Berkshire Hathaway Reports Lower Q4 Profit in Warren Buffett's Final CEO Quarter

Berkshire Hathaway reported a 29-30% decline in fourth-quarter operating profit to about $10.2 billion, reflecting lower insurance income and a $4.5 billion writedown on Occidental Petroleum. Net income fell slightly, while full-year operating profit decreased 6%. Warren Buffett stepped down as CEO at the start of 2026, succeeded by Greg Abel, who pledged to maintain Berkshire's culture and financial discipline. The company ended 2025 with $373.3 billion in cash and no share buybacks in the quarter.