BRK-B vs. TLT
BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while TLT (iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF) is Government Bonds fund tracking the ICE U.S. Treasury 20+ Year Bond Index. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B returned 13.14%/yr vs -1.85%/yr for TLT. At a correlation of -0.21, they often move in opposite directions.
Performance
BRK-B vs. TLT - 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 lower than TLT's -1.08% return. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B has outperformed TLT with an annualized return of 13.14%, while TLT has yielded a comparatively lower -1.85% 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%
TLT
- 1D
- -0.52%
- 1M
- -1.31%
- YTD
- -1.08%
- 6M
- -1.51%
- 1Y
- 3.67%
- 3Y*
- -2.05%
- 5Y*
- -6.70%
- 10Y*
- -1.85%
BRK-B vs. TLT - 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% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | -1.08% | 4.25% | -8.05% | 2.77% | -31.23% | -4.60% | 18.15% | 14.12% | -1.61% | 9.18% |
Correlation
The correlation between BRK-B and TLT is 0.05, 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 | 0.05 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.01 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | -0.16 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 29, 2002 | -0.21 |
The correlation between BRK-B and TLT shifts across timeframes, from -0.21 (all time) to 0.09 (3 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
BRK-B vs. TLT — Risk / Return Rank
BRK-B
TLT
BRK-B vs. TLT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT). 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 | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.48 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.65 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.07 | -0.07 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.14 | 0.49 | -0.63 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.30 | 1.19 | -1.49 |
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 | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.09 | 0.38 | -0.48 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 | -0.42 | +1.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.68 | -0.12 | +0.80 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.48 | 0.25 | +0.23 |
Drawdowns
BRK-B vs. TLT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, which is greater than TLT's maximum drawdown of -48.35%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and TLT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BRK-B | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.86% | -48.35% | -5.51% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.42% | -7.58% | -1.84% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.95% | -19.18% | +4.23% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.58% | -43.70% | +17.12% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.57% | -48.35% | +18.78% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.78% | -40.92% | +31.14% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.07% | -13.83% | +2.76% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.49% | 3.08% | +1.41% |
Volatility
BRK-B vs. TLT - Volatility Comparison
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) has a higher volatility of 3.98% compared to iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) at 2.65%. This indicates that BRK-B's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than TLT 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 | TLT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.98% | 2.65% | +1.33% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.87% | 6.51% | +4.36% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.38% | 9.60% | +4.78% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.13% | 15.85% | +1.28% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.44% | 14.91% | +4.53% |
Dividends
BRK-B vs. TLT - Dividend Comparison
BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders, while TLT's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.63%.
| 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% |
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | 4.63% | 4.43% | 4.30% | 3.38% | 2.67% | 1.50% | 1.50% | 2.27% | 2.63% | 2.43% | 2.60% | 2.61% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BRK-B and TLT have a correlation of 0.05, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
BRK-B has higher volatility (3.98%) compared to TLT (2.65%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs TLT's -48.35%.
TLT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.38 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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