Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) Walks From $10B Deal as Buffett Sounds Alarm on U.S. Debt
Faizan Farooque
Sun, 4 May 2025 at 3:24 AM SGT1-min read
Warren Buffett (
Trades,
Portfolio), chairman of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B, Financials),
didn't hold back at this year's shareholder meeting in Omaha. He raised alarms about U.S. debt, rejected trade protectionism, and reaffirmed the company's disciplineeven as it sits on a record $347 billion in cash.
Buffett told investors that Berkshire nearly pulled the trigger on a $10 billion acquisition but walked away because the math didn't work. Good deals come like deathunpredictably, he said, underscoring his long-held principle: patience pays.
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Buffett criticized the use of tariffs as economic leverage, saying, Trade should not be a weapon. He added that the U.S. fiscal outlook scares him due to rising debt and the risk of currency devaluation.
Still, he struck an optimistic note about America's long-term strength, calling the day he was born in the U.S. the luckiest day of my life.
Apple (
AAPL,
Financials), Buffett said, has made more money for Berkshire than he has personally earnedanother nod to CEO Tim Cook's leadership. No plans to trim that stake.
Buffett also made clear that Berkshire's Japan holdings are long-term. Even if the Bank of Japan raises rates, he said, those investments are here to stay.
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) Walks From $10B Deal as Buffett Sounds Alarm on U.S. Debt
And for value investors trying to navigate today's rocky markets, he offered a familiar roadmap: Look for businesses you understand, with good prospects, trustworthy leaders, and fair prices.