Berkshire Hathaway Resumes Buybacks, CEO Supports Kraft's Split Pause

New CEO Greg Abel says Berkshire has no immediate plans to sell Kraft Heinz shares after the food giant shelved its split plan.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Berkshire Hathaway has resumed share buybacks for the first time in nearly two years, and new CEO Greg Abel said he agrees with Kraft Heinz's decision to pause its plan to split the company in two. Abel appeared on CNBC and discussed Berkshire's approach to buybacks and its large stake in Kraft Heinz.

Why it matters

Berkshire Hathaway's buyback activity and its stance on Kraft Heinz's split plan provide insight into the conglomerate's strategy under its new leadership. As Berkshire's largest shareholder, its views on Kraft Heinz's corporate actions carry significant weight.

The details

Berkshire Hathaway filed a notice with the SEC that it had begun repurchasing its own shares on Wednesday, the first time it has done so since May 2024. CEO Greg Abel said he agreed with Kraft Heinz's decision to pause its plan to split the company in two, citing opportunities to fix the business and get it back on track. Berkshire has been Kraft Heinz's biggest shareholder since the 2015 merger orchestrated by Warren Buffett and 3G Capital.

  • Berkshire Hathaway resumed share buybacks on Wednesday, March 5, 2026.
  • Kraft Heinz announced plans to split the company into two last fall.
  • Berkshire Hathaway last repurchased its own shares in May 2024.

The players

Berkshire Hathaway

A multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, and the largest shareholder of Kraft Heinz.

Greg Abel

The new CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, having taken over from legendary investor Warren Buffett in January 2026.

Kraft Heinz

A major American food company formed by the merger of Kraft Foods and Heinz in 2015, which had announced plans to split into two companies last fall.

Steve Cahillane

The new CEO of Kraft Heinz who decided to pause the company's split plan.

Warren Buffett

The legendary investor and former CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, who remains the company's chairman.

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What they’re saying

“For Steve to come in and say we're pausing it, there's opportunities within Kraft Heinz to fix things and get the business back on track and then he'll evaluate things. We thought that was absolutely the right approach.”

— Greg Abel, CEO, Berkshire Hathaway (CNBC)

“As CEO, I absolutely obviously believe in Berkshire with — with the transition from Warren. And I inherited a company that has an incredible foundation. I believe in its — you know, future, the opportunities that exist there.”

— Greg Abel, CEO, Berkshire Hathaway (CNBC)

What’s next

Berkshire Hathaway will continue to use its substantial cash reserves to repurchase its own shares whenever CEO Greg Abel and Chairman Warren Buffett determine the stock is undervalued.

The takeaway

Berkshire Hathaway's resumption of share buybacks and its support for Kraft Heinz's decision to pause its split plan signal the conglomerate's confidence in its investments and its commitment to shareholder value under its new leadership.