The new Buffett holdings are below.

American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) was roughly 151.6 million shares, SAME AS last quarter.

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (NYSE: BK) was almost 19 million shares, which appears to be slightly lower but it had been raised before. What matters here is that it remains a substantial holding still.

Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. (NYSE: CBI) was a NEW POSITION at just over 6.5 million shares worth over $400 million.

Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) was more than 400 million shares due to the stock split of 2012, but this is virtually the SAME AS BEFORE.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is the SAME POSITION at 24.1 million shares, but this is lower than in prior quarters.

Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) was the SAME POSITION at 4,333,363 shares.

DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA) was a LARGER POSITION and already more than a 10% stake and we recently saw that Berkshire Hathaway had entered into a standstill agreement not to buy more than 25% of the company after already having increased its stake recently. This was listed as 14.97 million shares as of March 31 versus 13.6 million shares before.

Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) was the SAME POSITION at roughly 4 million shares.

DirecTV (NASDAQ: DTV) was HIGHER YET AGAIN at 37.275 million shares versus almost 34 million shares and that was also higher than before.

Gannett Co. (NYSE: GCI) was the SAME POSITION of 1.74 million shares.

General Electric Corp. (NYSE: GE) is listed as the SAME POSITION at 588,900 shares, but this is still way down from prior reports.

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) is the SAME POSITION at 25 million shares, but this was previously up from smaller positions.

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) is the SAME POSITION at 1.51 million shares.

A May 14 letter was sent to Sony President Kazuo Hirai suggesting that Sony should create an IPO for a minority stake in Sony Entertainment. The rationale is that Sony would then have enough capital to improve on the electronics unit and on PlayStation. It is not the first, and likely will not be the last, call from outsiders that Sony has been unable to unlock the value of its entertainment unit.

Sony quickly responded that the entertainment unit is not for sale and that it is already trying to strengthen up where Dan Loeb wants improvements. Unfortunately, Sony cannot lie or sugarcoat its way out of almost a decade of losses in its television unit.

Dan Loeb may be fighting an uphill battle here. Investor activism is not given the same ear from corporate boards in Japan. Often activist efforts in Japan can be viewed by the company’s board and management as a personal offense or a dishonorable effort. Loeb’s plan also has the gimmick of the past tracking stock we saw a decade ago, and ultimately one can argue that it is simply phantom value that is created. By removing the strengths of the entertainment unit from the core operations, Sony also might be featured as an even weaker company than it is now.

Will Loeb win? It seems doubtful, but the policies presented are geared around thriving off of the new easy money monetary policy installed by Abe in Japan. Loeb does own close to a 6.5% stake, with some 64 million Sony shares.

Investors may get to unlock the value here if Loeb wins. At issue is that Loeb’s efforts simply may weaken the core electronics business, as the entertainment unit could be evaluated on its own rather than providing cover for the whole company. If you want to know just how bad things are at Sony, the ADR price might say it all. Even after a huge Abe-influenced bounce in the share price, Sony trades at less than half its prerecession share price. That same share price is only about one-sixth of its peak back in the year 2000.

Sony ADRs hit a new 52-week high of $22.22 earlier on Tuesday, and the stock is still up 8.5% at $20.50 after about two hours of trading. The trading volume of 17.5 million shares in New York is already closing in on six-times normal trading volume.

The equity research team at UBS A.G. (NYSE: UBS) points out that with government bond yields running below expected rates of inflation for maturities of 10 years or less, investors can hardly be blamed for seeking out alternatives to the prospects of accepting negative “real” or inflation-adjusted U.S. government bond yields. A new report covering the UBS Dividend Ruler stocks offers a list of top foreign companies to buy. Investors should remember that foreign tax is often withheld on dividends from American depository receipts (ADRs).

AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE: AZN) kicks off the UBS list. Trading at a low 11.4 times earnings, the European drug giant is up more than 10% this year. The Thomson/First call price target for the stock is $48.91, below its current level. Investors are paid a 5.45% dividend.

