Berkshire shareholders head to Buffett’s sixtieth annual assembly, economic system prime of thoughts

By Jonathan Stempel

OMAHA (Reuters) -Warren Buffett is about to preside over Berkshire Hathaway’s annual assembly on Saturday, with traders and analysts eager to listen to the legendary investor’s views as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff insurance policies trigger uncertainty for enterprise and the economic system.

The conglomerate’s share value has to date weathered a turbulent interval for markets, rising 18.9% this yr whereas the Commonplace & Poor’s 500 was down 3.3%.

For a lot of, Berkshire’s numerous portfolio of companies affords a mirror into the broader U.S. economic system, together with the BNSF railroad, Geico insurance coverage, power companies, actual property brokerage HomeServices and Fruit of the Loom underwear.

“The far-reaching nature of their companies and investments make them a microcosm for the entire economic system,” stated Cathy Seifert, an analyst at CFRA. “The overarching concern is we want perception into the diploma to which tariffs will trigger demand destruction or a slowdown within the economic system.”

The U.S. economic system shrank for the primary time in three years within the first quarter, the Commerce Division stated, as firms raced to import items to keep away from increased tariffs.

Berkshire’s assembly is anticipated to see the 94-year-old Buffett reply shareholder questions for greater than 4 hours.

Matters sometimes cowl working companies, the economic system, markets, life classes and Berkshire’s future after the Oracle of Omaha departs.

Vice Chairman Greg Abel, who was designated Buffett’s successor as chief govt in 2021, and Vice Chairman Ajit Jain may also reply questions.

Traders may additionally query Buffett’s need to deploy capital, after Berkshire bought extra shares than it purchased for 9 straight quarters. Its money stake reached $334.2 billion on the finish of 2024.

“Warren Buffett has steered away from discussing tariffs, and individuals are clamoring to listen to what he thinks,” stated Robin Nasser, a licensed public accountant from Newport Seaside, California who’s attending the assembly. “He clearly is aware of one thing we do not as a result of he is stockpiling money.”

Previous to the assembly, Berkshire will launch its first-quarter outcomes, together with its money stake and particulars on its inventory buying and selling.

In March, Berkshire raised its stakes in Japanese buying and selling homes Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Sumitomo to as excessive as 9.8%.

What Berkshire will seem like after Buffett departs can be on traders’ minds.

Lead unbiased director Susan Decker instructed CNBC that Abel is taking up extra of the capital allocation tasks that Buffett usually dealt with. The function that portfolio managers Todd Combs and Ted Weschler will play is unclear.