Warren Buffett Cautious as Berkshire Hathaway Cash Reserves Soar

Warren Buffett expressed caution regarding investment prospects both domestically and internationally as Berkshire Hathaway (BRKB) announced record cash reserves on Saturday.

In his annual letter to shareholders, Buffett highlighted the limited opportunities for substantial growth within the United States and abroad, stating that there are only a few companies capable of significantly impacting Berkshire’s performance, and those have already been thoroughly evaluated.

Despite a 28% increase in earnings on an operating basis to $8.48 billion compared to the previous year, Berkshire Hathaway faces challenges in its railroad, energy, and utility sectors. However, operating profit per Class A share surged 30%, surpassing analyst expectations.

While total after-tax earnings more than doubled to $37.6 billion, primarily due to gains on Berkshire’s investment portfolio, Buffett emphasizes the importance of focusing on operating profit rather than GAAP earnings.

In the fourth quarter, Berkshire repurchased $2.2 billion worth of its shares, bringing the total for the year to $9.2 billion, signaling a commitment to returning capital to shareholders.

Buffett’s cautious stance is reflected in Berkshire’s cash reserves, which reached a new high of $167.6 billion, up from $157 billion in the previous quarter.

Despite these challenges, Berkshire Hathaway’s Class B shares climbed 2.8% to 417.22 last week, marking their sixth consecutive weekly gain and underscoring investor confidence in the company’s long-term prospects.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Translate »