Total S.A. (NYSE: TOT) operates in three segments in the energy industry: Upstream, Refining and Chemicals, and Marketing and Services. The consensus price target for the stock is $60. Investors receive a solid 5.50% dividend.

The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE: BNS) is a top Canadian bank to buy at UBS. The consensus price target for the stock is $67. Shareholders are paid a 4.10% dividend.

Pearson PLC (NYSE: PSO) is an international media and education company with its principal operations in the education, business information and consumer publishing markets. The consensus price target is at $20. Investors are paid a 5% dividend.

Unilever PLC (NYSE: UL), with its hundreds of products used every day, operates as a fast-moving consumer goods company in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, Europe and the Americas. The consensus price objective for the stock is $45. Investors receive a 3.20% dividend.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA) is a leading maker of generic and branded drugs. The consensus price target for the stock is $43. Shareholders are paid a 2.80% dividend.

The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE: TD) is another major Canadian bank to make the UBS list. The consensus price target for the stock is $95.33. Investors are paid a 3.90% dividend.

Sanofi (NYSE: SNY) is another health care product provider that operates through Pharmaceuticals, Human Vaccines and Animal Health segments. The consensus price objective for the stock is $62.70. Shareholders are paid a 3% dividend.

In a world starved for yield, combining foreign dividend paying stocks with a portfolio of solid domestic names makes good sense. Not only are chances for solid total return enhanced, the mere fact that the names are not as correlated to domestic stocks is a positive as well.

S&P 500 dividends per share surged 23% year-over-year to a record $8.93 in the fourth quarter of 2012, as many companies accelerated payouts in advance of the expiration of the reduced tax rate on qualified dividend income on December 31, 2012. Despite the late 2012 tax-driven dividend blitz, S&P 500 dividend growth remained very healthy and was up 12.3% in the first quarter of 2013, signaling increased corporate confidence of future cash flow generation. That is a good sign for investors.

We screened the Dividend Ruler stocks for the 10 top yielding global stocks to buy for the second quarter.

AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE: AZN) tops the UBS list. With a global footprint in pharmaceutical sales, the stock trades at a very reasonable 10.14 times earnings. Investors receive a 5.54% dividend. The Thomson/First Call consensus price target was not available. Investors need to remember foreign tax is often withheld on ADRs.

Total S.A. (NYSE: TOT) is another foreign stock to make the UBS list. The French oil giant trades at 7.86 times earnings. Investors receive a healthy 5.25% dividend. The Wall St. consensus estimate for the stock is $59.72.

Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) comes in a strong third on the Dividend Ruler list. It trades under 10 times earnings, and the semiconductor giant pays a solid 4.30% dividend. The consensus price target for Intel is $23.

Read also: 8 Stocks Expected to Beat Earnings Expectations

The Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE: BNS) makes the cut. The Canadian banking leader trades at 10.46 times earnings. Investors receive a 4.20% dividend. The consensus price target is $67.

Northeast Utilities (NYSE: NU) is a UBS winner. Trading near a 52-week high, this defensive name may be a little pricey at 23.19 times earnings. Investors receive a 3.40% dividend, and the consensus target for the stock is $43.38.

Sanofi (NYSE: SNY) is another European pharmaceutical to make the UBS list. This is a name that is trading at a rich 21.07 times earnings. Investors are paid a tidy 3.30% dividend, and the consensus price objective for the stock is $55.

Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: OXY) is a top oil and gas name to make the cut. Trading at 14.42 times earnings, this independent producer pays a solid 3.10% dividend. The consensus target is $98. This could be a top pick if UBS is correct, as the price target represents a 20% move from current trading levels.

United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE: UPS) is on board. The delivery giant looks poised for growth as the world economy improves. Shareholders are paid a 3.00% dividend. The consensus price target is $90.50.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is the third pharmaceutical company to make the list. Trading at a high-end multiple of 21.01 times earnings, the stock pays investors a 3% dividend. The consensus price objective is $78.

