New York, May 15, 2026, 18:04 EDT
Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a new Macy’s stake worth around $55 million, pushing the retailer’s stock higher late as investors reacted to signs someone is betting on the troubled chain. Macy’s rose 5.9% in after-hours trading after Berkshire reported it owned about 3.04 million shares over two positions in its latest quarterly filing.
Berkshire’s stake is small. It comes as Macy’s works through store closures and moves money toward its busier locations. The retailer is trying to protect margins too, while tariffs and weak consumer spending hit discretionary retail.
Berkshire’s holdings update came from a Form 13F, the quarterly SEC filing big institutional investors have to make. The positions were reported as of March 31, so Berkshire may have changed its stake since then. The delay means investors can’t read this as a current signal.
Berkshire picked up Macy’s shares while Greg Abel was running the company after Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO. The company also took a larger stake in Delta Air Lines, boosted its Alphabet position, and sold out of Amazon, UnitedHealth, Visa, and Mastercard.
Macy’s said Friday its board declared a regular quarterly dividend of 19.15 cents a share. That payout goes to holders on record June 15 and will be paid July 1. The retailer keeps its dividend unchanged while putting money into store updates and digital efforts.
Macy’s is still working its turnaround plan. CEO Tony Spring said in March the company is adding “more relevant brands” and investing in staff. Bloomingdale’s booked solid holiday sales, and Bluemercury showed a good quarter. For the fourth quarter, Macy’s posted net sales of $7.6 billion. Comparable sales rose 1.8%, with Bloomingdale’s comps shooting up 9.9%. Business Wire
Macy’s is bracing for pressure in the coming year. The company guided fiscal 2026 net sales between $21.4 billion and $21.65 billion, lower than the $21.8 billion Macy’s expects to post in fiscal 2025. Adjusted EPS guidance sits at $1.90 to $2.10. Tariffs are expected to bite mostly in the first half, with the bulk of that in the first quarter, the retailer said.
Tariffs are a concern for Macy’s since the retailer sources most of its apparel, home products and accessories internationally. The company has put out warnings that macro factors and geopolitics could impact discretionary spending, saying shoppers might cut back on nonessential purchases if their budgets tighten.
Retailers are turning in uneven results. Kohl’s warned in March that sales for the year could stay flat or drop up to 2%. CEO Michael Bender said the chain’s core customers—many in the low- and middle-income brackets—are still watching their spending and looking for bargains. Macy’s is seeing the same pattern with its main shoppers, though Bloomingdale’s draws in wealthier customers.
Berkshire stepping in might give Macy’s a sentiment boost, but it doesn’t move the results. Macy’s still has to prove that shutting weak stores, upgrading core locations, and leaning on Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury is enough with fewer shoppers, tariffs, and tough competition from discounters, e-commerce, and big-box stores.
Berkshire’s $55 million bet on Macy’s is just a small piece of its overall stock portfolio. Investors could be overanalyzing the 13F, since it only reveals past buys and sells. If spring demand slides or tariffs bite, Friday’s after-hours Macy’s rally could fade.
Macy’s moved its dividend date and got a new spot on a major investor list after the bell on Friday. But traders are focused on the coming earnings report. Shareholders now want proof the turnaround is pushing sales, not just landing in the latest Berkshire filing.
