Business & Finance · November 7, 2026
Berkshire Hathaway more than doubles buybacks in third quarter as earnings decline
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In its third-quarter 2026 earnings report, Berkshire Hathaway announced that operating earnings fell by 5.8% to approximately $12.7 billion. The decline was primarily driven by lower profits in its insurance operations, including a 43% drop in underwriting income and a 14% decrease in investment income, despite growth in its railroad, energy, and manufacturing divisions. Simultaneously, the conglomerate significantly increased its share repurchases, spending $9.6 billion on stock buybacks during the quarter. This repurchase activity more than doubled the $4.5 billion spent in the previous quarter, bringing the total buybacks for the year to roughly $14.4 billion. This marks a notable shift in capital allocation under CEO Greg Abel compared to his predecessor.
Read the original coverage
- ReutersWire
Berkshire Hathaway accelerates stock buybacks, operating profit falls
Read at Reuters ↗ Berkshire Hathaway’s Quarterly Profit Falls After Investment Gains Shrink
Read at Wall Street Journal ↗Berkshire Hathaway’s Operating Earnings Fall, Buybacks Rise
Read at Bloomberg ↗- Washington TimesMainstream
Berkshire Hathaway buys back $9.6B of its own stock but its profits declined
Read at Washington Times ↗ - Financial TimesFinancial
Berkshire Hathaway ploughs $9.6bn into share buybacks
Read at Financial Times ↗ - CNBCMainstream
Berkshire Hathaway more than doubles buybacks in third quarter as earnings decline
Read at CNBC ↗ - FortuneFinancial
Berkshire Hathaway stock is a haven again as investors flee AI bloodbath while its own portfolio takes a hit amid reshuffling
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Reported by multiple outlets
- Berkshire Hathaway reported third-quarter operating earnings of approximately $12.7 billion.
- Operating earnings fell by 5.8% compared to the same period in the previous year.
- The conglomerate repurchased approximately $9.6 billion of its own stock in the third quarter.
- Insurance operations experienced a decline in profits.
- Share buybacks in the third quarter were more than double the amount from the second quarter.
Reported by only some outlets
- Total buybacks for 2026 reached approximately $14.4 billion.
- Insurance underwriting fell 43% year on year to $1.352 billion.
- Insurance investment income declined 14% to $2.734 billion.
- Railroad, energy, and manufacturing businesses saw year-over-year earnings growth.
- Net income fell by 28% after investment gains slumped.
- CEO Greg Abel was a net seller of stocks during the period.
- The second-quarter buyback total was $4.5 billion.
Industry-friendly coverage frames it as…
Most coverage highlights the significant acceleration of share repurchases as a strategic use of capital and notes that core divisions like rail and energy continue to grow despite insurance headwinds.
Skeptical / consumer coverage frames it as…
Financial reports emphasize the notable 5.8% drop in operating earnings and the much steeper 43% tumble in insurance underwriting as primary profit drivers.
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