19. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B)
Number of Hedge Funds: 133 (2025Q4)
Number of Hedge Funds: 128 (2025Q3)
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B) is navigating its most significant leadership transition in history following Warren Buffett’s retirement at the end of 2025. Based on the Insider Monkey data, the institutional and insider sentiment reflects a company with a “fortress” balance sheet entering a new era under CEO Greg Abel.
1. Institutional & Hedge Fund Sentiment: The “Safety” Magnet
Hedge funds and major foundations continue to treat Berkshire as the ultimate “all-weather” holding, providing stability in a volatile 2026 market.
- The “Foundation” Anchor: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust remains the largest hedge-fund-style holder with a stake valued at approximately $9.75 billion, even after a tactical 11% reduction in their position.
- Quantitative Confidence: AQR Capital Management (Cliff Asness) increased its stake by 15% recently, while Rajiv Jain’s GQG Partners holds a massive $1 billion position, signaling strong conviction from global value managers.
- Leveraged Upside: Ken Griffin’s Citadel boosted its “Call” options by 5%, signaling a bet that the post-Buffett rally still has room to run.
2. The “Greg Abel Era” Bull Case
The market’s reaction to the transition has been surprisingly stable, with analysts focusing on Berkshire’s massive cash position.
- Record Cash Pile: As of the latest quarterly reports, Berkshire’s cash holdings climbed to a record $381.7 billion. This is being viewed by hedge funds as “dry powder” that Greg Abel can use to make a massive, era-defining acquisition in 2026.
- Earnings Resilience: Q3 2025 earnings jumped 17%, proving that the underlying businesses (BNSF, GEICO, and Energy) are firing on all cylinders regardless of leadership changes.
- Analyst Sentiment: While UBS recently lowered its price target slightly due to projections of lower investment income, the consensus remains a Buy. Swiss banks and global analysts have noted that Berkshire is relying less on “Buffett’s magic” and more on its industrial earnings power.
3. Insider Trading: Cautious Dispositions
The “Insider Roster” shows activity that reflects both the transition and personal estate planning by the next generation of leadership:
- Ajit Jain (Vice Chairman): Engaged in the most significant recent activity, selling 15,000 shares in late September 2025 and 2,000 shares in August 2025 at prices near $464.73 (Class B equivalent). He still maintains a substantial holding of over 107,000 shares.
- Meryl Witmer (Director): Sold a small portion of her holdings in March 2025 at a price of $775,883 (Class A).
- Greg Abel (CEO): While his last major purchases were in late 2022 (buying shares at ~$408,000 Class A equivalent), his current “Insider Roster” status as the new CEO has the full backing of the board and major institutional holders.
Summary Verdict
Berkshire Hathaway is currently a “Consensus Institutional Fortress.” The $381 billion cash pile and the 15% increase from AQR Capital suggest that the world’s most sophisticated investors are not afraid of a post-Buffett world. While key insiders like Ajit Jain have trimmed positions at record highs, the aggregate institutional buying pressure and Greg Abel’s steady hand have kept the stock as a top-tier “Buy” for 2026.
