Warren Buffett has been the face of Berkshire Hathaway for decades, and honestly, it’s hard to imagine the company without him. But even with him stepping down as CEO at the end of 2025, it looks like his way of doing things will stick around — and investors seem to like that.
Let’s talk about why the stock is still doing well and why some people think it could still be worth buying now.
Buffett’s Legacy Might Be More Important Than His Title
So here’s the deal — Buffett's been leading Berkshire since 1965. If you’d put $1,000 into the company back then, you’d have nearly $45 million by the end of 2024. That’s not a typo. Meanwhile, the same money in the S&P 500 would’ve grown to about $343,000. Not bad, but clearly not the same league.
And in 2025? Berkshire is still ahead. It's up 11% so far this year, while the S&P is pretty much flat. Even with Buffett stepping down as CEO, he’s staying on as chairman. That probably means his style of investing — buying solid companies and just letting them grow — won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
Berkshire Invested More in Itself Than Any Other Company
Most people think Apple is Buffett’s favorite stock. And sure, Berkshire put around $38 billion into Apple between 2016 and 2023. But here’s the wild part — Buffett spent twice that much buying back Berkshire’s own shares.
Yep, he authorized over $77 billion in share buybacks since 2018. It’s kind of his way of saying, "Hey, our own stock is the best value out there." When a company buys back its own shares, it reduces the number of stocks out there, which usually pushes up the price. Buffett only does this when he feels Berkshire is undervalued.
And with $347 billion in cash sitting on the books right now, Berkshire has more than enough firepower to keep buying shares if it wants to.
Why No Buybacks Lately?
Now, you might be wondering — if they’ve got all this cash, why haven’t they done any buybacks in the last three quarters?
Well, a couple things might be going on. For starters, since Buffett is handing over the CEO role to Greg Abel, he might want to let Abel take the lead on those kinds of big decisions.
Another thing — Berkshire stock is currently trading at a price-to-sales ratio that’s 30% higher than its 10-year average. In plain English, it might just be a bit pricey right now. Buffett has always been a value guy, so maybe he’s holding off until the price feels right again.
Why Some Still Think It’s a Buy
Even though the company hasn’t been buying back its stock recently, a lot of people still see it as one of the strongest long-term bets out there. Berkshire owns tons of stable, cash-generating businesses — like insurance, energy, and railroads — and those keep the money flowing even if the stock market gets rough.
Plus, that huge cash pile gives the company options. Whether Greg Abel decides to use it for buybacks or new investments, there’s a good chance it’ll add value for shareholders.
To be fair, Berkshire is now a $1 trillion company. So it might not grow as fast as it did decades ago. But it still has a strong foundation and a history of outlasting the ups and downs.
So… Should You Buy?
It really comes down to your investment style. If you’re into short-term trades or fast-moving tech stocks, Berkshire might feel a bit slow. But if you’re the kind of person who likes steady, reliable returns and a company that’s loaded with cash, it’s still a solid option.
Just remember — even Warren Buffett thinks his own stock is worth buying. That’s got to count for something.
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. The content reflects current market trends and opinions at the time of publication and may change without notice. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The publisher and author are not responsible for any financial losses or decisions made based on this content.
