One of Berkshire's smaller positions (less than one-tenth of 1% of the overall portfolio) is the investment bank Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE: JEF). Berkshire owns roughly 433,500 shares. Jefferies recently reported earnings that came up short of analyst estimates.

Buffett's biggest purchase last quarter was in Occidental Petroleum. Berkshire Hathaway owns a whopping 27.25% of Occidental's outstanding shares, making it the largest shareholder by far in the company.

Warren Buffett has never claimed to be able to predict what the stock market would do over the near term. In a 2008 op-ed for The New York Times, he wrote, "I can't predict the short-term movements of the stock market. I haven't the faintest idea as to whether stocks will be higher or lower a month, or a year, from now."

Two historically cheap market leaders in the 43-stock, $315 billion portfolio the Oracle of Omaha oversees at Berkshire Hathaway are ripe for the picking.

Berkshire Hathaway's growing cash position is sending a clear message about what Warren Buffett thinks of stocks right now.

Warren Buffett’s recent moves to trim Berkshire Hathaway’s holdings in Apple and Bank of America have raised questions about what it means for the market and economy. However, it’s unlikely that the takeaway is simple or scary.