Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B): analysis in plain words
Is Berkshire Hathaway cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in insurance. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Berkshire Hathaway according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $579.09 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 14.6x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +10.0% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 22.3% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | Not meaningful (financial company) | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $1.24 trillion | What the stock market values it at |
The Berkshire Hathaway figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any BRK-B figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Berkshire Hathaway makes money
Berkshire Hathaway is a conglomerate built around insurance, including GEICO, General Re and Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance, whose premiums it invests. It also owns the BNSF railroad, Berkshire Hathaway Energy and manufacturing, service and retail businesses such as Precision Castparts, Lubrizol, McLane and Dairy Queen, plus a large stock portfolio.
Over the last 12 months, Berkshire Hathaway brought in revenue of $384.7 billion. For every 100 it sells, Berkshire Hathaway keeps 30.3 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 32.6 after all operating costs (operating margin).
Berkshire Hathaway against its sector
To know whether a Berkshire Hathaway figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Berkshire Hathaway with the median of the 11 insurance companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Berkshire Hathaway | insurance median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 14.6x | 13.1x (11) |
| Revenue growth | +10.0% | +3.0% (11) |
| Net margin | 22.3% | 11.2% (11) |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.35% (11) |
| ROE | 12.1% | 18.4% (11) |
In short, against the typical insurance company, Berkshire Hathaway grows faster, earns a wider margin and pays a lower dividend yield. By size, Berkshire Hathaway ranks number 1 of 7 insurance companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Berkshire Hathaway
What works in favour of Berkshire Hathaway, according to its figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Berkshire Hathaway keeps 22.3 of every 100 it sells as net profit, against 11.2 for the median insurance company: a margin like that leaves money to invest, buy back shares or pay dividends.
- Berkshire Hathaway grew sales +10.0% in its latest quarter against the same quarter a year earlier, while the median insurance company Fintols tracks grew +3.0%.
The main risk for Berkshire Hathaway
Analysts expect lower Berkshire Hathaway earnings: its P/E on estimated next-12-month earnings rises to 25.8x, from 14.6x on the last 12 months.
And, like the rest of insurance, Berkshire Hathaway is exposed to natural catastrophes and claims above plan, plus swings in the markets where it invests premiums.
Frequently asked questions about Berkshire Hathaway
Is it a good time to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Berkshire Hathaway, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Berkshire Hathaway stock trades at $579.09, 0% below its 52-week high ($580.65) and 25% above its low ($464.01). Its P/E is 14.6x against a insurance median of 13.1x, and 25.8x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Berkshire Hathaway, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Berkshire Hathaway pay a dividend?
No. As of November 4, 2026, Berkshire Hathaway does not pay a dividend: what it earns stays in the company to grow, invest or, where it does so, buy back shares. Anyone buying Berkshire Hathaway today is counting on the share price rising, not on income.
Is Berkshire Hathaway stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Berkshire Hathaway trades at 14.6x its last 12 months of earnings: in line with the insurance median (13.1x). For a financial company you also look at price to book value: 0.0x (insurance median: 2.2x). A high P/E alone does not make Berkshire Hathaway expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Berkshire Hathaway's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Berkshire Hathaway with Progressive, Chubb and AIG, which are also in insurance. As of November 4, 2026, Progressive is worth $136.0 billion and trades on a P/E of 11.8; Chubb is worth $143.0 billion and trades on a P/E of 13.1; AIG is worth $42.7 billion and trades on a P/E of 15.0. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Berkshire Hathaway below.
Berkshire Hathaway competitors
- Progressive (PGR) analysis · Berkshire Hathaway vs Progressive comparison
- Chubb (CB) analysis · Berkshire Hathaway vs Chubb comparison
- AIG (AIG) analysis · Berkshire Hathaway vs AIG comparison
To understand Berkshire Hathaway better
- How to Read a Balance Sheet: A Beginner's Guide
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like Berkshire Hathaway: insurance stocks, S&P 500 companies and S&P 100 companies. Open the full BRK-B analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Berkshire Hathaway, not investment advice.