BKT vs. BRK-A

Last updated Jul 17, 2026

BKT (BlackRock Income Trust) is fund fund managed by BlackRock, while BRK-A (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, BKT returned 1.19%/yr vs 12.88%/yr for BRK-A. At a 0.04 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

BKT vs. BRK-A - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in BlackRock Income Trust (BKT) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BKT achieves a 0.35% return, which is significantly higher than BRK-A's -2.16% return. Over the past 10 years, BKT has underperformed BRK-A with an annualized return of 1.19%, while BRK-A has yielded a comparatively higher 12.88% annualized return.

BKT

• 1D: -0.48%
• 1M: 0.46%
• 6M: -0.46%
• YTD: 0.35%
• 1Y: -0.18%
• 3Y*: 4.32%
• 5Y*: -3.03%
• 10Y*: 1.19%

BRK-A

• 1D: 0.73%
• 1M: -0.52%
• 6M: -0.03%
• YTD: -2.16%
• 1Y: 4.35%
• 3Y*: 12.15%
• 5Y*: 12.08%
• 10Y*: 12.88%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

BKT vs. BRK-A - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BKT BlackRock Income Trust	0.35%	5.92%	3.33%	7.69%	-21.51%	-0.44%	7.36%	14.91%	-2.59%	2.58%
BRK-A Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	-2.16%	10.85%	25.49%	15.77%	4.00%	29.57%	2.42%	10.98%	2.82%	21.91%

Correlation

The correlation between BKT and BRK-A is 0.10, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.10
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.13
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.12
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.07
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 25, 1988	0.04

Return for Risk

BKT vs. BRK-A — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

BKT

BKT Risk / Return Rank: 3
BKT Sharpe Ratio Rank: 3
BKT Sortino Ratio Rank: 3
BKT Omega Ratio Rank: 3
BKT Calmar Ratio Rank: 3
BKT Martin Ratio Rank: 3

BRK-A

BRK-A Risk / Return Rank: 53
BRK-A Sharpe Ratio Rank: 56
BRK-A Sortino Ratio Rank: 47
BRK-A Omega Ratio Rank: 46
BRK-A Calmar Ratio Rank: 57
BRK-A Martin Ratio Rank: 56

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

BKT vs. BRK-A - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for BlackRock Income Trust (BKT) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	BKT	BRK-A	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	-0.03	0.31	-0.34
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.01	0.53	-0.51
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.00	1.07	-0.06
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.03	0.48	-0.51
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	-0.06	0.99	-1.05

BKT vs. BRK-A - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BKT Sharpe Ratio is -0.03, which is lower than the BRK-A Sharpe Ratio of 0.31. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BKT and BRK-A, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

BKT vs. BRK-A - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BKT drawdown since its inception was -48.86%, smaller than the maximum BRK-A drawdown of -51.47%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BKT and BRK-A.

Drawdown Indicators

	BKT	BRK-A	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-48.86%	-51.47%	+2.61%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-6.24%	-9.12%	+2.88%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-11.89%	-14.43%	+2.54%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-35.70%	-25.98%	-9.72%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-35.70%	-30.43%	-5.27%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-17.28%	-8.75%	-8.53%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-14.76%	-9.51%	-5.25%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.97%	4.41%	-1.44%

Volatility

BKT vs. BRK-A - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for BlackRock Income Trust (BKT) is 2.66%, while Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A) has a volatility of 3.69%. This indicates that BKT experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BRK-A based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BKT	BRK-A	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	2.66%	3.69%	-1.03%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	5.38%	10.65%	-5.27%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	7.03%	13.96%	-6.93%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	11.18%	17.13%	-5.95%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	9.75%	18.93%	-9.18%

Dividends

BKT vs. BRK-A - Dividend Comparison

BKT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 10.11%, while BRK-A has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BKT BlackRock Income Trust	10.11%	9.53%	9.19%	8.69%	8.35%	7.31%	6.80%	6.82%	6.48%	5.15%	5.09%	5.89%
BRK-A Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BKT and BRK-A in my portfolio?

BKT and BRK-A have a correlation of 0.10, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BKT or BRK-A?

BRK-A has higher volatility (3.69%) compared to BKT (2.66%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BKT dropped -48.86% vs BRK-A's -51.47%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BRK-A currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.31 vs -0.03), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.