Warren Buffett Disappointed by Kraft Heinz Planned Split

Warren Buffett expressed disappointment with Kraft Heinz's decision to split into two independent companies, a move he helped orchestrate through the 2015 merger. He criticized the split as unlikely to resolve the company's ongoing challenges despite management's argument that it would reduce complexity and improve brand focus. Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway owns about 27.5% of Kraft Heinz, conveyed his displeasure through successor Greg Abel directly to the company. The planned separation will create two publicly traded businesses focusing on different product portfolios, aiming for completion by the second half of 2026. Following Buffett's comments, Kraft Heinz shares declined over 4%, reflecting investor uncertainty about the breakup's benefits amid the stock's long-term underperformance. Analysts remain cautiously optimistic, with average price targets suggesting a moderate upside, though the consensus rating stays at a hold.