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Greg Abel just stepped into the spotlight at Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE:BRK.A) (NYSE:BRK.B) annual meetingand made one thing crystal clear: the Buffett playbook isn't going anywhere. As the incoming CEO, Abel stressed that preserving Berkshire's reputation is non-negotiable. It will always be a priority, he said, referring to the company's identity as a disciplined, long-term capital allocator. That includes how it invests, how it operates, and how it manages risknothing changes.
What does change, however, is who's holding the reins. And Abel is making sure investors know he's not here to reinvent the wheel. With a significant set of cash on the balance sheet, Abel sees Berkshire's liquidity not just as a cushionbut as an offensive weapon. It allows the firm to stay independent, opportunistic, and immune to pressure from banks or outside capital markets. That kind of freedom is rareand Abel intends to use it wisely.
He doubled down on the strategy that's built Berkshire into a $1.16 trillion behemoth: own great companies that throw off real cash. Stay conservative on debt. Avoid fads. And never, ever compromise on trust. It's the exact philosophy Warren has followed for six decades, Abel reminded investors. And that's the same approach we'll take going forward. The message? There may be a new CEO, but Berkshire's DNA isn't changing.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.