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Berkshire stock experiences longest decline in over 7 years
Shares of Berkshire Hathaway have witnessed a decline for eight trading sessions in a row.
This marks their longest losing spell since eight consecutive days of losses in December 2018.
The Class A stocks have decreased by 4.7%, while the Class B stocks have fallen by 4.9% since their last daily rise on March 17.
Berkshire is declining alongside the broader market, which has been impacted by increasing energy costs and global instability related to the Iran conflict.
Although the S&P 500 index has not experienced a series of daily losses, it is down by 5.2% during the same timeframe.
Berkshire’s losses for the year are nearing the S&P’s 7% decrease. The benchmark index is currently on a five-week downward trend.
Berkshire’s stock has dropped over 13% since Warren Buffett announced during last year’s shareholders’ meeting that he would step down as CEO at the end of 2025.
Current prices are about 2% above the lows seen in August but have dipped below two subsequent lows in early November and late January.
Berkshire’s latest Japanese venture surges in worth
Berkshire Hathaway’s recent investment in Japan is showing promising results.
Shares of Tokio Marine Holdings skyrocketed by over 24% this week following Monday’s announcement that Berkshire’s National Indemnity is investing $1.8 billion for nearly 2.5% of Japan’s oldest insurance firm, which Barron’s describes as “one of the finest-managed property and casualty insurers globally.”
As of today, Berkshire’s new investment holds a market value close to $2.3 billion.
The two companies are also set to collaborate on reinsurance and pursue strategic investments on a global scale.
In a press release from Tokio Marine, the company mentioned Berkshire’s corporate ethos and principles “are closely aligned with our own.”
It further stated, “Significantly, this is not just a business arrangement. We believe it forms a long-lasting strategic partnership rooted in an equity stake that will act as a powerful driving force for the medium- to long-term development of both organizations.”
Berkshire’s insurance head Ajit Jain remarked, “We anticipate this Strategic Partnership will generate outstanding long-term prospects for both entities.”
Barron’s notes that Jain managed the investment “and likely involved former CEO Warren Buffett, who is now serving as chairman of the board.”
“This arrangement demonstrates Berkshire’s capability to make insurance agreements remains strong even as Buffett has transitioned out of the CEO role for Greg Abel. This is a positive indication for Berkshire, given the critical importance of insurance to the $1 trillion market-valued firm.”
Tokio Marine issued new shares for Berkshire to acquire. The company intends to repurchase an equal amount of its previously issued stock to forestall dilution for current shareholders.
Berkshire will be permitted to raise its ownership stake to just under 10% through open-market activities, but approval from Tokio Marine’s board would be required for any amount exceeding that.
Insurance Business highlights that Tokio Marine has invested over $17 billion over the last 20 years for acquisitions in the U.S., including Philadelphia Insurance Companies and Delphi Insurance Group.
It anticipates that the newly formed partnership “could expedite that momentum through Berkshire’s deal-sourcing expertise and reinsurance capacity.”
Berkshire is likely aiming to replicate the immense success seen from its investments in five Japanese trading companies: Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi (with an all-time high closing on Friday), Mitsui, and Sumitomo.
The firm had been accumulating its stakes for twelve months before Buffett disclosed the investments in August 2020. It has been continuing to increase its stakes since then.
In the past year alone, their values have surged between 42% and 124%, totaling more than $44 billion in market capitalization.
BUFFETT & BERKSHIRE ON THE WEB
Some links may require a subscription:
- Wall Street Journal on MSN: The corporate breakup expert who averted the split of Kraft Heinz
- CNBC Pro (subscription): Berkshire Hathaway has returned to buybacks, but the shares are not particularly inexpensive
- Barron’s on MSN: Once Warren Buffett’s protégé, now he manages funds for Jamie Dimon.
- World-Grain.com: Rail merger ‘not beneficial to our sector,’ according to BNSF CEO
BERKSHIRE STOCK MONITOR
Four weeks
12 months
BRK.A stock price: $703,700.00
BRK.B stock price: $468.49
BRK.B P/E (TTM): 15.09
Berkshire market value: $1,010,965,573,250
Berkshire Cash as of December 31: $373.3 billion (a decrease of 2.2% from September 30)
Excluding Rail Cash and subtracting T-Bills Payable: $369.0 billion (an increase of 4.1% from September 30)
Berkshire resumed its stock buybacks on March 4, 2026.
(All numbers are accurate as of the publication date, unless stated otherwise)
BERKSHIRE’S MAIN EQUITY INVESTMENTS – Mar. 27, 2026
Berkshire’s principal holdings in publicly traded stocks in the U.S. and Japan, ranked by market capitalization, according to the latest closing prices.
Holdings data reflects September 30, 2025, from Berkshire Hathaway’s 13F filing dated November 14, 2025, with exceptions for:
- Mitsubishi, as of August 28, 2025
- Mitsui, as of September 30, 2025
The complete list of holdings and their current market values is available at CNBC.com’s Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio Tracker.
QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK
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Additionally, Buffett’s annual letters to shareholders are highly recommended materials. They can be found here on Berkshire’s website.
— Alex Crippen, Editor, Warren Buffett Watch
