BRK-B vs. SPYM
BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while SPYM (State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF) is S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B returned 13.22%/yr vs 15.52%/yr for SPYM. A 0.55 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
BRK-B vs. SPYM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -2.67% return, which is significantly lower than SPYM's 9.10% return. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B has underperformed SPYM with an annualized return of 13.22%, while SPYM has yielded a comparatively higher 15.52% annualized return.
BRK-B
- 1D
- 0.71%
- 1M
- 1.07%
- YTD
- -2.67%
- 6M
- -2.06%
- 1Y
- 0.35%
- 3Y*
- 13.30%
- 5Y*
- 11.27%
- 10Y*
- 13.22%
SPYM
- 1D
- 0.53%
- 1M
- -0.85%
- YTD
- 9.10%
- 6M
- 9.42%
- 1Y
- 25.76%
- 3Y*
- 20.95%
- 5Y*
- 13.43%
- 10Y*
- 15.52%
BRK-B vs. SPYM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | -2.67% | 10.89% | 27.09% | 15.46% | 3.31% | 28.95% | 2.37% | 10.93% | 3.01% | 21.62% |
SPYM State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | 9.10% | 17.79% | 25.00% | 26.24% | -18.09% | 28.78% | 18.49% | 31.99% | -4.78% | 21.30% |
Correlation
The correlation between BRK-B and SPYM is 0.12, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.34 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.52 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.60 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 15, 2005 | 0.55 |
Over the past year, the correlation between BRK-B and SPYM has dropped to 0.12 - well below their long-term average of 0.55, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
BRK-B vs. SPYM — Risk / Return Rank
BRK-B
SPYM
BRK-B vs. SPYM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM). 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 | SPYM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.01 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.63 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.01 | 1.36 | -0.35 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.02 | 2.75 | -2.77 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.05 | 12.42 | -12.47 |
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Drawdowns
BRK-B vs. SPYM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, roughly equal to the maximum SPYM drawdown of -54.46%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and SPYM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BRK-B | SPYM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.86% | -54.46% | +0.60% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.42% | -8.90% | -0.52% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.95% | -18.72% | +3.77% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.58% | -24.48% | -2.10% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.57% | -33.87% | +4.30% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.36% | -2.35% | -7.01% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.07% | -7.15% | -3.92% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.53% | 1.97% | +2.56% |
Volatility
BRK-B vs. SPYM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) is 3.95%, while State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) has a volatility of 4.33%. This indicates that BRK-B experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPYM 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 | SPYM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.95% | 4.33% | -0.38% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.78% | 9.58% | +1.20% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.38% | 12.26% | +2.12% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.12% | 16.87% | +0.25% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.44% | 18.03% | +1.41% |
Dividends
BRK-B vs. SPYM - Dividend Comparison
BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders, while SPYM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.29%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B 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% |
SPYM State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | 1.29% | 1.13% | 1.28% | 1.44% | 1.69% | 1.25% | 1.54% | 1.79% | 2.23% | 1.75% | 1.97% | 1.98% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BRK-B and SPYM have a correlation of 0.12, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SPYM has higher volatility (4.33%) compared to BRK-B (3.95%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs SPYM's -54.46%.
SPYM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.00 vs -0.02), 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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