Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway's profits increased by 17% due to a mild hurricane season and gains from paper investments, as the company prepares for Warren Buffett to step down as CEO in January [1][3] Financial Performance - Berkshire reported earnings of $30.796 billion, or $21,413 per Class A share, for the quarter, up from $26.251 billion, or $18,272 per Class A share, a year earlier [6] - Operating profit rose to $13.485 billion, or $9,376.15 per Class A share, compared to $10.09 billion, or $7,023.01 per Class A share, last year [8] - The increase in operating profit was attributed to a strong rebound in insurance companies, with underwriting profit rising by $1.6 billion to $2.369 billion due to fewer catastrophic losses from hurricanes [9] Investment Strategy - Berkshire's cash reserves stood at $381.7 billion at the end of September, despite a $9.7 billion investment in OxyChem, marking the largest deal in years [2] - The company did not repurchase any of its own stock during the quarter, indicating Buffett's view that the stock is still overvalued [3] Market Expectations - Analysts expect increased demand for transparency and potential dividend discussions after Greg Abel takes over as CEO, although immediate changes may be limited with Buffett remaining as chairman [4][5] - The investment community has expressed frustration over the lack of discussion and disclosure from Berkshire, which does not hold quarterly investor calls [5]
Berkshire Hathaway's profits rise 17% as Buffett prepares to step down