Berkshire Hathaway reported a $3.76 billion write-down for its shares in Kraft Heinz during its second quarter. This write-down reveals Berkshire Hathaway’s admission that its initial investment into the food conglomerate was overvalued and is now correcting course.

Berkshire said it had slashed the carrying value of its 27.4 per cent stake in Kraft Heinz to $8.4bn, from $13.5bn at the end of the first quarter, a roughly $5bn impairment. It noted the hit reduced its total earnings after taxes by $3.8bn, according to the quarterly statement.