Berkshire accelerates buybacks, lowers cash stake as profit tops forecasts

Published Sun, Aug 9, 2026 · 10:22 AM

BERKSHIRE Hathaway said it began reducing its enormous stockpile of cash in the second quarter, investing billions of dollars in stocks such as Alphabet and repurchasing billions of its own, as it reported higher-than-expected profit.

The conglomerate said on Saturday (Aug 8) it repurchased US$4.5 billion of its own stock between April and June and over US$3.3 billion more in July, accelerating repurchases it began in March following a nearly two-year hiatus.

Berkshire also bought nearly US$20 billion more stocks than it sold, ending 14 straight quarters as a net seller of shares.

Purchases included a US$10 billion addition to an already-large investment in Alphabet, the parent of Google and YouTube, which is now one of its largest stock holdings.

Quarterly operating profit rose 16 per cent to US$12.98 billion, topping analyst forecasts, as improvement at the BNSF railroad and service businesses including the NetJets luxury plane unit and TTI electronic components distributor helped offset weakness at the Geico auto insurer.

Net income more than doubled to US$25.67 billion, including unrealised gains and losses on stocks that Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire still owns. Berkshire urges investors to ignore the resulting volatility.

Revenue, which had been stagnating, rose 10 per cent to US$101.81 billion.

Berkshire said “considerable uncertainty” remains about macroeconomic and geopolitical events, including tariffs and wars. It also said falling demand at consumer businesses including its 103 car and truck dealerships, Fruit of the Loom underwear and Forest River RV reflects changes in consumer confidence.

The quarter was the second since Greg Abel became Berkshire’s chief executive, succeeding Warren Buffett, who remains chairman.

“It’s a pretty healthy beat, and investors will be encouraged,” said Cathy Seifert, an analyst at CFRA Research with a “neutral” rating for Berkshire. “Slowly, gradually and subtly we’re seeing Greg assert himself as the new leader.”

Measuring intrinsic value

Investors and analysts have been eager to see how Abel’s approach to managing Berkshire’s capital differs from that of Buffett, who had difficulty deploying cash toward the end of his 60 years at the helm of the US$1.12 trillion conglomerate.

Berkshire ended June with US$364.7 billion of cash, down from a record US$380.2 billion three months earlier. Its policy allows buybacks when the stock price is below intrinsic value, as “conservatively determined” by Abel following consultation with Buffett.

In July, Buffett, who turns 96 on Aug 30, told CNBC he remains involved in Berkshire’s decision-making, and neither he nor Abel were doing anything that the other did not approve of. Berkshire’s market capitalisation is close to 1.5 times book value, or assets minus liabilities.

The pace of stock repurchases is comparable to Buffett’s peak pace early this decade.

Berkshire’s biggest year for buybacks was 2021, when it repurchased US$27 billion of stock.

“Warren and Greg are terrific investors, and their repurchasing shares gives me confidence in the present value of Berkshire’s shares and growth of intrinsic value going forward,” said Gabelli Funds’ Macrae Sykes, who manages the Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF. Berkshire is its largest holding. The reported cash stake includes US$6.8 billion that Berkshire spent in late July to buy home builder Taylor Morrison.

Berkshire’s $12.98 billion of operating profit equaled about $9,068 per Class A share, and rose from $11.16 billion a year earlier.

The $25.67 billion of net income was about $17,928 per Class A share, and rose from $12.37 billion. Berkshire’s Class A shares are up 3% this year, trailing the Standard & Poor’s 500‘s 13% gain. The shares have lagged the index by 40 percentage points since Buffett announced in May 2025 he was stepping down as chief executive.

‘Absolutely abysmal’ results at Geico, analyst says

Geico saw pre-tax underwriting profit fall 45 per cent, as accident claims rose while marketing expenses increased.

The car insurer has spent more on advertising to regain customers it lost during a multi-year effort to improve underwriting quality and reduce overheads.

Seifert said Geico’s results were “absolutely abysmal” and raised “red flags,” at a time rivals, which include Allstate and Progressive, are performing better.

“The question is, was Geico late to the party to raise rates, and is it getting whipsawed by persistently higher claims frequencies,” Seifert said. “It is spending a boatload on advertising, but at some point it may have to pull the plug because it hurts the bottom line.”

Overall profit from insurance and reinsurance fell 11 per cent, with lower-than-expected property losses and some insurance business offsetting Geico.

Profit at BNSF rose 6 per cent to US$1.56 billion, as the railroad shipped more consumer, agricultural and energy products and charged more for fuel.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy said profit rose 27 per cent to US$891 million, benefiting from higher utility margins and tax credits. REUTERS