Warren Buffett's Successor, Greg Abel, Is Transforming Berkshire Hathaway With This $43 Billion Investment (and I'm Not Talking About Alphabet)

Greg Abel, who became Berkshire Hathaway CEO on December 31, 2025, has deployed approximately $43 billion into Japanese equities, marking a strategic pivot for BRK.A and BRK.B. The investment targets Japan's five sogo shosha trading houses and insurer Tokio Marine (TKOMY), capitalizing on attractive valuations relative to U.S. markets.

The allocation shifts Berkshire's geographic exposure at a time when U.S. equity valuations remain historically elevated. Abel is betting on Japanese industrial conglomerates with established capital-return programs—a departure from the Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) positions that have drawn Wall Street's attention.

The sogo shosha trading houses—Mitsubishi (MTSUY, MITSY), Itochu (ITOCY), Sumitomo (SSUMY), Marubeni (MARUY), and Mitsui—represent diversified exposure to commodities, energy, and infrastructure. Combined with TKOMY, the portfolio targets companies trading below U.S. multiples while offering dividend yields and buyback programs.