Berkshire’s 10.8% Fall, $397B Cash Pile Spotlight Abel’s First Quarter
Berkshire Hathaway shares have fallen 10.8% over 12 months, lagging the S&P 500 by 40.4 points, as Greg Abel sold $8.1 billion of equities and boosted cash to a record $397 billion. Q1 profit rose but missed expectations, even as investors applauded Abel’s performance at the annual meeting.
1. Performance vs S&P 500
Berkshire shares declined 10.8% over the past 12 months, trailing the S&P 500 by 40.4 percentage points—its largest underperformance since March 2000—as investors gauge Greg Abel’s leadership in his first test.
2. Equity Sales and Cash Build
In Q1, the company sold a net $8.1 billion of stock holdings, raising its cash balance to a record $397 billion, or roughly one-third of total assets, highlighting a cautious capital allocation stance.
3. Q1 Profit and Expectations
The company reported higher first-quarter profit under Abel, but results fell short of analyst estimates, reflecting the impact of reduced equity investments and operating performance dynamics.
4. Investor Response at Annual Meeting
Investors praised Abel’s focus on discipline and continuity during the annual meeting, sending Berkshire shares higher on positive leadership feedback despite concerns over prolonged cash deployment.