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Boasting a staggering market cap of $1 trillion, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.B) is a global conglomerate led by Warren Buffett, known for its diverse businesses and investments. The Omaha, Nebraska-based company’s key operations include insurance (GEICO, General Re), railroads (BNSF Railway), energy (Berkshire Hathaway Energy), and manufacturing/retail (Duracell, See’s Candies).
BRK.B shares have slightly underperformed the broader market over the past year. BRK.B has gained 21.2% over this time frame, while the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has risen 22.8%. However, in 2025, BRK.B stock soared 5.3%, surpassing SPX’s 3.4% returns on a YTD basis.
Narrowing the focus, BRK.B has also lagged behind the iShares U.S. Financial Services ETF (IYG). The exchange-traded fund has gained 38.9% over the past year and 8.8% on a YTD basis.
On Nov. 2, Berkshire Hathaway released its third-quarter earnings, which led to a 2.2% drop in its share prices. It reported operating earnings of $10.1 billion, a 6.2% decline year-over-year, driven by higher costs and lower revenues, which disappointed investors. The Railroad, Utilities, and Energy segment posted a steep 9.1% drop in operating revenues to $23.9 billion, falling short of estimates.
For FY2024, which ended December 2024, analysts expect BRK.B to report an EPS growth of 15.1% to $19.78 on a diluted basis. The company’s earnings surprise history is mixed. It beat the consensus estimate in three of the last four quarters while missing the forecast on another occasion.
Among the six analysts covering BRK.B stock, the consensus rating is a “Moderate Buy.” That’s based on two “Strong Buy” ratings and four “Holds.”
This configuration has been consistent over the past three months.
On November 4, UBS Group AG (UBS) analyst Brian Meredith reiterated a “Buy” rating for Berkshire Hathaway, while adjusting the price target slightly downward from $538 to $531.
The mean price target of $497.75 represents a 4.3% premium to BRK.B’s current price levels. The Street-high price target of $536 suggests an upside potential of 12.3%.
