Greg Abel Will Take The Stage From Warren Buffett At Berkshire Meeting

TL;DR

Greg Abel leads his first Berkshire annual meeting Q&A, with investors watching for shifts in capital allocation, operational focus, and tech strategy.

Key Points

• 1.Abel replaces Buffett at the podium for the first time. The 2025 Omaha meeting features Abel leading the Q&A alongside Ajit Jain, with Buffett not expected on stage — marking a clear break from the philosophical, life-advice tone Buffett was known for.
• 2.Berkshire's stock has significantly underperformed since the transition. Shares lag the S&P 500 by over 30 percentage points since Buffett signaled his exit last May; Abel personally bought shares with his entire after-tax salary to signal alignment, and the company resumed buybacks in March ($226M), but neither has lifted the stock.
• 3.Investors are watching whether Abel will expand Berkshire's tech exposure. Buffett famously stayed within his 'circle of competence,' but Berkshire added an Alphabet stake late last year, hinting at a possible shift — and analysts expect little to no earnings growth in 2025, with insurance facing tough year-over-year comparisons.