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Buffett is a shrewd and patient investor. Understatement maybe?
A very sensible and level-headed individual. I wonder if he could have translated his skills over into the political forum. We don't have many such people as leaders.
Warren’s successor has to prove himself as the chairman. The Buffet premium on the stock is gone. Greg Abel, from what i read, is a very capable manager. We will miss Warren Buffet.
Warren’s successor has to prove himself as the chairman. The Buffet premium on the stock is gone. Greg Abel, from what i read, is a very capable manager. We will miss Warren Buffet.
Depending on how hard BRK tanks after Warren passes, I would be tempted to buy into it for the long term...
Warren will be the Chairman. Greg will become the CEO. Looking forward to the leadership transition because Greg has the skills that Berkshire needs at this time. Warren has never wanted to be an operator.
I've been wondering if WB let the portfolio go static and the cash build up to go out on a calm note and let Mr. Abel take the reins of a fresh horse. It will be interesting to see what transpires although it could just be business as usual.
Warren’s successor has to prove himself as the chairman. The Buffet premium on the stock is gone. Greg Abel, from what i read, is a very capable manager. We will miss Warren Buffet.
Depending on how hard BRK tanks after Warren passes, I would be tempted to buy into it for the long term...
I can see that.
Might be some value in breaking it up too. Seems like they've come a long way from Charlie Munger's theory of a few good ideas. Dinky linky.
Warren’s successor has to prove himself as the chairman. The Buffet premium on the stock is gone. Greg Abel, from what i read, is a very capable manager. We will miss Warren Buffet.
Depending on how hard BRK tanks after Warren passes, I would be tempted to buy into it for the long term...
Why would BRK tank after the inevitable occurs? Warren is 95 years old and hasn’t really run Berkshire for a number of years. His passing will not be a surprise to anyone. As a many decades long shareholder, I can say that neither Warren nor Charlie were ever interested in running Berkshire’s sprawling business. They are both very hands-off when it comes to management. Berkshire has always been run in a very decentralized manner.
As much as I love Warren, I’m more optimistic about the company’s future now and after he’s no longer with us. Berkshire needs someone with different skills. It needs a strong operator who will hold subsidiary businesses accountable for performance. This never really occurred on Warren’s watch. I could see Greg selling businesses that are perennial poor performers, which is something Warren wouldn’t do.
Warren always said he wants businesses that could be run by a mediocre person or dummy, if you will. Think very high moat or addictive- railroads, insurance, See’s Candies, Dairy Queen, and Duracell. Even a dummy like me couldn’t screw those companies as long as I just went to beach and just let it coast.
@masterd -- because a lot of people ('retail') will probably think as goes Warren so goes Berkshire and sell just on the headline because OMG. Market psychology and all that. The long-term BRK holders (eg, the Berkshire version of Bogleheads will probably stay put, b/c they understand the company.
I agree w/your second paragraph; there are some perinnial underperformers they could cut loose if they wanted and/or didn't really seem to fit the company other than they held a sentimental place in Warren's heart.
"It’s the end of an era for Berkshire Hathaway as Warren Buffett prepares to step aside as CEO. Investors shouldn’t worry about the change—in fact, they should welcome it."
"Buffett fans might not like to hear it, but the CEO transition is coming at a good time. Buffett has slowed down in recent years and grown increasingly cautious. Berkshire’s massive cash holdings have been a drag on performance; Buffett has been selling stock, when he should have been buying; and recent acquisitions have left much to be desired. Berkshire stock has risen 13% in 2025, lagging behind the S&P 500’s 16% gain, and it has underperformed the index over the past three, 10, and 15 years. It’s a very un-Buffett-like performance."
"Abel will need to articulate a vision for a post-Buffett Berkshire. It could be something like this: 'I plan to build on the platform that Warren Buffett created and use Berkshire’s durable and ample earnings for investments, acquisitions, share repurchases, and dividends. Berkshire will be a more focused company under my leadership, with greater financial transparency, and maintain a Fort Knox balance sheet. I realize I can’t be Warren Buffett. But with the help of our talented managers, I pledge to improve our subsidiaries and turn what is the largest conglomerate in the world into the best-run conglomerate. My goal is to attract a new generation of investors to Berkshire and position the company to produce market-beating returns over time.'”
Comments
A very sensible and level-headed individual. I wonder if he could have translated his skills over into the political forum. We don't have many such people as leaders.
95 years old - god bless him.
Might be some value in breaking it up too. Seems like they've come a long way from Charlie Munger's theory of a few good ideas. Dinky linky.
As much as I love Warren, I’m more optimistic about the company’s future now and after he’s no longer with us. Berkshire needs someone with different skills. It needs a strong operator who will hold subsidiary businesses accountable for performance. This never really occurred on Warren’s watch. I could see Greg selling businesses that are perennial poor performers, which is something Warren wouldn’t do.
I agree w/your second paragraph; there are some perinnial underperformers they could cut loose if they wanted and/or didn't really seem to fit the company other than they held a sentimental place in Warren's heart.
Investors shouldn’t worry about the change—in fact, they should welcome it."
"Buffett fans might not like to hear it, but the CEO transition is coming at a good time.
Buffett has slowed down in recent years and grown increasingly cautious.
Berkshire’s massive cash holdings have been a drag on performance; Buffett has been selling stock,
when he should have been buying; and recent acquisitions have left much to be desired.
Berkshire stock has risen 13% in 2025, lagging behind the S&P 500’s 16% gain,
and it has underperformed the index over the past three, 10, and 15 years.
It’s a very un-Buffett-like performance."
"Abel will need to articulate a vision for a post-Buffett Berkshire. It could be something like this:
'I plan to build on the platform that Warren Buffett created and use Berkshire’s durable and ample earnings
for investments, acquisitions, share repurchases, and dividends. Berkshire will be a more focused company
under my leadership, with greater financial transparency, and maintain a Fort Knox balance sheet.
I realize I can’t be Warren Buffett.
But with the help of our talented managers, I pledge to improve our subsidiaries
and turn what is the largest conglomerate in the world into the best-run conglomerate.
My goal is to attract a new generation of investors to Berkshire and position the company
to produce market-beating returns over time.'”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/savingandinvesting/berkshire-without-buffett-what-s-next-for-the-company-and-the-stock/ar-AA1QoHzR