Berkshire Hathaway stock: Buybacks surge as cash pile grows

Published on 11/13/2026 at 15:49 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Berkshire Hathaway stock draws attention as quarterly repurchases accelerate. Insurance weakness cut operating earnings, while railroad, energy and manufacturing businesses grew.

Cash and operating mix diverge

Third-quarter repurchases reached 9.6 billion US dollars as operating earnings fell 5.8 percent year over year.
Cash holdings rose to 377.435 billion US dollars, while insurance underwriting and investment income declined.

Berkshire Hathaway, US0846707026, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

On Saturday, November 7, Berkshire Hathaway reported a stronger pace of share repurchases alongside weaker insurance results. CNBC said the company bought back 9.6 billion US dollars of its own shares in the third quarter, more than twice the 4.5 billion US dollars repurchased in the second quarter.

The company reported third-quarter operating earnings of 12.705 billion US dollars, down 5.8 percent from 13.485 billion US dollars a year earlier. Insurance underwriting earnings fell to 1.352 billion US dollars from 2.369 billion US dollars, while insurance investment income declined to 2.734 billion US dollars from 3.181 billion US dollars.

Liquidity remains a central signal

CNBC reported that Berkshire's cash holdings increased to 377.435 billion US dollars at the end of September from 365.514 billion US dollars at the end of June. Excluding railroad and utility cash and Treasury bill payables, the balance was 352.3 billion US dollars, down 1.9 percent from the prior quarter.

Railroad, energy and manufacturing operations grew year over year, partly offsetting the insurance setback. Reported net earnings attributable to Berkshire shareholders fell to 22.112 billion US dollars from 30.796 billion US dollars, reflecting lower investment gains as well as weaker operating profit.

Berkshire Hathaway stock traded at 538.00 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 15:36 CET on Friday, November 13.