According to The Street on May 31, Berkshire Hathaway fully exited its holdings of Mastercard shares it had owned for about 15 years in Q1 2026, selling about 3.99 million shares at an average price of $525.64 per share. The trade price range was $484.24 to $580.34.
Berkshire Hathaway’s Confirmed Complete Mastercard Holding History
Based on data from StockCircle.com, Berkshire’s relationship with Mastercard began in Q1 2011, when it first bought 216,000 shares. After that, it actively built its position: it increased holdings by 283,000 shares in Q3 2011, added another 170,000 shares in Q1 2012, and continued to add 235,000 shares in Q2 the same year (+137.8%).
In 2014, Berkshire’s shareholding growth was significant—adding 900% in Q1, with continued purchases in Q3 and Q4. In Q1 2015, it first made a modest reduction, and in Q1 2016 it continued to reduce. It sold 7.5% of its stake in Q2 2020 and again reduced its holdings toward the end of 2021. Finally, in Q1 2026, Berkshire cleared all remaining 3.99 million shares at an average price of $525.64, fully ending its roughly 15-year holding relationship.
Current Business Status and Digital Payments Positioning Confirmed by Mastercard CEO
On May 28, 2026, Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach confirmed at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions conference that consumer spending continued to grow in Q1 2026 and during the first two weeks of May. Low unemployment, wage growth moving in tandem with inflation, and a steady stock market are the foundations supporting consumption.
Miebach confirmed that value-added services currently account for 40% of Mastercard’s revenue, and that its growth rate is faster than other business lines. He said: “We are pushing agent payments through Mastercard’s agency network to expand our stablecoin solutions, and we are also looking to expand through the planned acquisition of BVNK.” Mastercard confirmed that it formally obtained a domestic license for operation in China in May 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Berkshire’s full exit from Mastercard the first major stake adjustment after Abel took over?
Per The Street’s confirmation, the full liquidation occurred in the first complete quarter (Q1 2026) after Greg Abel officially took over as CEO in January 2026, and was discovered by the market after Berkshire filed its latest 13F filing. In the same quarter, Berkshire also reduced its Visa holdings. The specific reasons for the liquidation were not explained in the filing or any announcements.
What were Berkshire’s final average liquidation price and stake size for Mastercard?
Based on data confirmed by StockCircle.com, in Q1 2026 Berkshire sold about 3.99 million shares of Mastercard at an average price of $525.64. The transaction price range was $484.24 to $580.34. It fully cleared all remaining holdings, ending its roughly 15-year stake.
How does the Mastercard CEO describe the company’s current business situation?
On May 28, Mastercard CEO Miebach confirmed that consumer spending continued to grow in 2026 and that value-added services already account for 40% of revenue. The company is pushing agent business and stablecoin (planned acquisition of BVNK) deployment, and it has already obtained a domestic license for formal operations in China in May 2024.
