Berkshire Hathaway stock gets rare downgrade — and a major concern is Warren Buffett's departure as CEO

Berkshire Hathaway has been downgraded to “underperform” by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, which said lower car insurance margins, tariffs, falling interest rates, smaller clean energy tax credits and Warren Buffett’s departure will weigh on its share price.

KBW analyst Meyer Shields, who had rated Berkshire “market perform,” also cut his target price for the Omaha, Neb.-based conglomerate’s Class A shares to $700,000 from $740,000, in his report dated Sunday.

“Underperform” and “sell” ratings are rare on Wall Street. Berkshire shares closed at $738,500 on Friday, and fell nearly 1% in Monday trading.

Lower car insurance margins, tariffs, falling interest rates, smaller clean energy tax credits and Warren Buffett’s departure will weigh on Berkshire Hathaway’s share price, Keefe, Bruyette &