At 96, Warren Buffett continues to influence Berkshire Hathaway's investment strategy
Warren Buffett celebrates his 96th birthday while remaining Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway after passing the CEO role to Greg Abel. We analyzed the company's performance over the past year, portfolio changes, and the legendary investor's ongoing role in key decision-making.
Warren Buffett is celebrating his 96th birthday, but this year marks a significant transition: for the first time since 1965, he is no longer the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. In January 2026, he handed the position to his successor, Greg Abel, while remaining in his role as Chairman of the Board.
Despite stepping down as CEO, Buffett remains deeply involved in the company's operations and continues to drive major stock decisions. In an interview with CNBC earlier this year, he confirmed that he still comes to the office five times a week.
According to various reports, Buffett continues to be involved in central investment decisions, such as increasing the stake in Alphabet, the parent company of Google. The value of this holding recently reached 36.6 billion dollars, making it Berkshire's third-largest stock investment.
Stock Performance and Investor Sentiment
Year-to-date, the company's stock (Class B) has risen by only 1.6%. On August 10, shares hit an intraday high of 537.74 dollars following the second-quarter earnings report—the best level since the peak recorded just before Buffett's May 2025 retirement announcement.
Barron’s suggests that Berkshire's lagging performance may be attributed to uncertainty surrounding Greg Abel's leadership, disappointment over the failure to deploy the company's massive cash pile more aggressively, the continued refusal to pay dividends, and the lack of a mega-acquisition exceeding 100 billion dollars.
Confidence in Abel
Buffett has expressed strong confidence in his successor, despite market skepticism. "It would have been unfair, really, not to put Greg in the position," Buffett said. "The more years Berkshire gets with Greg, the better."
Buffett's net worth is estimated at approximately 144 billion dollars, placing him 11th on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index after 56 years at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway.
2026 Portfolio Adjustments
Since Abel took office, three new holdings have been added to the portfolio:
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D.R. Horton: A stake worth 580 thousand dollars.
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Delta Air Lines: A re-established position worth 5.4 billion dollars.
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Macy's: An investment of 55 million dollars.
The purchase of Macy's shares sparked rumors regarding Buffett's personal involvement in investments post-retirement. In a March interview with CNBC, Buffett mentioned making one "small purchase," though analysts speculate this could also refer to international investments not subject to 13F reporting.
Meanwhile, the company has been active on the sell side. During his first two quarters as CEO, Abel exited several stocks that did not align with his preferences, including Visa, Mastercard, UnitedHealth, Domino's Pizza, and Amazon.
Despite these changes, Berkshire retains five major holdings that constitute about 60% of its stock portfolio. Apple remains the largest, accounting for nearly 20%. The financial sector remains the largest by industry (35%), followed by information technology (23%), consumer staples (14%), and communication services (13%).