The Clorox Co. (NYSE: CLX) rounds out the UBS list. This consumer staple giant trades at 20.47 times earnings. Investors receive a 3% dividend and the consensus price target is $80.

On a price-to-earnings basis, some of the UBS picks seem expensive. However, those numbers are based on trailing earnings. In addition, the current market rally has pushed prices higher, and some of the stocks are right at their consensus price targets. Investors may want to dollar cost average or scale portfolio capital into the names.

24/7 Wall St. follows Warren Buffett closely, and we also follow dividend investing closely. Every Buffett follower knows that the Oracle of Omaha is a huge fan of dividends as a way to create income and new capital off of the existing base for the Berkshire Hathaway empire. We wanted to see which of Buffett’s stocks had the highest dividend yields so that investors can decide if they want to perhaps cherry-pick from his holdings.

It is interesting that H. J. Heinz Co. (NYSE: HNZ) as the newest buyout offers up a 2.9% dividend yield. That is based on the new price rather than on the pre-merger price. That is also with shares at an all-time high.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) was a 24.1 million-share stake in the latest holdings, worth close to $1.4 billion based on today’s price. This is a decent size for a Buffett stake, but not an all-in bet. The dividend yield here is close to 4.5%.

Gannett Co. Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is a very small position at 1.74 million shares. While this was a static size, it is much lower than in years past. Investors may pan the world of “old media” names, but this stock recently hit a 52-week high. Its market cap of $4.6 billion is also a small stock for Buffett. What stands out is that 4% dividend yield offered by Gannett, and investors need to understand that this high dividend yield is with shares trading at highs going back almost five years.

We did not include the General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) yield of 3.2% due to the size of the stake being less than 600,000 shares. We noted before that the team’s stake here is so small that they should just unload the rest of it.

GlaxoSmithKline PLC (NYSE: GSK) is a relatively small stake at 1.51 million ADRs, but its dividend screens out at close to 6%. Another ADR that is a larger stake is Sanofi S.A. (NYSE: SNY) at 4.06 million shares, and its dividend yield screens out at about 3.5%.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is one of those more than 3% yields that is hard to get excited about for Buffett trackers. It is not that the stock is challenging all-time highs, nor that the manufacturing woes have been a thorn here. What puts Buffett trackers off is that Berkshire Hathaway has trimmed this stake down to about 327,000 shares after having held a massive stake in prior years.

Kraft Foods Group Inc. (NASDAQ: KRFT) is a high-yield position, but Buffett seems to be more focused on the Mondelez International Inc. (NASDAQ: MDLZ) stake as a new position. Kraft is now only 1.67 million shares, and Mondelez is 12.84 million shares. The difference is that the legacy Kraft pays a dividend of about 4.2%, versus only about 1.9% from Mondelez.

Unfortunately, some of the companies mentioned here were also among the stocks that we think Mr. Buffett needs to sell soon.

There are many runner-ups here for the 3% dividends. Buffett has owned some of these long enough that Berkshire Hathaway has a yield of 3% even if new investors based on today’s prices will get a tad less. These “almost 3% yields” are as follows:

• The Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) at 2.7%
• M&T Bank Corp. (NYSE: MTB) at 2.6%
• Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG) at 2.9%
• Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) is a mega-Buffett stake (more than $16 billion today) with a yield of about 2.8%.

Portfolio managers Todd Combs and Ted Weschler are getting even more entrenched as far as their ability to add to positions. The new Buffett holdings are below.   American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) was roughly 151.6 million shares, SAME AS last quarter.

Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE: ADM) was listed as a NEW POSITION of 5.95 million shares worth some $163.1 million as of the end of 2012.

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (NYSE: BK) appears to be the SAME SIZE at over 19.6 million shares, but that is after gains had been reported in prior quarters.

Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) was more than 400 million shares due to the stock split of 2012, but this is virtually the SAME AS BEFORE.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is the SAME AS BEFORE at 24.1 million shares, but this is lower than in prior quarters.

Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) was 4,333,363 shares, SAME AS last quarter.

