I think the most exciting (or terrifying) change is strategy drift. Buffett hated tech stocks—he called them “too hard” and famously passed on Amazon and Google. But Abel and Combs are younger, and they’ve already invested in Snowflake and a few fintech plays. Watch for Berkshire to quietly buy into AI or renewable energy startups—while still keeping a massive stake in Coca-Cola, because some things are sacred.
Berkshire After Buffett: What Greg Abel's CEO Era Reveals
Also, expect more share buybacks. Under Buffett, buybacks were done when the stock was “obviously cheap,” which was rare. The new guard might be more aggressive, especially if the stock dips after the transition. (Hint: if Berkshire’s price drops 10% tomorrow, don’t panic—that’s a buying signal for the new team.)
The Final Verdict: Boring Is the New Exciting
Here’s my hot take: Berkshire Hathaway without Buffett is like The Beatles without John Lennon—still a great band, but the vibe changes. You’ll get fewer “Buffett-isms” (like “be fearful when others are greedy”) and more spreadsheets. But that’s not a bad thing. The business engine—GEICO, BNSF Railway, See’s Candies—is a cash-spewing machine that doesn’t need a CEO who buys newspapers for fun.
What will become of Berkshire Hathaway now that Warren Buffett is
For investors, the next decade is about patience. Don’t expect 20% annual returns. Do expect slow, compound growth, maybe 8-10% a year. And if you’re nervous? Well, remember that the Oracle himself picked his successors. He once wrote, “The right people are in charge, and they’ll make the right decisions.” So, grab a Cherry Coke, read the annual report, and trust the process. (But maybe ignore the first quarterly letter after his exit—it’ll be very long and very dry.)
One last thing: keep an eye on insurance. Berkshire’s float (the money from premiums they hold) is its secret sauce. If Abel uses that float to take bigger risks in reinsurance or catastrophe bonds, you’ll see volatility. If he plays it safe, the stock becomes a cozy dividend utility. My money? On a bit of both—because nothing is ever simple in Omaha.