Why Warren Buffett isn’t buying yet: The big market fall he’s eyeing before making his move

Recent stock market drops have not worried legendary investor Warren Buffett. He called the current fall “nothing” and said he is still waiting. The market started falling after tensions linked to the Iran war in late February, which shook investors and caused volatility. Between Feb. 27 and April 2, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 5.05%, the S&P 500 fell 4.31%, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 3.48%.

Even after this fall, Buffett said he is not rushing to buy stocks at lower prices. He reminded people that Berkshire Hathaway stock has dropped more than 50% three times during his leadership, as per CNBC interview cited by Benzinga. Buffett told Becky Quick that the current market drop is “nothing to make you get excited.”

Berkshire Hathaway currently holds more than $350 billion in cash, but Buffett still does not want to spend it yet. He said small declines of 5% or 6% are not enough because Berkshire looks for much bigger opportunities.

Big decline before buying

Buffett clearly stated he will deploy money only if there is a “big decline.” He explained that Berkshire buys businesses for the long term and does not plan to sell quickly. Buffett said they want to be sure about investments because they plan to hold them for a very long time, as cited by Benzinga. He compared modern stock trading to a “casino,” warning people not to gamble in markets.

At the same time, he called the U.S. economy an “incredible cathedral,” showing he still believes in long-term growth. Instead of buying stocks now, Berkshire is putting money into short-term U.S. Treasury bills to stay safe and liquid. In 2026 so far, the S&P 500 has fallen 4.02%, showing markets are already under pressure. The Nasdaq Composite is down 5.84% year-to-date, and the Dow Jones has dropped 3.88%.

Market pressure in 2026

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust and Invesco QQQ Trust closed slightly higher on Thursday despite the broader weakness. SPY rose 0.090% to $655.83 and QQQ gained 0.11% to $584.98, as noted by Benzinga. Both ETFs also moved higher in premarket trading on Monday.

Meanwhile, the State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust slipped 0.090% before slightly rising in premarket. Overall, Buffett’s strategy is simple — keep cash ready, ignore small dips, and wait for a huge market crash to buy big.

FAQs

Q1. Why is Warren Buffett not buying stocks now?

He believes the market has not fallen enough yet and is waiting for a much bigger drop before investing.

Q2. How much cash does Berkshire Hathaway have right now?

The company is holding more than $350 billion in cash while waiting for better buying opportunities.