READ ALSO: GE is the Best Conglomerate for Investors in 2013

DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA) was already more than a 10% stake, but a new filing shows that Buffett and various entities own a collective 13.6 million shares for a 13.0% stake. This position has grown and grown and is a LARGER STAKE. This stock has risen and risen while Buffett kept adding the position.

Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) was the SAME AS LAST QUARTER at roughly 4 million shares, but this was previously a new position.

DirecTV (NASDAQ: DTV) is a LARGER POSITION AGAIN at almost 34 million shares versus 29.555 million shares before that and it had grown another quarter before as well.

Gannett Co. (NYSE: GCI) was 1.74 million, SAME AS BEFORE but decreased in prior quarters.

General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE: GD) is the SAME AS BEFORE at 3.877 million shares.

General Electric Corp. (NYSE: GE) is listed as THE SAME 588,900 shares, but this is still way down from the 5.008 million shares and 7.777 million shares the two prior quarter.

Zoetis will receive none of the $2.2 billion proceeds from the offering, all of which will go to a debt-for-equity exchanges with some underwriters to pay down Pfizer debt. Pfizer has also indicated that following the IPO it may distribute all or part of its stake in Zoetis to Pfizer shareholders in a tax-free distribution either as a one-time dividend or a share exchange, or possibly both.

The new company expects annual sales of around $4.2 billion and is the largest firm in the animal health industry. Some two-thirds of its sales come from products and services for livestock. The company has operations in 60 companies and competes with in-house animal health units of several big drugmakers, including Sanofi (NYSE: SNY), Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE: LLY) and Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK).

Shares of Zoetis are up nearly 19%, at $30.85 after hitting a high of $31.50 on the first morning of trading. Pfizer’s shares are up about 1.5% at $27.68, near the top of the stock’s 52-week range of $20.75 to $28.84.

To some it may seem a little after the fact to be extolling the virtues of owning stocks with the S&P 500 hovering around 1,500, which is a five-year high. However it is important to remember that we have been in a secular bear market for the past 13 years. As we pointed out yesterday, when the transports start to break out and offer sector leadership, the long bear market may be coming to an end.

The push from bonds (interest rate risk): The historically low level of bond yields offers a bleak outlook for fixed income returns and significant interest rate risk for bondholders. If the 30-year Treasury yield, which is currently 3.1%, were to rise above 3.32%, the return over the next 12 months would be negative.

The pull from equities (attractive yield): Global equity dividend yields and payout ratios have been on the rise in recent years, and the removal of uncertainty regarding tax policy strengthens the case for owning dividend stocks.

Investors are far from being “all-in”: Recent fund flow data shows early signs of investor rotation from bonds to equities, but the stubborn preference for exchange traded funds over long-only funds indicates cautious, rather than confident bullishness. Moreover, a long-run look at positioning shows that investors have shunned equities in favor of bond funds (which saw record inflows in 2012).

With these three solid reasons as backup, here is a list of Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Buy-rated stocks with dividend yields that are higher than their own corporate debt. We screened the names to find the top 10 highest yielding stocks in this universe.

• GlaxoSmithKline PLC (NYSE: GSK) yield 5.20%
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) yield 4%
• Sanofi S.A. (NYSE: SNY) yield 3.50%
• AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) yield 4.20%
• Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) yield 3.80%
• Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) yield 3.30%
• Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) yield 4.30%
• BP PLC (NYSE: BP) yield 5.53%
• Kraft Foods Group Inc. (NASDAQ: KRFT) yield 4.30%
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) yield 3.50%

With interest rates almost certain to rise at some point, money that flowed into bond funds will come out and search for a home in stocks. It makes sense to get involved before and not after rates go up.

Two main issues will impact large pharmaceutical companies this year. One is patent expiration, which most companies face every year. Losing prized, money-making products to generics is always a key issue. In addition, the Affordable Health Care Act, known on Main Street as Obamacare, is scheduled to start on January 1, 2014. This event has many companies looking at reimbursement guidance from insurance companies for their products going forward. Those issues aside here are the top five Jefferies’ global pharmaceutical picks for 2013.

