Buffett's Berkshire ups Wal-Mart stake

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Investor guru Warren Buffett almost doubled his stake in Wal-Mart, adding 18 million shares in the discount retailer in the third quarter of 2009.

According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) held 19.9 million shares of Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500) at the end of the second quarter, and now holds 37.8 million shares.

The company also lifted its position in Well Fargo (WFC, Fortune 500) adding 10.7 million shares to the 286.6 million it already held at the end of the second quarter.

Buffett's investing company picked up 3.6 million shares of waste collection company Republic Services Inc. (RSG), 3.4 million shares of Nestle (NSRG.Y), 1.3 million shares of Exxon Mobil (XOM, Fortune 500), and 27,336 shares of insurer Travelers Co (TRV, Fortune 500). Berkshire Hathaway did not hold any shares of the companies in the second quarter.

The Omaha, Neb.-based investor unloaded all 2 million shares of industrial manufacturer Eaton Corp. (ETN, Fortune 500) and 2.7 million shares of Wabco Holdings (WBC) he held in the previous quarter.

Buffett also sold off 8.8 million shares of investors services company Moody's (MCO) and 7.1 million shares of energy producer ConocoPhillips (COP, Fortune 500). But he still holds 39.2 million and 57.4 million shares of the companies, respectively.

He also unloaded 1.2 million shares, or 16.7%, of NRG Energy (NRG, Fortune 500). The influential investor still holds 6 million shares.

Buffett made modest sell-offs of health insurance company Wellpoint (WLP, Fortune 500) and SunTrust Banks (STI, Fortune 500).