BRK-B vs. SLV
BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while SLV (iShares Silver Trust) is Silver fund tracking the LBMA Silver Price. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B returned 13.14%/yr vs 14.08%/yr for SLV. At a 0.09 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
BRK-B vs. SLV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -3.11% return, which is significantly higher than SLV's -4.41% return. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B has underperformed SLV with an annualized return of 13.14%, while SLV has yielded a comparatively higher 14.08% annualized return.
BRK-B
- 1D
- -0.23%
- 1M
- 2.32%
- YTD
- -3.11%
- 6M
- -2.06%
- 1Y
- -1.32%
- 3Y*
- 13.25%
- 5Y*
- 11.03%
- 10Y*
- 13.14%
SLV
- 1D
- 0.02%
- 1M
- -15.66%
- YTD
- -4.41%
- 6M
- 16.83%
- 1Y
- 88.38%
- 3Y*
- 40.36%
- 5Y*
- 19.02%
- 10Y*
- 14.08%
BRK-B vs. SLV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | -3.11% | 10.89% | 27.09% | 15.46% | 3.31% | 28.95% | 2.37% | 10.93% | 3.01% | 21.62% |
SLV iShares Silver Trust | -4.41% | 144.66% | 20.89% | -1.09% | 2.37% | -12.45% | 47.30% | 14.88% | -9.19% | 5.82% |
Correlation
The correlation between BRK-B and SLV is -0.03, 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 | -0.03 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.02 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 1, 2006 | 0.09 |
The correlation between BRK-B and SLV shifts across timeframes, from -0.03 (1 year) to 0.09 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
BRK-B vs. SLV — Risk / Return Rank
BRK-B
SLV
BRK-B vs. SLV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and iShares Silver Trust (SLV). 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.
| BRK-B | SLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.59 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.82 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.30 | -0.30 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.14 | 2.09 | -2.23 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.30 | 4.40 | -4.70 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| BRK-B | SLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.09 | 1.50 | -1.59 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 | 0.53 | +0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.68 | 0.44 | +0.24 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.48 | 0.23 | +0.25 |
Drawdowns
BRK-B vs. SLV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, smaller than the maximum SLV drawdown of -76.28%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and SLV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BRK-B | SLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.86% | -76.28% | +22.42% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.42% | -42.45% | +33.03% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.95% | -42.45% | +27.50% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.58% | -42.45% | +15.87% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.57% | -42.81% | +13.24% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.78% | -41.69% | +31.91% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.07% | -44.67% | +33.60% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.49% | 20.15% | -15.66% |
Volatility
BRK-B vs. SLV - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) is 3.98%, while iShares Silver Trust (SLV) has a volatility of 16.89%. This indicates that BRK-B experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SLV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BRK-B | SLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.98% | 16.89% | -12.91% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.87% | 58.88% | -48.01% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.38% | 59.53% | -45.15% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.13% | 36.33% | -19.20% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.44% | 31.92% | -12.48% |
Dividends
BRK-B vs. SLV - Dividend Comparison
Neither BRK-B nor SLV has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
BRK-B and SLV have a correlation of -0.03, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SLV has higher volatility (16.89%) compared to BRK-B (3.98%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs SLV's -76.28%.
SLV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.50 vs -0.09), 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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