Market Chatter: Berkshire Hathaway Scales Tighter Credit Markets in Japan on $1.1 Billion Bond Sale

Berkshire Hathaway raised $1.1B in yen-denominated bonds, with higher borrowing costs than its April issuance. The offering included five tranches with maturities from 3 to 30 years, according to Bloomberg.

Berkshire Pays More to Borrow in Japan on ¥182 Billion Deal, Bloomberg reports.

Berkshire Hathaway spent $14.4 billion on share buybacks in 2026, according to reports. Greg Abel, the new CEO, has been actively using the company's cash reserves, which stood at $380 billion. Second-quarter operating earnings rose to $12.98 billion. Class B shares (BRK-B) gained 4.02% over the past week.

Greg Abel, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B), has invested $14.4B in the company's stock this year, including $9.6B in Q3. Berkshire's stock portfolio and cash reserves are substantial, with a market cap of $1.26T. Abel has also invested in Alphabet and restarted share buybacks, authorizing $14.4B in repurchases. The company has over $352B in cash, allowing for further investments or buybacks.

Berkshire Hathaway acquired $596 million in Lennar shares from September 17 to October 2, 2026, increasing its stake to 12%. Lennar reported a 8.52% revenue decline in Q3, with adjusted EPS missing estimates. CEO Stuart Miller noted challenges in the housing market, including high mortgage rates and competition. Analysts are largely bearish, with Morgan Stanley setting a $65 price target. Lennar shares are down 26% YTD.

Berkshire Hathaway's Greg Abel oversaw $9.6 billion in share buybacks in Q3 2026, more than doubling the previous quarter's $4.53 billion. Since mid-2018, Buffett and Abel have spent approximately $92 billion on buybacks. The company had $377.4 billion in cash and equivalents at the end of September 2026. Buybacks are a key strategy for Berkshire, which does not pay a dividend.