EL7.AI
Stocks•11 July 2026•
1 min read

Berkshire Hathaway Lags S&P 500 by Wide Margin in First Half of 2026

Key Facts

1Berkshire Hathaway's B shares are down 1.8% year-to-date in 2026.
2Berkshire Hathaway is trailing the S&P 500 by 12.4 percentage points.
3The S&P 500 index has gained 10.7% during the first half of 2026.

Amid a notable divergence in mega-cap performance, Berkshire Hathaway's B shares have significantly lagged the broader market during the first half of 2026. The stock declined by 1.8% year-to-date, trailing the S&P 500 index by a substantial 12.4 percentage points. This underperformance occurred as the S&P 500 surged by 10.7% over the same period, driven by momentum in sectors outside of Berkshire's traditional value-oriented holdings.

This relative weakness reflects a shift in investor appetite toward growth and technology sectors, moving away from the defensive posture typically offered by Warren Buffett’s conglomerate. Per market data, peer financial giants like JPMorgan have seen different dynamics as they navigated interest rate environments. Analysts suggest that Berkshire's lack of major acquisitions in early 2026 may have contributed to the stock's stagnation while the broader benchmark capitalized on a tech-led rally.

Looking ahead, investors are monitoring upcoming US economic catalysts, such as the ISM Services PMI, to gauge the health of the underlying businesses within Berkshire’s portfolio and determine if a rotation back into value stocks is imminent for the second half of the year.