The shareholders of Berkshire go to the 60th annual conference of Buffett, Economy Top One Mind

By Jonathan Stampel

Omaha (Reuters) -Warren Buffett will lead to Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting on Saturday. Investors and analysts would like to cause the legendary investor as a tariff guidelines by US President Donald Trump from the tariff directive of the US investor and the economy of uncertainty for business and economy.

The Konglomerat’s share price has so far survived a turbulent period for markets and rose by 18.9% this year, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 decreased by 3.3%.

For many, Berkshires offers a wide range of corporate portfolio in the broader US economy, including the BNSF Railroad, Geico insurance, energy companies, real estate agents and the fruit of the Loom underwear.

“The far -reaching way of business and investments makes them a microcosm for the entire economy,” said Cathy Seifert, analyst at CFRA. “The overarching concern is that we need an insight into the extent that tariffs cause the destruction of demand or slowing down the economy.”

The US economy shrank for the first time in three years in the first quarter, said the trade department as a company to import goods to avoid higher tariffs.

In Berkshires meeting it is expected to answer the 94-year-old Buffett for more than four hours.

The topics usually include operational companies, the economy, the markets, life lessons and the future of Berkshire after the departure of Oracle from Omaha.

The deputy chairman Greg Abel, who became the successor to Buffett in 2021, and the deputy chair Ajit Jain will also answer questions.

Investors can also question Buffett’s wish to use capital after Berkshire sold more shares than was bought for nine quarters in a row. His cash share reached 334.2 billion US dollars at the end of 2024.

“Warren Buffett has distracted himself from the discussion of tariffs, and people ask for people to hear what he thinks,” said Robin Nasser, an auditor from Newport Beach, California, who takes part in the meeting. “He obviously knows something that we don’t do because he brings cash.”

Before the meeting, Berkshire will publish its results in the first quarter, including the cash share and the details of stock trading.

In March, Berkshire increased his missions in Japanese trading houses ITOCHU, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Sumitomo.

What Berkshire will look like in Buffett also says in the minds of the investors.

Susan Decker with the leading independent director, Susan Decker, told CNBC that Abel took over the responsibilities of capital allocation that Buffett normally took over. The role that the portfolio managers Todd Combs and Ted Weschller will play is unclear.

After the end of the question and response session, voices will vote for seven shareholders, including matters in connection with diversity, environment and artificial intelligence. Buffett’s board and Berkshire reject all seven.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in Omaha, Nebraska; additional reporting by Suzanne McGee; writing by Carolina Mandl; Editor of Megan Davies and Diane Craft)