Greg Abel Pivots Berkshire Hathaway Toward Japanese Markets

Greg Abel, who became CEO of Berkshire Hathaway on December 31, is diversifying the company's portfolio by shifting investment strategy toward Japanese markets. While Abel has increased holdings in Alphabet, he has overseen a larger transformation involving approximately $42.7 billion invested in Japanese stocks.

This portfolio includes stakes in the five sogo shosha trading houses—Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Itochu, Sumitomo, and Marubeni. Additionally, the company acquired a 2.5% stake in the insurer Tokio Marine in March 2026.

Abel is driving this pivot because Japanese valuations are more attractive than those in the U.S. market, where the market-cap-to-GDP ratio recently reached an all-time high. His strategy targets industry leaders characterized by strong capital-return programs, such as share repurchases and recurring dividends, and subdued executive compensation.