Berkshire Hathaway profits spike 17% in one of Warren Buffett's last quarters as CEO

Berkshire Hathaway reported a 17% rise in profits, helped by a mild hurricane season and higher paper investment gains. The company is preparing for its legendary 95-year-old CEO, Warren Buffett, to step down from his role in January.

Despite last month’s massive $9.7 billion investment in OxyChem — the firm’s biggest deal in years — Berkshire’s impressive $381.7 billion cash reserve remains largely untouched as of the end of September.

Leadership transition

Vice Chair Greg Abel is expected to succeed Buffett as CEO early next year, while Buffett will continue to serve as chairman. This marks a major transition in the company’s leadership, ending one of the longest and most successful tenures in business history.

Stock performance and market outlook

The firm’s Class A stock, which peaked at $812,855 before Buffett announced his upcoming step back at the May shareholder meeting, closed at $715,740 last Friday. Notably, Berkshire did not repurchase any of its own shares during the quarter, signaling Buffett’s belief that the stock remains overvalued.

“I expect investors will seek more transparency from Berkshire after Abel takes over, and calls may grow louder for the company to finally pay a dividend if it can’t find better uses for its cash,” said CFRA Research analyst Cathy Seifert.

Still, with Buffett staying on as chairman, immediate changes appear unlikely.

Author’s Summary

Buffett prepares to pass the CEO role to Greg Abel after steering Berkshire to a 17% profit rise, leaving behind vast reserves and cautious optimism about its valuation.

Fortune — 2025-11-04