What is Berkshire Hathaway?
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a global holding company based in Omaha, Nebraska. The company wholly owns Duracell, GEICO, and Dairy Queen. BNSF Railway, Lubrizol, Fruit of the Loom, Helzberg Diamonds, FlightSafety International. Shaw Industries, Pampered Chef, Forest River, Long & Foster, and NetJets. It also holds significant minority stakes in public companies like American Express. Kraft Heinz Company, Bank of America, The Coca-Cola Company.
$43.8 billion loss for Berkshire Hathaway
Stock market declines in the United States hurt Berkshire Hathaway Inc’s bottom line in the second quarter. The conglomerate led by billionaire Warren Buffett announced a $43.8 billion loss on Saturday.
Despite this, Berkshire achieved roughly $9.3 billion in operational profit. This was due to profits from reinsurance and the BNSF railroad. Rising interest rates and dividend payouts assisted insurance companies. This lets them generate more money from investments.
Despite the massive net loss, “the results prove Berkshire’s resiliency.” according to James Shanahan, an analyst who rates Berkshire as “neutral.”
“Despite increasing interest rates, inflationary pressures, and geopolitical concerns, businesses are operating well.” “If there is a recession, it gives me faith in the company.
Berkshire also curtailed stock prices, despite having $105.4 billion in cash.
Investors watch Berkshire Hathaway because of Buffett’s fame. Also, the outcomes of the conglomerate’s operating subsidiaries mirror broader economic trends.
Among these are consistent earners like its eponymous energy firm. Other industrial enterprises, and well-known consumer brands, include Dairy Queen, Duracell, Fruit of the Loom, and See’s Candies.
DISRUPTIONS CONTINUE
“Berkshire is a miniature of the broader economy,” said Cathy Seifert, a CFRA Research analyst who rates Berkshire as a “hold.” “While many businesses enjoy increased demand, they are not immune to higher input costs.”
Berkshire warned that “major disruptions in supply chains and greater prices have persisted.” This was due to new COVID-19 variations developing, as well as geopolitical events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Despite rising expenses, the company claims that direct losses have been minimal.
Berkshire Hathaway’s net results were harmed by $53 billion in losses from investments and derivatives. These included more than 21% falls in three key holdings: Apple Inc (AAPL.O), Bank of America Corp, and American Express Co. (AXP.N). Berkshire must publish losses with its results even if it does not get or sell anything.
Buffett advises investors to overlook market swings since Berkshire will profit if equities grow over time.
“It demonstrates the volatile nature of markets,” said Tom Russo, a partner at Gardner, Russo & Quinn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He invested over $8 billion, 17 per cent of which is in Berkshire. “At Berkshire Hathaway, everything is as normal.”
The Standard & Poor’s 500 (.SPX) fell 16% in the third quarter.
GEICO LOSSES
Berkshire’s quarterly net loss was $29,754 per Class A share. Compare this to a year-ago, net profit was $28.1 billion, or $18,488 per Class A share. The operational profit of $9.28 billion, or nearly $6,326 per Class A share, increased 39% from $6.69 billion the previous year.
Currency gains on foreign debt totalled $1.06 billion. Revenue climbed by 10% to $76.2 billion. Geico reported a $487 million pre-tax underwriting loss for the fourth consecutive quarter.
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“All vehicle insurers have been battling claims cost inflation,” Seifert added. “Geico has been less effective than others in passing rate hikes through and maintaining customers.”
Berkshire repurchased only $1 billion of its stock in the second quarter, compared to $3.2 billion in the first quarter and $51.7 billion in 2020 and 2021.
Its stock acquisitions were $6.15 billion. It was down from $51.1 billion in the first quarter, when it invested in Chevron Corp and Occidental Petroleum Co oil firms.