Berkshire Hathaway resumes share buybacks, CEO Greg Abel invests $15 million in company stock Berkshire Hathaway announced on Thursday that it has restarted its share repurchase program for the first time since 2024, with the company beginning to buy back its Class A and Class B shares. Separately, new CEO Greg Abel disclosed that he personally purchased $15 million worth of Berkshire stock, an amount equivalent to his after-tax annual salary. Abel, who took over as CEO in January following the retirement of Warren Buffett, emphasized that he would continue using his full salary to invest in Berkshire shares annually. The company’s policy allows for stock buybacks when the CEO, in consultation with the chairman, Warren Buffett, believes the repurchase price is below the company’s intrinsic value. Abel confirmed he discussed the decision with Buffett, stating that the timing and valuation were key factors in the move. Berkshire’s decision to resume buybacks came amid a challenging year for the company. Shares have declined 3% so far in 2025 and 10% from their record high in May. The stock faced additional pressure earlier this week after the firm reported a nearly 30% drop in fourth-quarter operating earnings, largely due to underperformance in its insurance division. Investors had been calling for the company to deploy its $373.3 billion cash reserves more actively since the last buyback in the second quarter of 2024. The announcement led to a 1% rise in Berkshire B shares during early trading on Thursday. Abel highlighted the importance of transparency with shareholders, noting that the move was intended to signal alignment with investors during the leadership transition.#berkshire_hathaway #factset #warren_buffett #greg_abel #berkshire_b_shares
