Berkshire Hathaway will release its second-quarter 2026 earnings this morning at 7:00 a.m. Central time, marking the first full quarter under new CEO Greg Abel and a test of the conglomerate’s capital allocation strategy under his leadership.
Analysts expect earnings per share of $5.04 and revenue of $96.52 billion for the quarter ending June 30. The company’s operating profit will be closely watched as investors assess whether Abel’s strategic direction maintains the momentum from an exceptional Q1, when operating earnings rose 18% year-over-year to $11.35 billion.
One of the most anticipated elements of today’s report will be confirmation of Berkshire’s stock buyback activity in Q2. Based on a July filing by former Chairman Warren Buffett, analysts estimate the company repurchased between $5 billion and $11 billion of its own stock during the quarter. If the $11 billion figure is confirmed, it would represent the largest repurchase in Berkshire’s history, a dramatic acceleration from just $235 million in Q1 and signaling Abel’s confidence in the company’s valuation.
Berkshire ended Q1 with a record $397 billion in cash and short-term Treasury bills, a position that has drawn scrutiny from investors wondering when Abel will deploy capital into major acquisitions. In Q1, the company made strategic moves including a $6.8 billion investment in artificial intelligence and completed the acquisition of Taylor Morrison, a homebuilder, in late July. Analysts will be looking for signals about how Abel plans to use Berkshire’s massive cash reserve amid what he has characterized as a challenging investment environment.
Abel took over as CEO on January 1, 2026, after Warren Buffett stepped down following 60 years of leadership. At the company’s May annual shareholder meeting, Abel emphasized that Berkshire would maintain its disciplined, long-term approach to capital allocation while remaining open to major acquisitions. He reiterated the company’s commitment to value investing and stated that patience remains one of Berkshire’s greatest strengths.
The Q2 report will also provide insight into performance across Berkshire’s operating subsidiaries, including its insurance operations, utilities, railroad, and manufacturing businesses. Insurance underwriting results and float levels—a key metric for assessing Berkshire’s financial strength—will be closely examined by investors and analysts tracking the company’s ability to generate earnings from its core operations.
Warren Buffett stepped down as Berkshire CEO after 60 years, handing the conglomerate to Abel at a pivotal moment. The new leader faces expectations to deploy capital aggressively while maintaining the disciplined philosophy that built Berkshire into one of the world’s largest companies. Today’s earnings will offer the first detailed look at how Abel is executing that mandate in a full quarter of independent leadership.
Sources
- Berkshire Hathaway — Official announcement of Q2 2026 earnings release date and time
- BusinessWire — Q1 2026 earnings release and operating earnings figures
- MarketChameleon — Q2 2026 earnings announcement and analyst expectations
- Barron’s — Stock repurchase estimates for Q2 2026
- Motley Fool — Q2 2026 repurchase analysis and comparison to historical buybacks
- Yahoo Finance — Analyst consensus earnings and revenue estimates
- CNBC — Greg Abel shareholder meeting commentary and capital allocation strategy
- Forbes — Q1 2026 earnings analysis and Abel’s first quarter as CEO
