Buffett’s company buys nearly 6M more Occidental shares OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett’s company picked up another $368 million worth of Occidental Petroleum stock this week to give it control of nearly 21% of the oil producer. These are the first purchases Berkshire Hathaway has made since regulators gave it approval last month to buy up to 50% of Occidental, but since February Buffett has been consistently buying shares of the Houston-based company any time they drop below $60 apiece. Berkshire’s Occidental stake is now worth nearly $12 billion after its shares nearly doubled this year after Russia invaded Ukraine and oil prices soared. Occidental’s shares gained nearly 2% Thursday to sell for $62.39 after Berkshire disclosed its latest purchases in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Buffett’s Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate has bet heavily on the oil sector this year. Besides its Occidental purchases, Berkshire bought roughly $20 billion worth of Chevron shares. Berkshire’s Occidental purchases have inspired speculation that Buffett might try to buy the entire company, but Buffett doesn’t generally comment on Berkshire’s stock purchases beyond what it is required to disclose.