Berkshire Hathaway reported cash holdings of $365.5 billion as of June 30, down from $397.4 billion on March 31, marking the first significant quarterly decline since early 2022. The company spent $4.5 billion on share buybacks during the period, compared with $235 million in the first quarter. Greg Abel is serving as CEO in his second quarter.
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The cash decline and increased buybacks represent a return of capital to existing shareholders instead of productive investments in employment, climate initiatives, or infrastructure.
“Wealth concentration versus broader economic deployment”
The reduction in cash reserves through buybacks signals disciplined stewardship and efficient allocation when management views shares as undervalued.
“Shareholder value and avoidance of idle cash erosion”
Buybacks return capital directly to owners for redeployment according to individual preferences through voluntary market processes.
“Private property rights and resistance to external mandates”
All three views assume buybacks explain the cash drop, yet the $4.5 billion figure covers only a fraction of the decline, leaving the balance unaccounted for in the source data.
“Numerical mismatch and unexamined alternative uses of cash”
Ratings by MBFC