Greg Abel assumed the CEO role at Berkshire Hathaway at the start of 2026. The company posted a 16% increase in operating earnings to $12.98 billion for Q2 2026, with segment results varying across manufacturing, energy, rail, and insurance operations. Share repurchases rose to approximately $4.5 billion while cash holdings declined to $365.5 billion.
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“Berkshire earnings rose last quarter and CEO Greg Abel is starting to deploy Buffett's massive cash hoard”
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Strong earnings and increased buybacks reflect concentrated corporate power returning capital to shareholders rather than investing in workers or green infrastructure.
“Shareholder primacy versus broader social investment priorities”
Earnings growth in core industrial segments demonstrates the value of disciplined private management and efficient capital allocation to owners.
“Private enterprise and shareholder returns over regulatory or bureaucratic direction”
Accelerated buybacks and earnings gains illustrate market-driven redeployment of resources by private owners without political intervention.
“Voluntary capital return and decentralized allocation versus centralized control”
All three views overstate the significance of buybacks relative to total cash and overlook insurance earnings declines plus regulatory influences on segment results.
“Overlooked scale mismatch, insurance weakness, and premature attribution to new leadership”
Ratings by MBFC