Berkshire Hathaway has maintained its position as one of the world’s most valuable companies, with a market capitalization of approximately $1.06 trillion. In 2026, its Class B shares are down 0.6% year-to-date, while over the past 52 weeks they have gained 6.3%. This contrasts with peer Walmart, which recently joined the $1 trillion market-cap club and has rallied 13.3% year-to-date and 28.3% over the last year.

Legendary investor Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of 2025 after more than five decades at the company’s helm. While he remains chairman and retains a significant personal stake, the succession plan has drawn scrutiny from investors watching for continuity in capital allocation and underwriting discipline under his successor’s leadership.

After outperforming the S&P 500 for many years, Berkshire Hathaway’s performance slipped in 2025, with shares gaining 11.5% compared to a 16.6% rise for the benchmark index. Investors are closely monitoring whether the company can regain its long-term edge in portfolio returns, given its size and the limited pool of opportunities large enough to move the needle on its equity book.