Berkshire annual meeting without Buffett to focus on buybacks, tech strategy
Berkshire Hathaway ‘s first annual meeting without Warren Buffett next weekend is shaping up as a test of investor confidence in Greg Abel, his successor as CEO, with shareholders looking for signs of how the sprawling conglomerate plans to allocate capital and what its approach will be when it comes to technology investments. The May 2 gathering in Omaha will mark a historic change, with Buffett not expected to take the stage. Instead, Abel and insurance chief Ajit Jain will lead the first question-and-answer session, followed by a second panel including the heads of Berkshire subsidiaries: Katie Farmer, CEO of the BNSF railroad, and Adam Johnson, CEO of NetJets and president of consumer products, services and retailing. If nothing else, the shift in leadership will surely reshape the tone of the meeting. Many long-time observers expect fewer philosophical questions that, in the past, typically dominated sessions led by the 95-year-old Buffett. Instead, more granular inquiries into operating businesses and strategy are likely. Buybacks and tech Investors will probably zero in on share repurchases after Berkshire resumed buybacks in March for the first time since 2024. Berkshire repurchased roughly $225 million of stock as of the announcement, according to UBS estimates. Since then, the stock is down roughly 3%, lagging about a 3% gain in the S & P 500, evidence that Berkshire is undervalued, analysts say. BRK.A YTD mountain Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares year to date “With BRK shares now trading at an even greater discount to their intrinsic value since the announcement, we believe the company’s level of activity in executing additional share repurchases will be a critical factor influencing investor sentiment,” UBS analyst Brian Meredith said in a note. UBS estimates Berkshire is trading at about an 8% discount to its intrinsic value. With the stock cheap relative to underlying assets, investors may press Abel on whether the pace of repurchases will accelerate in coming months. Abel may also be questioned about Berkshire’s approach to technology, an area where the company has historically been cautious. As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and capital spending across corporate America, shareholders are expected to probe how the chief executive plans to position Berkshire. “Considering BRK’s historical underinvestment in technology, we expect discussions to center around how the company is approaching technology and AI under Mr. Abel’s leadership,” Meredith said.
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