The office building that houses the headquarters of Berkshire Hathaway Inc is seen after the annual shareholders meeting, in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, May, May 3, 2025. Reuters/Brendan McDermid | Photo credit: Brendan McDermid
Berkshire Hathaway shareholders cry the departure of the legendary investor Warren Buffet anticipate that the conglomeration that Buil of about 60 years will retain its long -term approach and culture, but worries about the loss of Buffet’s vision and the power of the star.
After Buffett’s surprise announcement on Saturday that he would resign as executive director by the end of the year, Berkshire’s shareholders and fans said that the company based in Omaha, Nebraska, will remain in good hands once Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice Vice.
But they said that it is not clear how the conglomerate of $ 1.16 billion, which has 189 operational businesses, $ 264 billion of shares and $ 348 billion in cash, will go after the man so intertwined with him, prodes the stage.
“There has been a cousin in Berkshire because or buffet,” said Mark Malek, investment director of Siebert.nxt. “Will people look at it in the same way?”
Richard Casterline, a Denver computer programmer, said he was a “little shocking” learning or Buffet’s game.
“I am curious to see what the price of the shares will do on Monday,” he said. “I don’t think (Abel) causes the same emotion. It is no fault or his, it is just to think who could be as legendary as those two are. They are difficult shoes to fill.”
Even so, many see Abel as suitable for work.
“This is Buffet’s baby, and deliberately planned an orderly succession that does not interrupt the value of his life,” said Daniel Hanson, Neuberger Berman’s senior portfolio manager. “I have full confidence in Greg’s leadership.”
Richard Lancaster, a Charlotte accounting consultant, North Carolina, compared the change with Steve Jobs delivering Apple’s reins to the current executive director Tim Cook in 2011.
“You have two differentia personalities, two different approaches,” Lancaster said. “Greg has all the qualities that Warren likes in a manager: a very sharp and well versed individual in what is in the commercial climate today and the changes that will occur through disruptive technologies.”
Under Buffett, the annualized performance of Berkshire’s shareholders has doubled approximately that of Standard & Poor’s 500.
Buffett’s aura was such that when Berkshire revealed new investments in common shares, he routinely sent the prices of the highest shares even if Buffett himself was not investing.
Some analysts believe that Abel can be more active than Buffett to supervise Berkshire’s subsidiaries.
“Abel will have to step on a very fine line to bet on a maintenance environment such as a buffet environment, with also making it marks,” said analyst Cathy Seifert by CfFra Research.
And some investors cry out for Berkshire to pay a dividend, which he has not done since 1967.
Abel’s way
Abel has hinted at changes.
Before Buffett’s announcement, which Abel knew he was approaching, the vice president told attendees to the annual meeting that he would be “more active, but hopefully in a very positive way”, to supervise Berkshire running “very.
Berkshire’s businesses are diverse, including GEICO CAR INSURANCE, the BNSF Railway, many public services and energy companies, a real estate broker and retail brands such as Dairy Queen, Fruit of the Loom and See’s Calodies.
Another possible change: how easily Berkshire will download the companies it possesses, even when they have a lower performance.
Buffett is known as business collector, but has made exceptions, when companies lose competitive advantages.
In 2019, Berkshire sold its applied subscriber workers compensation unit, and next year it showed its newspaper empire as advertising income that led Buffett to mark the “toast” industry.
The leaders of most Berkshire companies have informed Abel since 2018, while Berkshire insurance businesses as Geico, General Re and national indemnity have informed Vice President Ajit Jain, who continue to do.
The managers praise Abel as a fast study, despite supervising companies as varied as the manufacturer of Precision Castparts pieces, the Israeli tool manufacturer Iscar and Borsheims Jewelry.
Rapid changes are unlikely. The Berkshire size makes Buffett’s work undo in a short time, that is, a transformative acquisition.
“Buffett has built such an incredible machine,” said Nate Garrison, Investment Director of World Investment Advisors. “It is something that will resist the test of time.”
Long legacy
Shareholders said Buffett’s legacy will live.
Sameer Naik, an OMAHA software architect, said Buffett taught investors to be patient when investing.
“Its greatest legacy is to give investors a lot of confidence that they can enrich themselves, slower,” Naik said. “If you invest in the right companies that understand and invest over time, the good things arranged.”
Pamela Taylor, a Chicago who works in technology sales, said she has studied Buffett’s investment style for a long time.
“Your strategy of buying and retaining in particular can be very different from the rapid sales technique that other investors use,” he said. “That will be his legacy.”
One thing that many shareholders will be reduced is the annual weekend of shareholders of Berkshire, which attracts tens of thousands to Omaha for purchases and other events, including the annual meeting.
“It is an opportunity to interact with other people with the same moral compass,” said Robert O’Connor, a Family doctor from Victoria, British Columbia. “It’s our coachella.”
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Posted on May 4, 2025
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