Greg Abel Will Take The Stage From Warren Buffett At Berkshire Meeting
Greg Abel officially takes the helm at Berkshire Hathaway, with the upcoming annual meeting marking the first post-Buffett era Q&A session. The meeting is expected to shift from Buffett's philosophical tone to a more operations- and business-focused discussion. Investors are closely watching capital allocation decisions, share buybacks, and whether Abel will expand Berkshire's footprint in technology.
Summary
Greg Abel has officially assumed the role of CEO at Berkshire Hathaway, and the company's upcoming annual meeting in Omaha represents the first major public test of the post-Warren Buffett era. Unlike previous years, Buffett is not expected to take the stage. Instead, Abel will lead the Q&A session alongside insurance chief Ajit Jain, while a second panel featuring top operators like Katie Farmer and Adam Johnson signals a broader operational focus across Berkshire's diverse business portfolio.
The tone of the meeting is anticipated to be markedly different from prior years. Analysts and investors expect a shift away from Buffett's signature philosophical musings and life wisdom toward concrete, business-focused discussions. Capital allocation is likely to be a central topic, particularly around share buybacks. Berkshire resumed buybacks in March 2025 for the first time since May 2024, purchasing approximately $226 million in stock. Abel has also made a personal commitment to buy Berkshire shares with his entire after-tax salary each year he serves as CEO, framing it as a demonstration of alignment with shareholders.
Despite these moves, the stock has underperformed. Berkshire shares have lagged the S&P 500 since the buyback announcement, and more broadly, the company has trailed the index by over 30 percentage points since Buffett signaled his retirement last May. Analysts attribute this partly to expectations of little to no earnings growth in the near term, with insurance being a major headwind due to tough year-over-year comparisons.
Another key area of scrutiny is Berkshire's evolving stance on technology. Buffett famously avoided sectors outside his circle of competence, even characterizing Apple as a consumer play rather than a tech investment. However, Berkshire's recent acquisition of a stake in Alphabet suggests the company may be gradually warming to the tech sector. Investors are watching closely to see whether Abel will expand this direction, particularly given the rapid rise of artificial intelligence across industries.
Despite all the structural changes, attendees and observers expect the community spirit of the annual meeting to remain intact, with shareholders still gathering in the shared purpose of discussing Berkshire Hathaway's future.
About this episode
Investors will be closely watching this year’s Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting on Saturday as Greg Abel takes center stage as the company’s new leader. Abel, who took the baton from Warren Buffett in January, will host the annual gathering for the first time as CEO. The Oracle of Omaha will still be at the event but it’s Abel’s turn to shine. CNBC's Yun Li reports on what investors are expecting from this year’s meeting and how the firm may shape up in the post-Buffett era. Reporter: Yun Li Produced, Shot and Edited by: Kaan Oguz Managing Producer: Anuz Thapa Production Support: CJ Haddad Senior Director of Video: Lindsey Jacobson Additional Footage: Getty Images » Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC » Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more. Want to get ahead at work? Then you need to learn how to make effective small talk. In CNBC’s new online course, How To Talk To People At Work, expert instructors teach you how to use everyday conversation to gain visibility, build meaningful relationships and advance your career. Use coupon code EARLYBIRD for 20% off. Offer valid from April 20, 2026 to May 4, 2026. Terms apply. https://cnb.cx/4sGlSkh Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: https://www.cnbc.com/ Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: https://cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC Follow CNBC News on Instagram: https://cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC Follow CNBC News on Facebook: https://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC Follow CNBC on Threads: https://cnb.cx/threads Follow CNBC News on X: https://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC Follow CNBC on WhatsApp: https://cnb.cx/WhatsAppCNBC #CNBC Greg Abel Will Take The Stage From Warren Buffett At Berkshire Meeting
Key Insights
- Abel committed to using his entire after-tax salary to personally purchase Berkshire shares every year he serves as CEO, framing it as a demonstration of absolute alignment with shareholders rather than a financial strategy.
- An analyst argues that Berkshire's stock underperformance — trailing the S&P 500 by more than 30 percentage points since Buffett signaled his retirement — is largely driven by expectations of little to no earnings growth, with insurance posing tough year-over-year comparisons.
- Berkshire's acquisition of a stake in Alphabet late last year is cited as a potential signal that the company is becoming more open to deeper involvement in the technology sector, a notable departure from Buffett's historically strict circle-of-competence discipline.
Topics
Transcript
[0:01] The time has arrived where Greg should become the chief executive officer of the company at year end. Now that Greg Abel is officially in charge, Berkshire Hathaway investors are about to get their clearest read yet on the company's plan for the future. The firm's annual meeting in Omaha this upcoming Saturday will be a key test of confidence in the post-Warren Buffett era. This year, Buffett isn't expected to take the stage. [0:31] Instead, Abel will lead the first Q&A alongside insurance chief Ajit Jain. A second panel will feature top operators including Katie Farmer and Adam Johnson, signaling a broader focus towards Berkshire's array of businesses, and that alone could reshape the tone. When I walked…
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