Berkshire Hathaway's Greg Abel Says He Expects Apple Will "Compound Over Decades"

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway's annual letter marks the first from CEO Greg Abel, who succeeded Warren Buffett in 2026, providing insights into the company's future direction without Buffett's leadership [1] - Abel emphasized that Berkshire will have "limited activity" in its major equity holdings, including American Express, Coca-Cola, Moody's, and Apple, indicating a long-term investment strategy [2][6] Company Strategy - Abel believes that Berkshire's core holdings will "compound over decades," reflecting confidence in the long-term prospects of these businesses [3][6] - The decision to hold onto these investments will be based more on the underlying business fundamentals rather than valuation metrics, with significant adjustments only occurring if there are fundamental changes in long-term economic prospects [6] Focus on Apple - Abel expressed high regard for Apple, stating it is Berkshire's largest equity holding and that it is expected to compound over time [3][5] - Apple's fiscal Q1 earnings per share increased by 19% year over year, driven by a services segment with a gross profit margin of 75.4%, which accounted for approximately 26% of its fiscal 2025 revenue [8][10] - Apple's overall sales grew by 16% year over year in fiscal Q1, showcasing strong operating leverage [9] Valuation Considerations - Despite a long-term holding strategy, valuation remains important, with Apple trading at about 33 times earnings, reflecting expectations for continued robust growth in its services segment [11] - The company's strong customer loyalty and effective capital allocation practices justify a fair price for the stock [11]