From CNBC · Fred Imbert · · 1m
Berkshire doubles buybacks as profits fall
Berkshire Hathaway repurchased $9.6 billion of stock in Q3 2026 while operating earnings declined 5.8% and insurance underwriting tumbled.
In brief
Berkshire Hathaway repurchased $9.6 billion of stock in Q3 2026 while operating earnings declined 5.8% and insurance underwriting tumbled. Berkshire Hathaway more than doubled share buybacks to $9.6 billion in Q3 2026 despite operating earnings falling 5.8% as insurance profits declined. Originally reported by CNBC.
Berkshire accelerates buybacks
Berkshire Hathaway repurchased $9.6 billion of its stock in the third quarter, more than double the $4.5 billion repurchased in the second quarter.
Operating earnings decline sharply
Berkshire's operating earnings fell 5.8% to $12.705 billion as insurance underwriting tumbled 43% year on year to $1.352 billion and insurance investment income declined 14% to $2.734 billion.
Overall profits drop 28 percent
Berkshire's overall earnings, which include its stock market portfolio, dropped 28% in the third quarter to $22.112 billion from $30.796 billion a year prior.
Stock outperforms despite earnings fall
Despite the earnings pullback, Berkshire stock has outperformed recently. Class A shares are up more than 12% over the past month while the S&P 500 has dropped 5.5%.
The short version
Berkshire Hathaway more than doubled share buybacks to $9.6 billion in Q3 2026 despite operating earnings falling 5.8% as insurance profits declined.
