Warren Buffett's 3 Longest-Held Stocks Average a 3,757% Gain and Collectively Deliver $1.53 Billion in Annual Dividend Income for Berkshire Hathaway

For the first time in well over half a century, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRKA)(NYSE:BRKB) entered the year in uncharted territory. The company's longtime CEO, Warren Buffett, hung up his work coat for the final time at the end of last year, passing the baton to his protégé, Greg Abel.

Though Abel completely overhauled the company's $362 billion investment portfolio in the first quarter, the Oracle of Omaha left his understudy on solid footing. The three longest-held stocks in Berkshire's portfolio -- Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO), American Express (NYSE:AXP), and Moody's (NYSE:MCO) -- have delivered an average return of 3,757% (as of Oct. 30, 2026), and are collectively producing almost $1.53 billion in annual dividend income.

Warren Buffett's longest-tenured holdings are crushing it! Image source: Getty Images.

Coca-Cola: 2,797% return + $848 million in annual dividend income

Beverage giant Coca-Cola is Berkshire Hathaway's most-tenured holding. It's been held continuously since 1988, leading to a nearly 2,800% return, not including dividends.

But dividends are the real star here. Coca-Cola has raised its base annual payout for 64 consecutive years. The $2.12 per share it pays out yearly, compared to Berkshire's $3.2475 cost basis in Coca-Cola, works out to an annual yield on cost of better than 65%! Buffett's company is nearly doubling its initial $1.3 billion investment in Coca-Cola from the dividends alone every 18 months.

Coca-Cola's recipe for success continues to be its geographic diversity and global brand appeal. It has operations in all but three countries (North Korea, Cuba, and Russia), enabling it to move the organic growth needle in emerging markets, while generating predictable cash flow in foundational developed countries.

American Express: 3,659% return + $576.1 million in annual dividend income

Credit-services titan American Express, known best as Amex, has been continuously held by the Oracle of Omaha's company since 1991 and has rallied 3,659% from a cost basis of around $8.49 per share.

Although Amex hasn't raised its dividend as regularly as Coca-Cola, it's grown significantly over the last 35 years. Its $3.80-per-share payout translates into a mouthwatering annual yield on cost of roughly 45% for Berkshire Hathaway.

American Express's long-term outperformance reflects its ability to benefit from both sides of the transaction counter. In the U.S., it's firmly the No. 3 payment processor by credit-card network purchase volume and is also a core lender to businesses and consumers. This allows it to generate merchant fees from facilitating payments, as well as annual fees and interest income from its cardholders.

Image source: Getty Images.

Moody's: 4,815% return + $101.6 million in annual dividend income

Though it's the smallest of the three positions, credit-ratings agency Moody's has delivered the most robust gains. Its shares have climbed by more than 4,800% since its spinoff from Dun & Bradstreet in September 2000.

Moody's has increased its base annual dividend for 16 consecutive years. The $4.12 per share it's currently doling out equates to a 41% yield on cost next to Berkshire's cost basis of around $10.05 per share.

Moody's parabolic ascent since the start of the century reflects strong demand for its credit-rating services amid a prolonged period of low interest rates. The company's Analytics segment, covering everything from risk assessment to regulatory compliance, has also gained traction over time.

American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Sean Williams has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends American Express, Berkshire Hathaway, and Moody's. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.