OMA, Nebraska — Warren Buffett recently dismissed the recent fluctuations in the stock market that have made investors uneasy over the past few weeks.
“What happened in the last 30 or 45 days… it’s really nothing,” he remarked during Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting.
Buffett mentioned that in the past sixty years, there have been three occasions when Berkshire Hathaway stocks plummeted by 50%, yet he assured that there were no serious underlying issues with the company during those times.
“I’m not worried about what others might be fearing,” he said. “If Berkshire were to drop 50% next week, I would see it as a fantastic opportunity. It wouldn’t bother me at all.”
In light of this, he noted that the recent fluctuations in the U.S. stock market shouldn’t be considered particularly significant.
“This isn’t a serious bear market or anything like that,” Buffett claimed.
S&P 500, YTD
His remarks came as the so-called “Oracle of Omaha” weighed in on investor concerns following erratic trading spurred by President Donald Trump’s controversial tariff announcements in early April.
The S&P 500 had just recorded its longest winning streak since 2004, a significant rebound after it had briefly dipped into bear market territory.
Buffett characterized the previous downtrends in the stock market as “dramatically different” from what investors face today. He reminded attendees that over his long lifetime—he’s now 94—it’s crucial for them to brace for some tough times.
He reflected on his years watching the Dow Jones Industrial Average, noting that he’s seen ups and downs for nearly a century.
“If a 15% drop in stocks affects you significantly, it might be time to rethink your investment strategy,” he advised. “The world isn’t going to change for you—you need to adapt.”
