Warren Buffett and Greg Abel Just Sent Shockwaves Through Wall Street With This $377 Billion Warning

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1. 47m ago

   Berkshire Hathaway cash pile hits $377.4 billion as Buffett and Abel sell stocks

   Berkshire Hathaway's cash and Treasury bill holdings reached $377.4 billion in the third quarter as Warren Buffett and Greg Abel continued a historic selling streak. The conglomerate more than doubled its stock repurchases to $9.6 billion while operating earnings declined. Buffett and Abel have been net sellers of equities in 15 of the last 16 quarters, reflecting difficulty finding attractively valued investments in an expensive market.

   Why it matters

   The record cash pile signals caution from both the outgoing chairman and his designated successor about current market valuations. Since Buffett stepped down as CEO at the end of 2025, Abel has overseen day-to-day operations and the massive investment portfolio. The simultaneous acceleration of buybacks and equity sales suggests Berkshire views its own shares as more attractive than external opportunities.

   What is confirmed

   • Berkshire Hathaway's cash and Treasury bill holdings reached $377.4 billion.
   • Berkshire repurchased $9.6 billion of its own stock in the third quarter.
   • Operating earnings declined in the third quarter.
   • Buffett and Abel have been net sellers of equities in 15 of the last 16 quarters.
   • Greg Abel has assumed day-to-day operations and oversight of the investment portfolio after Buffett retired as CEO at the end of 2025.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Buffett bought over $77 billion worth of his favorite stock in the lead-up to his retirement.
   • Greg Abel plowed $14.4 billion into Warren Buffett's favorite stock this year.

   What to watch next

   • Fourth-quarter 13F filing for details on specific equity sales and purchases
   • Berkshire's annual letter to shareholders typically released in February
   • Any large acquisition announcement that would deploy cash reserves
   Sources used for this update (18)

   1. www.fool.com — Forget the Recent Delivery Beat: Here's the Key Number That Will Decide Investors' Reaction to Tesla's Earnings | The Motley Fool
   2. cashwalklabs.io — GM will switch to Nasdaq from the NYSE on Nov. 17
   3. CNBC — Berkshire Hathaway more than doubles buybacks in third quarter as earnings decline
   4. WSJ — Berkshire Hathaway’s Quarterly Profit Falls After Investment Gains Shrink
   5. Reuters — Berkshire Hathaway accelerates stock buybacks, operating profit falls
   6. Barron's — Berkshire Surprised With Record Buybacks, but Pace Slowed as the Stock Rose
   7. The Motley Fool — Warren Buffett and Greg Abel Just Sent Shockwaves Through Wall Street With This $377 Billion Warning
   8. Yahoo Finance — Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) Formalizes Greg Abel Succession After Earnings Slip And $9.6 Billion Repurchase
   9. New York Post — Berkshire Hathaway speeds up stock buybacks, though profit falls
   10. Investing.com — Berkshire Hathaway speeds up stock buybacks, though profit falls By Reuters
   11. Morningstar — Berkshire Hathaway Earnings: Cash Levels Retreat Again as Acquisitions and Share Buybacks Pick Up
   12. finance.yahoo.com — Greg Abel Has Plowed $14.4 Billion Into Warren Buffett's Favorite Stock This Year, and It's Not Apple
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