Warren Buffett’s investment holding company has opened her books. These are the highlights of the business development of Berkshire Hathaway in the first quarter of 2025.
The net profit was $ 4.672 billion ($ 12,832 billion in the previous year). The result per share was $ 2.13 after $ 5.88 per share of the year ago.
In addition, Berkshire had to take strong investment losses. While $ 1.48 billion was still booked here in the first quarter of 2024, 2025 investment losses of $ 5,038 billion were recorded in the first quarter of 2025.
Buffett condemns Trump’s trade policy
As part of the shareholder meeting, Starinvestor Buffett shared his assessment of the customs policy of US President Donald Trump. So he called trading policy a “big mistake” and said that trade should not be “a weapon” and that trade could even be an “act of war” as CNBC discloses it. “And I think that has led to bad things. The attitudes that it produced alone. In the United States, we should try to trade the rest of the world and do what we can best do, and you should do what you can do best.
So Buffett continued: “In my opinion, it is a big mistake if you have seven and a half billion people who don’t like you, and 300 million who brag about how well they did – I do not think that is right and not. The United States has won. given. ” Buffett had once proposed import certificates to reduce the trade deficit. The idea was that companies received import rights for exports from the USA, which they can then sell to other companies. He admitted to the shareholder assembly that the idea was not popular.
Outlook uncertain
Because of the customs policy, the view of Berkshires is also uncertain for the current year. So it is possible that tariffs and the uncertain environment could have a negative impact on growth. “Changes to macroeconomic conditions and geopolitical events, including changes in international trade policy and in the tariffs, can have a negative impact on our operating results and the values of our investments in shares and our operational business,” said Berkshire in his quarterly notification. “We are currently unable to reliably predict the way, the time, the time or the extent of the potential economic consequences of such changes or the effects on our corporate financial statements.”
Berkshires enormous cash reserves
Buffett also discussed the enormous Cashreserven Berkshires during the meeting. The company has cash of around $ 347 billion. At the end of 2024 it was “only” $ 334.2 billion. Omaha’s oracle plans to use these funds for investments, but this does not happen tomorrow or “in five years”. Berkshire has already driven well in the past with the strategy. As passive investors, this is a good strategy anyway to make a few simply investments and to keep them for a lifetime.
Buffett about the latest market turbulence
In view of the latest market turbulence – triggered by Trump’s customs policy – the investor legend was little impressed: “What happened in the last 39, 45 days, […] There is really nothing. “In the past 60 years there have been three moments when the Berkshire share had broken down by 50 percent. However, there was never fundamental problems in the company during these times. Buffett called Buffett” no dramatic bear market “.” If it makes a difference for them, whether their shares fall by 15 percent or not, they have to pay a slightly different investment philosophy, “said Buffett. “The world will not adapt to it. You have to adapt to the world. “Feelings should be left at home when investing.
Warren Buffett does not want to be boss at 94
The legendary US investor Warren Buffett wants to hand over the leadership of his Holding Berkshire Hathaway after more than half a century. He would propose to the Board of Directors to raise his designated successor Greg Abel on the top post at the end of the year, the 94-year-old said at the Berkshire shareholder meeting. “Time has come.” He then wanted to continue as a consultant, but the decisions will make Abel, Buffett emphasized. However, he would probably go to the office anyway, he told the broadcaster CNBC.
Buffett raised the announcement at the end of his 60th shareholder meeting at Berkshire Hathaway. The approximately 40,000 participants in the hall in his hometown Omaha then recognized him with a minute applause. He only informed his two children from his intention – but not Abel himself, said Buffett.
Unique success story
Berkshire was originally a small textile company. Buffett bought it in the 1960s and transformed them into a successful investment company. His sense of good business ensured that Berkshires investments in various companies have developed significantly better over the years than the stock market on average. From 1964 to 2024, the stock market value per share rose by 5,502,284 percent, it said in the latest Berkshire annual report.
The investment philosophy behind it: to get in with promising companies at good prices. Buffett enjoys cult status with his fans as the “Oracle of Omaha”. The shareholder meetings are sometimes also referred to as the “Woodstock for Capitalists”, based on the legendary music festival 1969, in which Jimi Hendrix and The Who appeared. Buffett often ask shareholders for advice for her future or, in his opinion, far beyond investment issues.
This year, a participant from Gifhorn wanted to know what economic principles Buffett Benjamin Franklin would have given in the American declaration of independence in 1776.
Investments across the economy
Berkshire Hathaway includes the Insurer Geico, the BNSF railway company, the Fast food chain Dairy Queen, the chocolate provider See’s Candies and the battery manufacturer Duracell. The holding company also holds investments in many other companies such as Apple and Coca-Cola. Apple boss Tim Cook was there in Omaha on Saturday.
Big shoes for successors
The 62-year-old Abel will inevitably have to be measured by Buffett’s track record. The Energy Manager from Canada was named as Buffett’s successor to the Buffett. He has been with Berkshire since 1999 and was given responsibility for business outside of insurance in 2018.
Berkshire Hathaway share
The B Berkshire Hathaway B-share ultimately left NYSE trading on Friday 1.8 percent higher at $ 539.80. The title has won 19.09 percent since the start.
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