Buffett's biggest holdings include familiar names such as Apple and American Express. The top five ranking as 2025 begins has changed a little since one year ago. Two of Buffett's top stocks especially stand out as good picks right now.

Through the first nine months of 2024, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway unloaded $133 billion worth of stocks. Buffett reduced Berkshire's massive stake in Apple and sold nearly a quarter of its Bank of America holding.

Buffett has trimmed some stocks more than others. Integrated oil and gas company Chevron (NYSE: CVX), for example, is Berkshire's fifth-largest position, and Buffett only sold small amounts in the first and second quarters of 2024 and didn't sell any in the third quarter.

As the year draws to an end, let's take a look at how Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has changed its holdings in 2024.

These five companies -- one of which is near and dear to the Oracle of Omaha's heart -- stand out for all the right reasons.

Given the financial environment in which cash is sometimes considered as useless, Warren Buffett's approach of keeping large cash reserves stands out and generates investor interest and speculation. Renowned for his sharp investing style,