See Graham's ranking
5.0
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. operates in the financial sector, within the property and casualty insurance industry. The company was originally founded by Oliver Chace.
Its transformation into a diversified conglomerate was led by Warren Buffett starting in the 1960s, making it one of the most influential and valuable corporations in the world.
Berkshire Hathaway’s business model is based on the acquisition and management of subsidiaries across multiple sectors, with strong positions in insurance, energy, rail transportation, manufacturing, retail, and financial services.
Additionally, the company holds strategic equity investments in major global companies, such as Apple, Coca-Cola, American Express, and Bank of America.
Key subsidiaries include:
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GEICO and Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (insurance)
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BNSF Railway (railroads)
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Berkshire Hathaway Energy (utilities)
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Lubrizol (chemicals)
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Fruit of the Loom (textiles)
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NetJets (private aviation)
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Dairy Queen (food services), among others.
Berkshire Hathaway operates globally, with investments and subsidiaries across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Its performance is influenced by economic cycles, interest rates, capital market activity, and government policies.
The long-term strategy led by Warren Buffett and his team is based on rigorous business analysis and solid investments in undervalued assets, aiming to maximize shareholder value.
The company follows a decentralized management model, allowing each subsidiary to operate independently, which enhances agility and operational efficiency.
With more than 390,000 employees worldwide, Berkshire Hathaway maintains an investment philosophy focused on sustainable value creation, financial discipline, and a long-term vision, solidifying its position as one of the largest conglomerates in the world.
Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker BRK.A. This class is characterized by:
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A high share price, typically exceeding $500,000 per share
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Full voting rights, with one vote per share
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No stock splits, in line with the company’s long-term investor philosophy
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Designed for institutional and long-term individual investors
History and founding of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. was founded in 1839 in the United States by Oliver Chace as a textile manufacturing company.
For decades, it operated textile mills in the New England region, maintaining a strong presence in the industrial sector.
Over time, the company struggled with the decline of the American textile industry and faced increasing competition.
In 1965, Warren Buffett took control of Berkshire Hathaway and began restructuring it from a textile manufacturer into an investment and insurance conglomerate.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the company’s expansion was fueled by acquisitions in the insurance industry, including National Indemnity Company and GEICO.
These insurance businesses became cash-generating engines used to finance further investments.
This model allowed Berkshire to make strategic acquisitions across diverse industries, establishing itself as one of the world’s largest holding companies.
The Class A shares were introduced prior to the creation of Class B shares and have always represented the core ownership structure of the company.
They have never been split, maintaining their high value per share as a reflection of Buffett’s commitment to long-term investing.
Between 2020 and 2024, Berkshire Hathaway continued expanding its operations, investing in technology, infrastructure, and high-growth companies.
The company also conducted significant share buybacks and remained committed to its long-term investment strategy despite global market volatility.
Now positioned as one of the largest financial conglomerates in the world, Berkshire Hathaway continues to pursue sustainable growth and conservative risk management, maintaining its influence in the global investment landscape.
Additional Information
The Company Berkshire Hathaway INC. (United States), is listed on NYSE with a market cap of $ 755.32 Billions, having an equity of $ 700.44 Billions.
With a total of 391.500 employees, the company is listed in the sector of Financial and categorized in industry of Insurance (Prop. & Casualty).
In the last 12 months the Company had a revenue of $ 400.55 Billions, which generated a profit in the amount of $ 67.46 Billions.
As for its main indicators, the Company has a P/E ratio of 11.20, a P/BV ratio of 1.08 and in the last 12 months the Company did not pay dividends.
The Company is traded internationally through the ticker BRK-A.
