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Investments in equity securities | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2024
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract] |
Investments in equity securities | Note 5. Investments in equity securities Investments in equity securities are summarized as follows (in millions).
|  | Cost Basis |  |  | Net Unrealized Gains |  |  | Fair Value |
June 30, 2024* |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Banks, insurance and finance |  | $ | 28,585 |  |  | $ | 66,341 |  |  | $ | 94,926 |
Consumer products |  |  | 14,862 |  |  |  | 98,407 |  |  |  | 113,269 |
Commercial, industrial and other |  |  | 45,006 |  |  |  | 31,670 |  |  |  | 76,676 |
|  | $ | 88,453 |  |  | $ | 196,418 |  |  | $ | 284,871 |
—————— * Approximately 72% of the aggregate fair value was concentrated in five companies (American Express Company – $35.1 billion; Apple Inc. – $84.2 billion; Bank of America Corporation – $41.1 billion; The Coca-Cola Company – $25.5 billion and Chevron Corporation – $18.6 billion).
|  | Cost Basis |  |  | Net Unrealized Gains |  |  | Fair Value |
December 31, 2023* |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Banks, insurance and finance |  | $ | 27,136 |  |  | $ | 51,176 |  |  | $ | 78,312 |
Consumer products |  |  | 34,248 |  |  |  | 166,895 |  |  |  | 201,143 |
Commercial, industrial and other |  |  | 48,032 |  |  |  | 26,355 |  |  |  | 74,387 |
|  | $ | 109,416 |  |  | $ | 244,426 |  |  | $ | 353,842 |
—————— * Approximately 79% of the aggregate fair value was concentrated in five companies (American Express Company – $28.4 billion; Apple Inc. – $174.3 billion; Bank of America Corporation – $34.8 billion; The Coca-Cola Company – $23.6 billion and Chevron Corporation – $18.8 billion). In 2019, we invested $10 billion in non-voting Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (“Occidental”) and in Occidental common stock warrants. During 2022, we began acquiring common stock of Occidental. Our aggregate voting interest in Occidental common stock exceeded 20% on August 4, 2022, and we adopted the equity method as of that date. See Note 6. Our investments in the Occidental preferred stock and Occidental common stock warrants are recorded at fair value within Commercial, industrial and other in the tables above. Such investments are not in-substance common stock under GAAP and are not eligible for the equity method. The Occidental preferred stock accrues dividends at 8% per annum and is redeemable at the option of Occidental commencing in 2029 at a redemption price equal to 105% of the liquidation value, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends. As of June 30, 2024, our investment in Occidental preferred stock had an aggregate liquidation value of approximately $8.5 billion, which reflected mandatory redemptions by Occidental during 2023 of approximately $1.5 billion. The Occidental common stock warrants allow us to purchase up to 83.86 million shares of Occidental common stock at an exercise price of $59.62 per share. The warrants are exercisable in whole or in part until one year after the date the preferred stock is fully redeemed. On June 30, 2024, we owned 151.6 million shares of American Express Company (“American Express”) common stock representing 21.3% of its outstanding common stock. Since 1995, we have been party to an agreement with American Express whereby we agreed to vote a significant portion of our shares in accordance with the recommendations of the American Express Board of Directors. We have also agreed to passivity commitments as requested by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, which collectively, in our judgment, restrict our ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of American Express. Accordingly, we do not use the equity method with respect to our investment in American Express common stock, and we continue to record our investment at fair value.

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