OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 28, 2026--
(BRK.A; BRK.B) --
Berkshire's operating results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2025 and 2024 are summarized in the following paragraphs. However, we urge investors and reporters to read our 2025 Annual Report, which has been posted at www.berkshirehathaway.com. The limited information that follows in this press release is not adequate for making an informed investment judgment.
Earnings of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries for the fourth quarter and full year of 2025 and 2024 are summarized below. Earnings are stated on an after-tax basis. (Dollar amounts are in millions, except for per share amounts).
Fourth Quarter Full Year
------------------------------- -------------------------------
2025 2024 2025 2024
--------------- -------------- --------------- --------------
Net earnings attributable
to Berkshire
shareholders $ 19,199 $ 19,694 $ 66,968 $ 88,995
============= ============= ============= =============
Net earnings includes:
Investment gains
(losses) 13,494 5,167 30,737 41,558
Other-than-temporary
impairment of
investments in Kraft
Heinz and in
Occidental (4,495) -- (8,255) --
Operating earnings 10,200 14,527 44,486 47,437
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Net earnings attributable
to Berkshire
shareholders $ 19,199 $ 19,694 $ 66,968 $ 88,995
============= ============= ============= =============
Net earnings per average
equivalent Class A
Share $ 13,349 $ 13,695 $ 46,563 $ 61,900
Net earnings per average
equivalent Class B
Share $ 8.90 $ 9.13 $ 31.04 $ 41.27
Average equivalent Class
A shares outstanding 1,438,223 1,438,022 1,438,223 1,437,720
Average equivalent Class
B shares outstanding 2,157,335,139 2,157,034,121 2,157,335,139 2,156,580,296
Note: Per share amounts for the Class B shares are 1/1,500(th) of those shown for the
Class A.
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") require that we include the changes in unrealized gains (losses) of our equity security investments as a component of investment gains (losses) in our earnings statements. In the table above, investment gains (losses) in 2025 include gains of $9.6 billion in the fourth quarter and $12.9 billion in the full year and in 2024 include gains of $2.1 billion in the fourth quarter and losses of $38.1 billion in the full year due to changes during the fourth quarter and the full year in the unrealized gains that existed in our equity security investment holdings. Investment gains (losses) in 2025 also include after-tax realized gains on sales of investments of $3.9 billion in the fourth quarter and $17.8 billion in the full year and in 2024 include gains of $3.1 billion in the fourth quarter and $79.6 billion in the full year.
The amount of investment gains (losses) in any given quarter is usually meaningless and delivers figures for net earnings per share that can be extremely misleading to investors who have little or no knowledge of accounting rules.
An analysis of Berkshire's operating earnings follows (dollar amounts are in millions).
Fourth Quarter Full Year
----------------- ----------------
2025 2024 2025 2024
------- -------- ------- -------
Insurance-underwriting $ 1,561 $ 3,409 $ 7,258 $ 9,020
Insurance-investment
income 3,072 4,088 12,513 13,670
BNSF 1,347 1,278 5,476 5,031
Berkshire Hathaway Energy
Company 691 729 3,979 3,730
Manufacturing, service and
retailing 3,370 3,262 13,647 13,072
Other* 159 1,761 1,613 2,914
------ ------- ------ ------
Operating earnings $10,200 $ 14,527 $44,486 $47,437
====== ======= ====== ======
* (1) Includes foreign currency exchange gains related to
non-U.S. Dollar denominated debt in 2025 of approximately
$617 million in the fourth quarter and losses of $642
million in the full year and in 2024 includes foreign
currency exchange gains related to non-U.S. Dollar
denominated debt of approximately $1.2 billion in the
fourth quarter and $1.1 billion in the full year.
(2) Includes after-tax interest, dividend and other investment
income of Berkshire Hathaway (parent company) and certain
other related entities in 2025 of $927 million in the fourth
quarter and $3.6 billion in the full year and in 2024 includes
$450 million in the fourth quarter and $1.4 billion in the
full year.
On December 31, 2025 there were 1,438,223 Class A equivalent shares outstanding. At December 31, 2025, insurance float (the net liabilities we assume under insurance contracts) was approximately $176 billion, an increase of $5 billion since yearend 2024.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. The reconciliations of such measures to the most comparable GAAP figures in accordance with Regulation G are included herein.
Berkshire presents its results in the way it believes will be most meaningful and useful, as well as most transparent, to the investing public and others who use Berkshire's financial information. That presentation includes the use of certain non-GAAP financial measures. In addition to the GAAP presentations of net earnings, Berkshire shows operating earnings defined as net earnings exclusive of investment gains (losses), impairments of goodwill and intangible assets and other-than-temporary impairments of equity method investments.
Although the investment of insurance and reinsurance premiums to generate investment income and investment gains or losses is an integral part of Berkshire's operations, the generation of investment gains or losses is independent of the insurance underwriting process. Moreover, as previously described, under applicable GAAP accounting requirements, we are required to include the changes in unrealized gains/losses of our equity security investments as a component of investment gains/losses in our periodic earnings statements. In sum, investment gains/losses for any particular period are not indicative of quarterly business performance.
About Berkshire
Berkshire Hathaway and its subsidiaries engage in diverse business activities including insurance and reinsurance, utilities and energy, freight rail transportation, manufacturing, services and retailing. Common stock of the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading symbols BRK.A and BRK.B.
Cautionary Statement
Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guaranties of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those forecasted.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260228505745/en/
CONTACT: Marc D. Hamburg
402-346-1400
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 28, 2026 08:00 ET (13:00 GMT)