Berkshire's cash reserves surged to a record $397 billion, while U.S. stock valuations reached historically high levels during the same period

In the first quarter of Greg Abel's tenure as CEO, Berkshire Hathaway's cash reserves surged to a record high of $397 billion. At the end of last year, the company's cash reserves had slightly decreased, but they increased significantly in the first quarter due to a net sale of $8.1 billion in stocks during the period.

Additionally, Berkshire Hathaway A (BRK.A.N) reported Q1 2026 revenue of $93.675 billion, compared to $89.725 billion in the same period last year, with market expectations of $89.274 billion; net profit was $10.106 billion, compared to $4.603 billion in the same period last year, with market expectations of $11.762 billion. The fair value of fixed-income securities held by Berkshire Hathaway at the end of Q1 2026 reached $17.669 billion, compared to $17.816 billion in the same period last year.

Buffett has always viewed cash as "a necessary but undesirable asset," often likening it to oxygen, which is crucial for businesses but not a good investment in itself. Buffett repeatedly emphasizes that Berkshire will never prefer holding cash equivalents over quality businesses; cash is merely a war chest waiting for "super good opportunities." When market valuations are too high and there are no attractive investment targets, he prefers to hoard cash rather than force a purchase; but once a great opportunity arises, he will deploy this ammunition without hesitation. In Buffett's view, cash can provide safe returns in a high-interest-rate environment, but in the long run, it is far less valuable than investing in excellent companies.

While Berkshire's cash holdings reach a new high, despite the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices recently hitting historical highs, there are still multiple risk hazards behind the market, and valuations are in a historically high range. Data shows that as of April, the rolling price-to-earnings ratio of the S&P 500 is about 24 times (historical average is about 16 times), and the Shiller price-to-earnings ratio (cyclically adjusted) has risen to over 37 times, at a historically high level, second only to the internet bubble period. This combination of "valuation + high expectations" means that the market has very limited room for error. Furthermore, the current rise in U.S. stocks is built on optimistic assumptions such as "AI-driven profits, falling inflation, declining interest rates, and controllable risks," and any deviation in these variables could trigger amplified shocks in the market.