Berkshire Operating Earnings Rise 16% in Second Quarter. Buybacks Hit $4.5 Billion. - Barron's
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- Berkshire Hathaway reported second-quarter operating earnings rose 16%, with the company repurchasing $4.5 billion of its own stock during the quarter.
- Greg Abel, now CEO, has begun deploying Berkshire's cash pile — a shift the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times frame as the first real break from the cautious capital posture that defined the Buffett era.
Why it matters: The $4.5 billion buyback signals direct capital return to shareholders even as Abel starts putting cash to work elsewhere, meaning Berkshire is simultaneously rewarding holders and signaling a more active deployment stance than under Buffett.
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