New York, Jan 25, 2026, 10:03 EST — Market closed.
Berkshire Hathaway’s Class B shares dropped 1.14% on Friday, closing at $478.97 as the market braced for an upcoming rate decision and a packed earnings week. Trading volume reached roughly 5.4 million shares, surpassing the stock’s 50-day average. Meanwhile, Class A shares slipped 0.73% to $720,932. 1
The pullback is key as this week brings several market-moving events. Roughly 20% of the S&P 500 will report earnings, with heavyweights like Apple, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Tesla on deck. The Fed, meanwhile, is widely expected to keep rates unchanged in its Wednesday policy announcement, according to Reuters. “Earnings are the driver,” said Chris Galipeau, senior market strategist at Franklin Templeton. 2
Berkshire Hathaway, viewed by many as a stand-in for the U.S. economy thanks to its reach across insurance, railroads, and energy, kicked off 2026 under new CEO Greg Abel. Warren Buffett stepped down from the CEO role on Jan. 1 but remains chairman. As of Sept. 30, the company held $381.7 billion in cash and equivalents, Reuters reported earlier this month. 3
Friday’s market action was mixed. The Dow dropped 0.58%, while the S&P 500 barely moved, held back by Intel’s 17% plunge after it issued a grim outlook. Investors are now focused on earnings from the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants. Julian McManus, a portfolio manager at Janus Henderson, described the stretch ahead as a “show-me” period, with companies facing pressure to translate big AI investments into actual revenue growth. 4
For Berkshire shareholders, the Federal Reserve remains central to the narrative. Rising rates can lift investment returns on the insurance “float”—the premiums held before claims go out—but they also weigh on stock valuations and appetite for deals.
Kraft Heinz is back in the spotlight tied to Berkshire Hathaway. A recent filing revealed Berkshire might resell its 325.4 million shares, roughly 27.5% of the food giant, Reuters reported earlier this week. Berkshire declined to comment right away. Kraft Heinz said it remains focused on “maximizing long-term value.” 5
Kraft Heinz shares closed Friday at $23.20, rising roughly 2% for the session.
Berkshire faces a risk if this week’s headlines take a negative turn. Should Powell’s tone shift more sharply than anticipated, or if new political turmoil emerges, stocks could broadly slide. That might leave Berkshire stuck trading as a slower-growth financial in a market suddenly chasing speed.
The next major event hits Wednesday, as the Fed concludes its Jan. 27-28 meeting. After that, focus shifts sharply to big-tech earnings, looking for clues on demand trends and AI investments that could move the broader market — and, by extension, Berkshire’s holdings. 6
