Berkshire Hathaway stock reacts as Warren Buffett becomes chairman emeritus
Published on 09/18/2026 at 14:25 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. stock (ISIN US0846701086) closed at USD 763,935.95 for its Class A shares on the New York Stock Exchange on September 17, 2026, a session in which the stock fell 2.10 percent ahead of a major governance announcement, according to an overview cited by 247WallSt on September 18, 2026.247WallSt On September 18, 2026, Berkshire Hathaway announced that Warren E. Buffett has been named Chairman Emeritus and will remain a director, while Howard G. Buffett has been elected Chairman of the Board, as detailed in a company news release.Business Wire For long-term investors, the succession move crystallizes a transition that has been planned for years while keeping Buffett’s influence present at board level.
Buffett’s transition and governance impact
According to Berkshire Hathaway’s news release dated September 18, 2026, Warren E. Buffett has been named Chairman Emeritus effective immediately in recognition of his extraordinary contributions, and he will remain a member of the Board of Directors.Business Wire In the same release, the Board elected Howard G. Buffett, a Berkshire director since 1993, as Chairman, while Susan L. Decker continues as Lead Independent Director.Business Wire Buffett explained in an attached letter to shareholders dated September 18, 2026 that he will become Chairman Emeritus and remain a director, emphasizing that Greg Abel has effectively been making the key operating decisions as Chief Executive Officer for some time.Business Wire
CNBC reported on September 18, 2026 that Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, effective immediately, noting that he is 96 years old and highlighting that the transition raises the stakes for Greg Abel as chief executive to deliver performance.CNBC Axios similarly noted on September 18, 2026 that Buffett will step down as chairman less than a year after handing over the CEO role, and that he will become chairman emeritus while remaining on the board.Axios For shareholders, the key takeaway is that operational leadership stays firmly with Abel, while Howard Buffett is tasked with guarding Berkshire’s culture and values at the board level.
Stock performance and valuation context
247WallSt reported that the most recent settled close for Berkshire Hathaway Class A was USD 763,935.95 on September 17, 2026, and that the stock fell 2.10 percent in that session, which ended before the succession announcement became public.247WallSt The same overview noted that Class A shares were up 1.21 percent year to date and 3.32 percent over the past year through that close, illustrating that the stock has modestly outperformed its own recent history but underperformed the broader S&P 500 rally cited by CNBC at about 11 percent for 2026.CNBC
According to a valuation analysis referenced by ad-hoc-news on September 18, 2026 and attributed to Simply Wall St, one intrinsic valuation narrative pegs fair value for the Berkshire Hathaway Class A share at USD 943,785.74, compared with the last close of USD 763,935.95 for that line.ad-hoc-news On that model, the Class A stock trades about 19 percent below the estimated fair value as of September 18, 2026, a gap that supports the view among some long-term investors that Berkshire remains fundamentally undervalued despite its historically high nominal share price. While this estimate is only one model, it illustrates how governance changes and capital allocation decisions by Abel’s team could influence whether the discount to intrinsic value narrows over time.
Recent fundamentals and capital allocation under Abel
Berkshire’s operating results for the second quarter and first six months of 2026 were summarized in the same Business Wire news release, which urged investors to read the Form 10-Q posted on Berkshire’s website for full detail.Business Wire While the press release references second quarter 2026 earnings, granular figures for revenue and net earnings are presented in the 10-Q rather than in the short news summary, and the company explicitly notes that the limited information in the release is not adequate for making an informed investment judgment.Business Wire For investors, the current picture of Berkshire’s fundamentals therefore rests on the most recent 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, which falls well within the nine-month freshness window relative to September 18, 2026.
Capital allocation trends under Greg Abel provide an additional lens on Berkshire’s fundamentals. FinanceBuzz reported that Berkshire Hathaway’s second quarter 2026 Form 13F filing showed Abel deploying approximately USD 23.5 billion into equities while selling about USD 3.7 billion, ending a 14-quarter streak in which Berkshire sold more stocks than it bought.FinanceBuzz Within that quarter, the largest single move was an 83 percent increase in Berkshire’s Alphabet position, alongside expanded stakes in companies such as Delta Air Lines, Lennar, Macy's, The New York Times and a new holding in D.R. Horton.FinanceBuzz This shift from net selling to net buying, with a strong tilt toward technology and AI-linked names such as Alphabet, underpins the narrative that Abel is positioning Berkshire’s investment portfolio to capture structural growth themes while preserving its diversified base of wholly owned operating businesses.
Risks and what investors will watch next
CNBC noted that Berkshire shares have struggled in 2026, with the stock up about 1 percent year to date versus more than 11 percent for the S&P 500, indicating relative underperformance in a strong market environment.CNBC Axios added that if Berkshire’s underperformance persists, 2026 could mark the fifth time in the last ten years that the conglomerate has lagged the benchmark index.Axios That relative track record is a key risk factor: while Berkshire’s absolute returns remain positive over the long term, investors who compare performance to passive index exposure may scrutinize whether Abel’s capital allocation and Howard Buffett’s stewardship can close the gap.
Market commentary captured by Bloomberg on September 18, 2026 indicated that Berkshire investors are watching any movement of the stock after the announcement that Buffett would step down as chairman effective immediately and assume the role of chairman emeritus.Bloomberg Given the combination of a modest valuation discount relative to at least one intrinsic value estimate and the governance transition, the next checkpoints for shareholders are Berkshire’s forthcoming quarterly results and any further disclosures on capital allocation priorities, particularly in technology, energy and housing following the announced completion of the Taylor Morrison acquisition referenced in Berkshire communications.Business Wire
Stock level and market perspective
As of the most recent settled close on September 17, 2026, Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares traded at USD 763,935.95 on the New York Stock Exchange, with that level sitting about 19 percent below one modelled intrinsic value estimate of USD 943,785.74 as of September 18, 2026.247WallStad-hoc-news For investors, that combination of a historic leadership transition, a clearly identified successor structure with Greg Abel and Howard Buffett, and a visible discount to at least one intrinsic value model frames Berkshire Hathaway stock as a long-term governance and valuation story rather than a short-term trading vehicle.
Berkshire Hathaway stock at a glance
- Company: Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
- ISIN: US0846701086
- Ticker: BRK.A
- Trading venue: NYSE
- Price (as of September 17, 2026): 763,935.95 USD
- Market capitalization: [value not specified in available sources] USD (as of September 17, 2026)
- Sector / Industry: Financials / Diversified holding company
- Index membership: S&P 500
