Berkshire Hathaway Lags as S&P 500 Climbs to Record High

While the S&P 500 closed above 7,100 for the first time in a broad rally driven by easing fears about Iran, inflation, and earnings, Berkshire Hathaway’s A and B shares lagged, slipping about 1% month-to-date and trailing the index by roughly 9.7 percentage points—its widest gap in 2026. Berkshire has fallen more than 12% since Buffett announced plans to step down as CEO at the end of 2025, though the company remains cash-rich and has resumed stock buybacks. With Berkshire’s annual meeting looming and a new comprehensive history of Buffett and Berkshire being released, investors are watching whether Buffett’s leadership continues to influence the stock’s performance.