In his first annual shareholder letter, published Feb. 28, 2026, Greg Abel eased the nerves of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B) investors by recommitting to the values that the company held under legendary investor Warren Buffett. Buffett has always been remarkably upfront about his mistakes and open with his investors, a trait that has defined the company’s culture for 60 years. By emphasizing these principles in his first annual message, Abel is making shareholders feel confident that this transparency will continue even as the guard changes.
One of the most important lessons Abel is carrying forward is Buffett’s warning from 2024: “Once you start fooling your shareholders, you will soon believe your own baloney.” Buffett dealt in total transparency and treated shareholders as true partners, and Abel’s first letter makes it clear he intends to follow that same blueprint. While Abel acknowledged that simple arithmetic means he won’t be the CEO for the next 60 years, he explicitly stated his intention that two decades from now, the company will be even stronger for the next generation of owners.
