Berkshire Hathaway Enters Post-Buffett Era as Greg Abel Takes Center Stage

For the first time in decades, the Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting will proceed without Warren Buffett as the central figure. The 95-year-old founder's transition to the sidelines marks a new chapter for the conglomerate, shifting the focus to CEO Greg Abel, who assumed leadership at the start of 2026. The transition comes at a challenging time for the firm. While historically a beacon of stability, Berkshire has recently struggled, with shares falling more than 5% year-to-date, lagging behind the S&P 500's 4% gain. More broadly, the company has trailed the index by over 30 percentage points since Buffett first signaled his intention to step down in May of the previous year. Recent performance data highlights the headwinds. Operating earnings plummeted nearly 30% in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by a sharp 54% decline in insurance underwriting profits. Despite these pressures, the company resumed share buybacks in March, repurchasing approximately $226 million. CEO Greg Abel has further signaled confidence by investing his entire $15 million after-tax salary into company shares. Analysts are now focusing on Abel's approach to the company's $300 billion equity portfolio. Early signs suggest a more centralized management style, with Abel reportedly unwinding positions previously managed by Todd Combs, who departed for JPMorgan at the end of 2025. With UBS estimating the stock is trading at an 8% discount to its intrinsic value, investors are expected to press Abel on whether the pace of share repurchases will accelerate to support the stock price.