Berkshire Hathaway Q3 Operating Earnings Drop 5.8% to $12.7 Billion as Buybacks Hit $9.6 Billion

Berkshire Hathaway reported a 5.8% decline in third-quarter operating earnings to $12.7 billion, down from the year-earlier period, as the Omaha-based conglomerate simultaneously accelerated its share repurchase program to its highest pace of the year.

Berkshire spent approximately $9.6 billion buying back its own stock during the quarter, the largest buyback total recorded so far in 2026. The stepped-up repurchases signal that management views the shares as attractively priced even as underlying business profits softened. Berkshire's cash pile continued to grow, reaching $377.4 billion at the end of September, up from the prior quarter.