Key Takeaways
- Michael O’Sullivan, Berkshire’s recently appointed general counsel, acquired 536 Class B shares valued at approximately $250,000 this week.
- This marks only the second insider transaction in 2026, following CEO Greg Abel’s $15M Class A share purchase in March.
- Year-to-date, BRK.B has declined 6.5%, underperforming the S&P 500 by approximately 14 percentage points.
- Market observers are calling for increased share purchases from Abel, whose holdings in Berkshire may constitute under 20% of his total wealth.
- Wall Street’s consensus rating stands at “Hold,” with an average price target of $521.50—representing roughly 11% potential upside.
Berkshire Hathaway’s recently appointed general counsel has made his inaugural stock acquisition, purchasing $250,000 in Class B shares this Wednesday.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., BRK-B
Michael O’Sullivan acquired 536 shares of BRK.B at approximately $468 per share. Following this transaction, his total holdings stand at 663 shares valued at roughly $300,000, as disclosed in an SEC Form 4 filing.
O’Sullivan transitioned to Berkshire on January 1 from Snap, assuming a newly established internal general counsel position. His background includes more than two decades at Munger, Tolles & Olson—the legal firm co-established by Charlie Munger, Berkshire’s late vice chairman.
This transaction represents just the second insider acquisition in 2026. CEO Greg Abel previously purchased 21 Class A shares totaling approximately $15 million on March 4, utilizing after-tax earnings from his $25 million 2026 compensation package. Abel has committed to making similar annual purchases.
BRK.B concluded Wednesday’s session just under $470. The stock has declined approximately 6.5% in 2026, contrasting with the S&P 500’s roughly 7.6% gain during the identical timeframe—creating a performance differential of about 14 percentage points.
Looking at the trailing twelve-month period, the underperformance becomes more pronounced, with BRK.B lagging the benchmark index by approximately 40 points.
Berkshire’s first-quarter earnings, released May 2, revealed total revenues of $93.7 billion, representing a 4.4% year-over-year increase. Earnings per share reached $4.68, surging nearly 120% compared to the prior year. Despite these results, shares declined 1% the following trading session.
Scrutiny on Abel’s Holdings
Abel’s net worth is estimated to be in the billionaire range, with substantial wealth stemming from an $870 million cash distribution received when he divested a 1% interest in Berkshire Hathaway Energy during 2022. His current holdings include 249 Class A shares valued at approximately $175 million, plus Class B shares worth roughly $1 million.
This Berkshire position potentially represents under 20% of his overall net worth. The company’s proxy disclosure guidelines specify that directors should maintain a “significant investment in Berkshire relative to their resources,” leading some shareholders to suggest Abel should increase his stake.
At present valuations, BRK.B is trading at approximately 1.4 times Berkshire’s March 31 book value, and nearer to 1.3 times the estimated June 30 figure—both below historical average multiples.
Wall Street’s Perspective
Among the six analysts providing coverage on BRK.B, the consensus stands at “Hold”—comprising two Strong Buy ratings, three Hold ratings, and one Strong Sell. This represents a downgrade from the “Moderate Buy” consensus observed one month earlier.
On May 6, DBS analyst Edmond Fok reaffirmed his Hold rating while setting a $500 price target, suggesting approximately 6.4% upside potential from current trading levels.
The average analyst price target reaches $521.50, indicating about 11% upside from present valuations. The most optimistic Street target stands at $570, which would deliver approximately 21% appreciation.
For fiscal 2026, the analyst community projects BRK.B’s diluted EPS will decrease 1.8% to $20.25.
