Berkshire Hathaway Will Announce Earnings on Saturday, Featuring Greg Abel's Debut Shareholder Letter as CEO

Main Highlights

• Berkshire Hathaway will announce its fourth-quarter financial results and annual report this Saturday.
• This release will feature Greg Abel’s debut annual letter to shareholders as CEO, following Warren Buffett’s retirement from the position at the end of December.

Berkshire Hathaway’s dedicated investors have a new milestone to anticipate this weekend.

For the first time in more than six decades, the company’s annual shareholder letter—accompanying the latest earnings and annual report—will not be penned by Warren Buffett. With Buffett stepping down as CEO, the responsibility now shifts to his successor, Greg Abel.

Buffett’s letters, often exceeding ten pages and known for their approachable style, set a high standard. Yet, this transition offers Abel a chance to build rapport with shareholders and outline his vision for Berkshire’s future.

The Importance of This Transition

Investors are eager to see how Abel will address shareholders and whether he will maintain the tone and substance that defined Buffett’s communications.

Analysts at CFRA, who currently rate Berkshire shares as neutral, have noted ongoing uncertainty regarding Abel’s leadership and the potential for Berkshire to lose the “Buffett premium” that has long benefited the company.

So far in 2026, Berkshire’s class B shares (BRK.B) have remained relatively unchanged and are still about 7% below their peak from last May, prior to Buffett’s announcement of his departure as CEO. Despite stepping down, the 95-year-old Buffett continues to serve as board chair.

“Shareholders are hoping to get a clearer picture of Greg Abel’s leadership style and his plans for managing Berkshire,” CFRA’s Cathy Seifert shared in a recent interview with Yahoo! Finance.

Seifert suggested that Abel might provide more insight into his strategy for utilizing Berkshire’s substantial cash reserves. There is speculation about whether Abel could restart share buybacks or consider introducing a dividend, options that Buffett had previously resisted.

However, Seifert also cautioned that Abel may choose to avoid major changes for now. “It’s possible this year’s letter will primarily honor Warren Buffett, and we may not learn much more about Abel’s approach,” she added.

Meanwhile, Buffett has publicly praised Abel in recent months, describing him as a “great talent” and a skilled investor who will make thoughtful decisions about capital allocation.

“I’d trust Greg Abel to manage my money over any other top U.S. CEO,” Buffett remarked in a recent interview with CNBC.