Berkshire: Still Time, Maybe

They say Berkshire Hathaway has nearly $382 billion just… sitting there. Like a dragon on a pile of gold, except the dragon is an accounting department. It’s enough to make you feel inadequate, frankly. I mean, I have a spare twenty in a sock drawer, and I consider that a good quarter. The sheer volume of cash is why people still look at Berkshire, even though the whole Warren Buffett thing feels…historical now. Like discussing the merits of rotary phones.

But it’s not just the money, is it? It’s the transition. Greg Abel is at the helm now. I remember when the succession plan was announced. It was so… orderly. Like a well-behaved family passing down the silver. My own family’s transitions usually involve shouting and passive-aggressive gift-giving. So, a smooth handover felt almost unsettling. And now, we wait to see if Abel will steer the ship with the same quiet competence, or if he’ll suddenly decide to paint the whole thing neon pink.

There’s a window here, though. A little breathing room before Abel fully imprints his style on the company. It’s like when a new tenant moves into an apartment. You can still sense the ghost of the previous occupant, the faint smell of their potpourri, but it’s fading. It’s a good time to take a look, before everything smells exclusively of whatever air freshener he prefers.

Buffett, of course, is a legend. He earned his place on whatever financial Mount Rushmore exists. But legends can get…comfortable. They start believing their own press releases. Sometimes you need someone to come in and say, “You know what’s a terrible idea? That thing you’ve been doing for thirty years.” It’s never easy to hear, but it’s usually right. My sister, bless her heart, has been telling me my fashion choices are questionable since 1987. She’s always right.

The Kraft Heinz divestment is interesting. A rare misstep for Buffett, apparently. It’s like admitting you once bought a timeshare. Humiliating, but necessary. And Abel seems to be… actively managing the portfolio. Reducing stakes in nine stocks? That’s a lot of pruning. It suggests a willingness to cut losses, which is a trait I admire. I’ve been holding onto a ceramic frog I bought in college for far too long. It’s chipped, it’s ugly, but it represents a simpler time. Still, it’s taking up valuable shelf space.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect Abel to suddenly start day-trading meme stocks. Berkshire will still be a long-term investor. But maybe, just maybe, there will be a little more…agility. A little more willingness to adapt. It’s like learning to ride a bicycle. You start slow, but eventually, you have to lean into the turns. I’m still working on the leaning part. Mostly I just wobble and hope for the best.

So, is it too late to buy Berkshire Hathaway? I don’t know. I’m an investor, not a fortune teller. But there’s a chance. A small, flickering chance. And sometimes, that’s all you need.

2026-02-25 16:32

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