NEW YORK (Reuters) - Warren Buffett has taken steps to minimise disruption for the day he steps down from the helm of Berkshire Hathaway Inc , but concern over his succession and a weaker insurance environment limits the stock's growth potential, Barclays Capital said.

Analyst Jay Gelb yesterday began coverage of the insurance and investment conglomerate with an "equal weight" rating, and respective price targets of $132,000 and $88 for Berkshire's Class A and B shares. That is nine percent above their Friday closing prices of $121,050 and $80.49.

Gelb said that even with February's takeover of railroad company Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp, Berkshire's operating earnings appear "stalled" and may grow only slightly in 2010 and 2011, and the company may see slowing growth in book value and reduced return on equity through 2011.

Growth at the Geico Corp auto insurance unit should slow in 2010 as underwriting margins narrow, while reinsurer General Re may see unchanged premium revenue because of "disciplined" underwriting and rising catastrophe losses from unusually low levels.

As to succession, Buffett, 79, has said he has three internal candidates to replace him as chief executive, and a few candidates to take over investments at Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire.

Gelb said Buffett "probably has enough time to set his succession plan in motion to minimise disruption". He said, though, that the "Buffett premium" in Berkshire's share price could erode once the world's third-richest person, and perhaps its most admired investor, steps down.