BRK-B vs. BRK-A
BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) and BRK-A (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) are both stocks. Both operate in the Insurance - Diversified industry within the Financial Services sector. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B returned 13.40%/yr vs 13.39%/yr for BRK-A. Their correlation of 0.93 suggests significant overlap in exposure.
Performance
BRK-B vs. BRK-A - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -1.53% return, which is significantly higher than BRK-A's -1.64% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with BRK-B having a 13.40% annualized return and BRK-A not far behind at 13.39%.
BRK-B
- 1D
- -0.12%
- 1M
- 2.54%
- YTD
- -1.53%
- 6M
- -0.98%
- 1Y
- 0.96%
- 3Y*
- 13.52%
- 5Y*
- 12.17%
- 10Y*
- 13.40%
BRK-A
- 1D
- 0.05%
- 1M
- 2.56%
- YTD
- -1.64%
- 6M
- -0.90%
- 1Y
- 0.88%
- 3Y*
- 13.04%
- 5Y*
- 12.05%
- 10Y*
- 13.39%
BRK-B vs. BRK-A - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | -1.53% | 10.89% | 27.09% | 15.46% | 3.31% | 28.95% | 2.37% | 10.93% | 3.01% | 21.62% |
BRK-A Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | -1.64% | 10.85% | 25.49% | 15.77% | 4.00% | 29.57% | 2.42% | 10.98% | 2.82% | 21.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between BRK-B and BRK-A is 0.93, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 9, 1996 | 0.93 |
The correlation between BRK-B and BRK-A has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.93 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.
Fundamentals
BRK-B:
$1.07T
BRK-A:
$1601.46T
BRK-B:
$33.62
BRK-A:
$33.58
BRK-B:
14.72
BRK-A:
22.11K
BRK-B:
0.57
BRK-A:
857.98
BRK-B:
2.85
BRK-A:
4.27K
BRK-B:
1.47
BRK-A:
2.20K
BRK-B:
$375.39B
BRK-A:
$375.39B
BRK-B:
$94.36B
BRK-A:
$89.84B
BRK-B:
$71.92B
BRK-A:
$71.10B
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Return for Risk
BRK-B vs. BRK-A — Risk / Return Rank
BRK-B
BRK-A
BRK-B vs. BRK-A - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) 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.
| BRK-B | BRK-A | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.00 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.01 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.02 | 1.02 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.10 | 0.10 | +0.01 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.21 | 0.20 | +0.02 |
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Drawdowns
BRK-B vs. BRK-A - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, roughly equal to the maximum BRK-A drawdown of -51.47%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and BRK-A.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BRK-B | BRK-A | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.86% | -51.47% | -2.39% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.42% | -9.12% | -0.30% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.95% | -14.43% | -0.52% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.58% | -25.98% | -0.60% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.57% | -30.43% | +0.86% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.31% | -8.27% | -0.04% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.07% | -9.52% | -1.55% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.54% | 4.47% | +0.07% |
Volatility
BRK-B vs. BRK-A - Volatility Comparison
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-A) have volatilities of 4.11% and 4.07%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BRK-B | BRK-A | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.11% | 4.07% | +0.04% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.77% | 10.56% | +0.21% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.42% | 14.00% | +0.42% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.12% | 17.17% | -0.05% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.44% | 18.99% | +0.45% |
Dividends
BRK-B vs. BRK-A - Dividend Comparison
Neither BRK-B nor BRK-A has paid dividends to shareholders.
Financials
BRK-B vs. BRK-A - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and Berkshire Hathaway Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
BRK-B vs. BRK-A - Profitability Comparison
BRK-B - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported a gross profit of 26.98B and revenue of 93.68B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 28.8%.
BRK-A - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported a gross profit of 22.46B and revenue of 93.68B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 24.0%.
BRK-B - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported an operating income of 15.05B and revenue of 93.68B, resulting in an operating margin of 16.1%.
BRK-A - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported an operating income of 12.14B and revenue of 93.68B, resulting in an operating margin of 13.0%.
BRK-B - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported a net income of 10.18B and revenue of 93.68B, resulting in a net margin of 10.9%.
BRK-A - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported a net income of 10.11B and revenue of 93.68B, resulting in a net margin of 10.8%.
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.93, BRK-B and BRK-A move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
BRK-B has higher volatility (4.11%) compared to BRK-A (4.07%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs BRK-A's -51.47%.
BRK-B currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.07 vs 0.06), 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.
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