The top global pick, which was initiated at a Buy today, is AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV). Known for their HUMIRA product used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, AbbVIE is trading today at $35.54. The price target is $44. The consensus price target is lower at $37.50.

The number two pick, which is also the top European pick, is Novartis A.G. (NYSE: NVS). This company, which includes eye care division Alcon and prescription medicine division Sandoz, is trading today at $65.18. The target price is $81.50, when adjusted for U.S. dollars. This is significantly higher than Wall St. estimate of $65.50.

Next on the list is Sanofi (NYSE: SNY). This Paris-based company researches, develops, manufactures and markets health care products worldwide. Its principal pharmaceuticals include Lantus and Apidra. It is trading today at $47.99, the Jefferies target when adjusted to U.S. dollars is $54.90. The street consensus is at $52.30

At number four is Swiss giant Roche Holding. Roche discovers, develops and provides diagnostic products and services that enable patients and health care professionals in the detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. It is trading near $53.12, and the target price is $61.40 when adjusted for U.S. dollars. The street consensus is $55.83.

Rounding out the top five is American drug giant Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE). Pfizer primarily offers such well-known products as Celebrex, Chantix/Champix, Lipitor, Lyrica, Premarin, Pristiq and Viagra pharmaceutical products in the therapeutic and disease areas of Alzheimer’’s, cardiovascular, erectile dysfunction, genitourinary, depressive disorder, pain, respiratory and smoking cessation. Shares are trading at $26.61 and the Jefferies target price is $31. The consensus among other firms is $29. Pfizer also pays a healthy 3.60% dividend, which could make it an outstanding total return investment.

Large cap pharmaceutical stocks have long been a staple of a well-rounded portfolio. Like Pfizer, many offer dividends that are superior to what is available in the Treasury or corporate bond market. Typically they do well in a bull market, but because of their more defensive nature they tend to hold up much better than many sectors when the market sells off.

Portfolio managers Todd Combs and Ted Weschler are getting more and more entrenched as far as their ability to add to positions. It should also be mentioned that Warren Buffett was out for much of the summer for his prostate cancer treatment. While the net dollar amounts were not much different, the number of changes here were very significant.

American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) was roughly 151.6 million shares, SAME AS last quarter.

Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (NYSE: BK) was over 19.6 million shares, another gain versus the more than 18.7 million shares last quarter (and versus 5.6 million shares previously, and the 1,793,915 shares even before then).

Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) was more than 400 million shares, which is about double the number of shares before but that is because of the stock split. Treat this as the SAME AS BEFORE.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is lower yet again and this was about 24.1 million shares versus almost 28.9 million shares last quarter, and lower than the 29.1 million shares two quarters ago. See below at the Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) stake.

Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) was 4,333,363 shares, SAME AS last quarter.

DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA) is now more than a 10% stake and has grown from 9.3 million shares as of June 30, 2012 and higher than the 6 million reported as of March. Furthermore, the stake listed as of 9/30 is irrelevant. Recent filings have shown that Berkshire keeps buying more and more shares on the open market. A filing on 11/13/2012 showed that over the prior few days that some 548,823 shares had been purchased at an average of $112.15 and that the indirect ownership by Berkshire Hathaway was 11,748.045 shares.

Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) was listed as NEW POSITION of about 4 million shares.

DirecTV (NASDAQ: DTV) is a LARGER POSITION again at 29.555 million shares versus 28.4 million shares last time and 22.999 million two quarters ago.

Gannett Co. (NYSE: GCI) was 1.74 million, SAME AS BEFORE but decreased in prior quarters.

General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE: GD) is the SAME AS BEFORE at 3.877 million shares after being a new position before.

General Electric Corp. (NYSE: GE) is a MUCH LOWER STAKE at 588,900 shares versus 5.008 million shares last quarter and versus 7.777 million shares the quarter before.

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) is a LARGER STAKE at 15 million shares versus 10 million shares last quarter.

GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) 1.51 million shares, SAME AS PRIOR QUARTERS.

International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) was A LARGER POSITION at over 67.5 million shares, up slightly from 66.63 million shares last quarter and the prior quarter at 64.395 million shares.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) was a MUCH LOWER POSITION again at just under 500,000 shares. This is down from 10.33 million shares last quarter and versus about 29 million shares the prior quarter. The peak was way up at 62 million shares.

Kraft Foods (NASDAQ: KRFT) was AGAIN A LOWER POSITION at 40.46 million shares, down from 58.8 million shares last quarter and versus 78 million shares before that.

Lee Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: LEE) was an ALREADY REDUCED down to 1.13 million shares from 3,225,822 shares shown initially. This was one that Buffett had asked for confidentiality treatment on in his newspaper endeavors.

Liberty Media Corp. (NASDAQ: LMCA) is a the same at 5.5 million shares versus, but that was lifted last quarter from the prior two quarters.

M&T Bank Corp. (NYSE: MTB) is 5.38+ million shares, SAME AS last quarter.

MasterCard Inc. (NYSE: MA) was 405,000 shares, the SAME AS last quarter but up from two quarters before that.

Moody’s Corp. (NYSE: MCO) was 28.4 million; SAME AS last quarter but way down from prior quarters and years.

National Oilwell Varco Inc. (NYSE: NOV) was a LARGER position at 4.18 million shares versus what had been a new position of 2.84 million shares last quarter.

Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) was the SAME AS LAST QUARTER at about 27.1 million shares, but this was a new position last quarter even though it had been telegraphed.

Precision Castparts Corp. (NYSE: PCP) was listed as a NEW STAKE of almost 1.25 million shares.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) was 52.8 million shares, LOWER THAN BEFORE and a steady shrinking position in recent quarters from a peak of 96.3 million shares.

Sanofi-Aventis (NYSE: SNY) was 4.06 million shares; SAME AS before.

Torchmark Corp. (NYSE: TMK) was more than 4.2 million, SAME AS last quarter after having been raised in a prior quarter.

US Bancorp (NYSE: USB) was DOWN AGAIN to 61.2+ million shares from 66 million shares last quarter and about 69 million shares in the prior quarters.

USG Corp. (NYSE: USG) was 17.072 million shares; SAME AS before.

United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) was ALMOST ELIMINATED ENTIRELY down to 59,400 shares from 261,900 shares last quarter and versus 1.429 million shares two quarters ago.

Verisk Analytics Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSK) was LOWERED YET AGAIN to 1.563 million shares.

Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA) was a LARGER POSITION AGAIN at 7.6+ million shares versus 6.8 million shares last quarter and having been a new position of 1.59 million shares two quarters earlier.

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) was 1.555 million shares, a LOWER POSITION YET AGAIN versus 2.079 million shares last quarter and versus 2.865 million shares previously.

WABCO Holdings Inc. (NYSE: WBC) is a NEW POSITION of about 1.6 million shares but that is less than $100 million.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) was THE SAME STAKE at just over 46.7 million shares.

Washington Post (NYSE: WPO) was over 1.72 million shares; SAME AS before.

Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) was HIGHER YET AGAIN at over 420 million shares more than 394.3 million shares last quarter. Buffett keeps growing this stake and he telegraphed that he had.

CVS Caremark Corp. (NYSE: CVS) had been smaller before and it has now been eliminated entirely from prior holdings of just over 5.3 million shares and then 7.106 million shares two quarters ago.

Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) was ELIMINATED ENTIRELY from 3.32 million shares last quarter and versus 4.497 million shares before that.

Ingersoll-Rand (NYSE: IR) has now been entirely eliminated as we expected. Berkshire was down to on 20,400 shares last quarter versus 636,600 shares in the first quarter.   We would note that the total value of today’s public equity holdings was listed as over $75.3 billion, which is up from $74.32 billion last quarter and virtually the same as the $75.3 billion the prior quarter.

JON C. OGG