Berkshire Hathaway

What does Berkshire Hathaway own?
Berkshire Hathaway owns a diverse portfolio of over 100 wholly-owned subsidiaries and significant equity investments. Key holdings include GEICO (auto insurance), BNSF Railway (freight transportation), Berkshire Hathaway Energy (utilities), Precision Castparts (aerospace components), Duracell (batteries), See's Candies (confectionery), Dairy Queen (fast food), and NetJets (private aviation). The company also holds substantial investments in publicly traded companies including Apple, Bank of America, and American Express.

Is Berkshire Hathaway publicly traded?
Yes, Berkshire Hathaway is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under two ticker symbols: BRK.A (Class A shares) and BRK.B (Class B shares). Class A shares represent significantly more voting power and are priced much higher than Class B shares, making them accessible primarily to institutional investors and wealthy individuals. The company has been publicly traded since 1988.

Who founded Berkshire Hathaway?
The original Berkshire Hathaway textile company was founded in 1839 by Oliver Chace in Valley Falls, Rhode Island. However, the modern Berkshire Hathaway was shaped by Warren Buffett, who began acquiring shares in 1962 and gained control in 1965, transforming the struggling textile manufacturer into a diversified holding company.

Where is Berkshire Hathaway headquartered?
Berkshire Hathaway is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. The company has maintained its headquarters in Omaha since Warren Buffett took control, reflecting its commitment to a conservative, Midwestern approach to business despite its global scale.

How many companies does Berkshire Hathaway own?
Berkshire Hathaway owns over 100 wholly-owned subsidiaries across insurance, railroads, utilities, manufacturing, consumer products, and services. The exact number fluctuates as Berkshire makes new acquisitions and occasionally sells businesses. The company also holds significant minority stakes in dozens of publicly traded companies.

Who owns Berkshire Hathaway?
Berkshire Hathaway is owned by its shareholders, with no single controlling shareholder. Major institutional investors including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street hold significant stakes. Warren Buffett remains the largest individual shareholder and serves as Executive Chairman, while Greg Abel serves as CEO. The company has a widely dispersed shareholder base typical of large public corporations.

What is Berkshire Hathaway's revenue?
For full-year 2025, Berkshire Hathaway reported operating earnings of $44.49 billion, down from $47.44 billion in 2024. The company's total revenue, including investment gains and losses, varies significantly based on stock market performance. Berkshire maintains one of the strongest balance sheets in corporate America with cash and equivalents exceeding $150 billion.

Who is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway?
Greg Abel serves as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, having succeeded Warren Buffett on January 1, 2026. Abel had long been considered Buffett's successor and previously led Berkshire's non-insurance operations. Warren Buffett remains Executive Chairman and continues to be involved in major capital allocation decisions.

Berkshire Hathaway traces its origins to 1839 with the founding of a textile manufacturing company by Oliver Chace in Valley Falls, Rhode Island. The company went through various mergers and acquisitions throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, eventually becoming Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates and later Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

The modern era began in 1962 when Warren Buffett began purchasing Berkshire Hathaway stock through his investment partnership. By 1965, Buffett had gained controlling interest and became chairman of the struggling textile company. Rather than continuing in textiles, Buffett transformed Berkshire into a holding company, using its cash flow to acquire other businesses.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Buffett acquired insurance companies, including GEICO in 1976, which became the foundation of Berkshire's insurance operations. The company expanded into various industries through strategic acquisitions, including See's Candies (1972), Buffalo News (1977), and many others. The 1990s and 2000s saw major acquisitions like BNSF Railway (2009) and Precision Castparts (2016), solidifying Berkshire's position as a diversified conglomerate.

Berkshire Hathaway has faced challenges related to environmental compliance in some of its operating companies but has maintained its commitment to sustainability investments and ethical business practices. Berkshire Hathaway publishes annual reports detailing its environmental impact, social initiatives, and governance practices.

Berkshire Hathaway's sustainability approach is decentralized, with individual operating companies implementing environmental and social initiatives tailored to their specific industries. The conglomerate's sustainability strategy emphasizes long-term value creation through responsible business practices, environmental stewardship, and ethical governance across its diverse portfolio.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company (BHE) leads the group's environmental initiatives with comprehensive sustainability programs focused on renewable energy development, emissions reduction, and environmental responsibility. BHE has committed to substantial investments in wind and solar energy generation, targeting 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. The energy company operates under the Environmental RESPECT framework, emphasizing responsible natural resource use and environmental protection for future generations.

BNSF Railway, Berkshire's transportation subsidiary, implements sustainability initiatives focused on fuel efficiency improvements, emissions reduction, and sustainable freight transportation. The railway has invested in modern locomotives, aerodynamic technologies, and operational optimization to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. BNSF aims to identify investments that yield the most significant environmental benefits across the freight transportation ecosystem.

The manufacturing and consumer products subsidiaries implement various sustainability programs, including waste reduction, energy efficiency, and responsible sourcing. Companies like Clayton Homes, Fruit of the Loom, and Johns Manville have developed environmental management systems addressing resource efficiency, emissions control, and sustainable material usage.

Berkshire Hathaway's ethical framework centers on Warren Buffett's principles of transparent governance, long-term thinking, and stakeholder responsibility. The company maintains decentralized management while promoting ethical business practices, financial integrity, and corporate responsibility across all subsidiaries.

The conglomerate publishes annual reports detailing environmental performance, social initiatives, and governance practices. While Berkshire Hathaway does not issue consolidated ESG reports, individual companies provide sustainability disclosures relevant to their operations and industries.

Climate-related investments include substantial renewable energy development through BHE, modernization of transportation infrastructure through BNSF, and energy efficiency improvements across manufacturing operations. The company's long-term investment horizon supports sustainable business practices that create enduring value while addressing environmental and social responsibilities.

Berkshire Hathaway has received recognition for corporate governance, investment performance, and business leadership in the conglomerate and insurance industries.

• Fortune World's Most Admired Companies: Multiple years of recognition in the insurance category for corporate reputation and leadership
• Corporate Governance Awards: Recognition for board structure and shareholder rights practices
• Investment Performance Recognition: Recognition for long-term investment success and value creation
• Insurance Industry Awards: Recognition for underwriting excellence and financial strength through its insurance subsidiaries
• Manufacturing Excellence Awards: Recognition for quality and innovation across its manufacturing companies
• Business Leadership Awards: Recognition for corporate stewardship and ethical business practices
• Shareholder Communication Awards: Recognition for transparency and shareholder engagement

The company's performance has been noted by industry analysts for its strong corporate governance and consistent focus on long-term value creation and business stewardship.

Berkshire Hathaway has faced regulatory scrutiny and public controversies related to business practices, governance issues, and operational challenges across its diverse portfolio. The company has faced criticism over governance practices at some subsidiaries, particularly related to board independence and executive compensation, which has attracted attention from corporate governance advocates and institutional investors.

The company has faced scrutiny related to environmental compliance at some of its manufacturing and utility operations, particularly related to emissions standards and environmental impact. These issues have attracted attention from environmental regulators and sustainability advocates.

Berkshire Hathaway has also faced challenges related to regulatory compliance in its insurance operations, particularly related to reserve adequacy and underwriting practices. The company has worked to address these concerns through improved risk management and compliance programs.

Investment portfolio management and stock selection have occasionally generated negative publicity, though the company maintains strong investment principles and long-term investment strategies. Berkshire Hathaway has also faced challenges related to succession planning and leadership transitions.