: many commentators and analysts tied Berkshire’s later reductions in WFC to continuing governance worries and the Federal Reserve’s constraints.

Reduction of the stake and eventual exit

Berkshire Hathaway began reducing its Wells Fargo stake around 2019, with reductions accelerating in 2020 and 2021. Public reporting and Berkshire’s own Form 13F disclosures showed a stepwise series of sell-offs. Multiple major business outlets reported on the disposals when they were disclosed publicly in 2022.

As of May 2022, multiple reputable outlets reported that Berkshire had sold its remaining Wells Fargo shares. For example:

• As of May 2022, according to Motley Fool reporting, Buffett and Berkshire had effectively exited the Wells Fargo position.
• As of May 2022, Yahoo Finance reported Berkshire Hathaway sold its remaining Wells Fargo shares.
• As of May 2022, CNN Business summarized that Berkshire Hathaway finally bailed on Wells Fargo after decades of ownership.
• As of May 2022, InvestmentNews reported Buffett’s exit from the Wells Fargo stake, ending a decades-long bet on the bank.

Collectively these reports, drawn from Berkshire’s Q1 2022 13F and press coverage in May 2022, show Berkshire disclosed essentially zero WFC holdings for that quarter. Therefore, the canonical and sourced response to "does warren buffett own wells fargo stock" is: not after the Q1 2022 disposal disclosures.

Notable timeline highlights

• Late 1980s–1990s: Berkshire begins accumulating Wells Fargo stock.
• 2000s–2010s: WFC becomes one of Berkshire’s largest bank holdings.
• 2016: Fake-accounts scandal breaks—regulatory and reputational damage begins.
• 2018: Federal Reserve imposes an asset cap restricting Wells Fargo’s balance-sheet growth.
• 2019–2021: Berkshire gradually reduces its WFC position.
• Q1 2022 (filed May 2022): Berkshire’s Form 13F shows reduced or zero WFC holdings; major press outlets report Berkshire sold its remaining Wells Fargo shares.

Reasons given or inferred for divestment

Official Berkshire commentary about any single stock is typically limited. Public reporting and analyst commentary have attributed several reasons for the reductions and final exit:

• Governance and culture concerns at Wells Fargo following the fake-accounts scandal.
• Regulatory overhang, including the Fed’s asset cap that constrained Wells Fargo’s growth and returns.
• Specific management decisions and leadership changes that may have reduced Buffett’s confidence in the company’s governance trajectory.
• Portfolio reallocation: Berkshire increased exposure elsewhere (notably Bank of America) and rebalanced its financial-sector exposure.

These factors are consistent with reporting from major outlets. For example, Reuters covered Berkshire’s shedding of Wells Fargo at multiple points (reporting in and around 2021–2022) and other outlets like CNBC and Motley Fool provided ongoing portfolio-tracker context.

Market reaction and subsequent performance

When Berkshire’s reductions and eventual exit were disclosed, market reactions were mixed and evolved over time. Short-term price moves around disclosure dates showed volatility, as markets priced the significance of a major institutional seller leaving a long-term position.

Post-exit analysis has been varied: some analysts argued the sale was prudent given regulatory and governance risks; others argued it might have been premature if Wells Fargo ultimately repaired governance and returned to stronger earnings, making the sale a missed opportunity. For example, analytical pieces published through 2022–2025 debated whether Berkshire missed a rebound or avoided further downside.

For readers tracking performance, portfolio trackers and post-sale analyses (including follow-ups during 2023–2025) provide quantifiable comparisons of WFC’s price relative to Berkshire’s average cost basis and subsequent returns. As reported by sources including Nasdaq and Motley Fool (including a March 2025 follow-up analysis), commentary continues about whether Berkshire’s sale was an error or a rational response to persistent governance concerns.

Where Berkshire still invests in financials

Berkshire’s exit from Wells Fargo did not mean a total exit from the financial sector. Berkshire continued and continues to hold other large financial positions—for example, a major stake in Bank of America. The lesson: reducing the Wells Fargo position reflected specific concerns about Wells Fargo, not a blanket abandonment of bank stocks.

Ownership status as of the latest public disclosures

As of May 2022, multiple outlets reported Berkshire’s Form 13F showed no meaningful Wells Fargo holdings. That filing, which covers holdings as of the end of Q1 2022 and was reported publicly in May 2022, is the primary source used by major outlets to state Berkshire’s position. For example:

• As of May 2022, Reuters reported Berkshire had shed nearly all of its Wells Fargo stake.
• As of May 2022, CNN Business and Yahoo Finance reported the remaining holdings were sold.

Because institutional holdings can change quarter to quarter, anyone still asking "does warren buffett own wells fargo stock" should check Berkshire Hathaway’s most recent Form 13F filing or reliable portfolio trackers to see the current position. Regulatory filings are the authoritative source for quarter-end holdings; press reporting provides interpretation and timeline context.

