text: The cash hoard isn't a "problem" per se, it allows Berkshire Hathaway the flexibility to take advantage of opportunities quickly when they arise rather than having to raise capital which may be difficult in some circumstances. For example, when the financial crisis in 2008 decimated U.S. banks Warren Buffett bought $5 Billion worth of preferred shares in Goldman Sachs which offered a 10% dividend annually plus warrants that eventually garnered $2 Billion worth of G.S. common stock for shelling out only $750 Million in cash. Several other deals made at the time to the likes of Mars, B of A, G.E. etc. netted BRK almost $10 Billion in dividends alone for $25 Billion in investment over a 5 year period according to the WSJ. That doesn't include substantial capital gains.