economy
March 2, 2026
Berkshire Hathaway shares drop nearly 5% after poor fourth-quarter results, no bold moves by new CEO Abel
Some had hoped for more aggressive signals on capital deployment given the company's swelling cash balance.

TL;DR
- Berkshire Hathaway's operating earnings dropped over 29% in the fourth quarter to $10.2 billion.
- Insurance underwriting profits fell 54% year-over-year.
- New CEO Greg Abel's first shareholder communication emphasized continuity in capital allocation, with no immediate dividend planned.
- Berkshire ended 2025 with over $370 billion in cash and Treasury holdings.
- Some analysts expressed surprise at the lack of a dividend, while others noted Berkshire's defensive qualities could benefit the stock during market volatility.
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