Core Insights - Concerns are rising among investors regarding the upcoming transition of CEO from Warren Buffett to Greg Abel at Berkshire Hathaway, with a notable decline in stock performance since the announcement [1][3][5] Stock Performance - Berkshire's B shares reached an all-time high of nearly $540 on May 2, outperforming the S&P 500 by 22.4 percentage points for the year, but have since fallen behind by 10.9 percentage points [2] - The B shares have dropped 11.5% since Buffett's announcement, with a recent closing high of almost $507 on September 4 [3] - Analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded Berkshire's A shares from "market perform" to "underperform," lowering the price target from $740,000 to $700,000 [3] Analyst Concerns - Analysts express worries about GEICO's underwriting margins, declining reinsurance rates, and tariff pressures, attributing recent underperformance to Buffett's announcement [4] - The report highlights Berkshire's "historically unique succession risk," indicating that the lack of Buffett's presence may deter investors due to inadequate disclosure practices [5] Market Sentiment - There is a divide in market sentiment, with some investors maintaining confidence in Greg Abel, while others believe Berkshire was overvalued prior to Buffett's announcement [7][9] - Despite the transition, some analysts argue that Berkshire's operating companies will continue to generate significant cash flow [10] DaVita Stake Adjustment - Berkshire Hathaway sold 401,514 shares of DaVita for $54 million to maintain its stake at 45% following a decline in DaVita's stock price due to disappointing earnings [11][12] - The sale aligns with a previous agreement to keep its stake below 45% as DaVita's buybacks reduced outstanding shares [12][13]