Analysis and legacy: why this exit matters

Wells Fargo represented a decades-long investment and one of Buffett’s most notable bank holdings. The sale and exit are significant for several reasons:

• It underscores that even long-term shareholders like Berkshire will divest when governance, regulatory risk, or management choices undermine the investment thesis.
• It highlights the material impact of regulatory actions (like the Fed’s asset cap) on franchise value.
• It fuels ongoing debate about active vs. passive holding philosophy: advocates of long-term holding note the original multi-decade gain; critics point to governance failures and missed opportunity costs.

Because the sale was covered extensively by business media and corporate filings, the decision’s details and implications have been widely analyzed and remain a reference case when discussing stewardship, governance, and long-term investing.

How to verify current ownership status

To verify whether Buffett (via Berkshire) currently holds Wells Fargo stock:

• Check Berkshire Hathaway’s latest Form 13F (quarterly) filings with the SEC for U.S.-listed equities reported at quarter end.
• Consult reputable portfolio trackers and institutional-holdings summaries that aggregate SEC filings.
• Review major business-news reporting when new 13F data are available—many outlets provide quick summaries after filings are published.

Note: these filings report positions held by Berkshire Hathaway’s managed portfolios and do not necessarily reflect Buffett’s personal, private accounts.

See also

• Berkshire Hathaway — background on Buffett’s holding company and reporting practices.
• Wells Fargo & Co. — company history and corporate governance.
• 2016 Wells Fargo fake-accounts scandal — regulatory and reputational aftermath.
• Federal Reserve asset cap — explanation of the 2018 balance-sheet restriction on Wells Fargo.
• Berkshire Hathaway Form 13F filings — how to read and verify institutional holdings.

References and further reading (selected major reports)

Key public reporting and tracker resources used by analysts and the media when answering "does warren buffett own wells fargo stock":

• Motley Fool — reporting on Buffett and Berkshire’s reduction and exit from Wells Fargo (reported May 2022).
• Yahoo Finance — article on Berkshire Hathaway selling Wells Fargo shares (reported May 2022).
• CNN Business — coverage stating Berkshire Hathaway finally bailed on Wells Fargo (reported May 2022).
• InvestmentNews — reporting on Buffett exiting Wells Fargo after a decades-long bet (reported May 2022).
• Reuters — coverage of Berkshire’s sell-down(s) of Wells Fargo, including reporting around 2021–2022.
• CNBC portfolio tracker — ongoing holdings tracker for Berkshire Hathaway.
• Stockcircle — transaction history and compilation of Berkshire’s Wells Fargo buys/sells.
• Seeking Alpha — analytical pieces critiquing or explaining Berkshire’s mistakes or rationale with WFC.
• Nasdaq / Motley Fool follow-up pieces — post-exit analysis (including March 2025 follow-up commentary).

As of May 2022, these sources collectively reported Berkshire’s reduced or zero WFC position; later analysis through 2023–2025 continued the debate about whether the sale was correct in hindsight.

Notes for editors and readers

• Verify current ownership via Berkshire Hathaway’s latest SEC Form 13F or quarterly filings; holdings can change each quarter.
• Clarify the distinction between Warren Buffett personally and Berkshire Hathaway as the reporting entity: most public filings list Berkshire’s holdings, not Buffett’s private accounts.
• For trading or custody of equities and tokenized financial products, consider Bitget as a platform option (Bitget provides market access and custody solutions). For Web3 wallet needs, Bitget Wallet is a recommended option to explore.
• All factual statements above are based on public reporting and Berkshire’s filings; the article avoids speculation and does not constitute investment advice.

Practical next steps for readers

If you searched for "does warren buffett own wells fargo stock" because you want to track institutional moves or make your own decisions, consider these steps:

• Check Berkshire’s latest Form 13F filings for quarter-end positions to confirm whether WFC appears.
• Follow major business-news outlets after 13F release dates for synthesized reporting and commentary.
• Use portfolio trackers for historical buy/sell timelines if you need detailed transaction history.

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Final perspective: legacy of a decades-long holding

Wells Fargo’s role in Berkshire’s portfolio illustrates both the strengths and limits of long-term investing: it was a multi-decade position that generated substantial returns at times, yet governance failures and regulatory constraints ultimately altered the calculus. When asking "does warren buffett own wells fargo stock" today, the sourced answer is that Berkshire disclosed selling its remaining holdings in 2022 and, per public filings and major press reporting in May 2022, no longer held a meaningful WFC stake at that quarter end. Readers should consult Berkshire’s most recent filings for up-to-date verification.

Want more detailed timelines or a downloadable summary of Berkshire’s WFC buys and sells? I can expand the transaction timeline, list quarter-by-quarter 13F positions, or prepare a concise timeline you can save for research.

Reported sources referenced above include major financial news outlets and Berkshire’s public filings. Specific reporting on the exit and Q1 2022 filings was widely published in May 2022 by outlets such as Motley Fool, Yahoo Finance, CNN Business, InvestmentNews, and Reuters; follow-up analyses have appeared through 2023–2025 on trackers and analysis sites.