BRK-B vs. USMV
BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while USMV (iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF) is Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B returned 13.14%/yr vs 9.75%/yr for USMV. A 0.66 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
BRK-B vs. USMV - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -3.11% return, which is significantly lower than USMV's 1.55% return. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B has outperformed USMV with an annualized return of 13.14%, while USMV has yielded a comparatively lower 9.75% 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%
USMV
- 1D
- -0.43%
- 1M
- 1.28%
- YTD
- 1.55%
- 6M
- 2.27%
- 1Y
- 3.18%
- 3Y*
- 11.35%
- 5Y*
- 7.21%
- 10Y*
- 9.75%
BRK-B vs. USMV - 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% |
USMV iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF | 1.55% | 7.65% | 15.74% | 10.33% | -9.43% | 20.85% | 5.64% | 27.69% | 1.33% | 18.91% |
Correlation
The correlation between BRK-B and USMV is 0.43, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.43 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.63 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.63 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 21, 2011 | 0.66 |
Over the past year, the correlation between BRK-B and USMV has dropped to 0.43 - well below their long-term average of 0.66, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
BRK-B vs. USMV — Risk / Return Rank
BRK-B
USMV
BRK-B vs. USMV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV). 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 | USMV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.47 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.61 | ||
| 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 | 1.64 | -1.94 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| BRK-B | USMV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.09 | 0.37 | -0.47 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 | 0.59 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.68 | 0.67 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.48 | 0.86 | -0.38 |
Drawdowns
BRK-B vs. USMV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, which is greater than USMV's maximum drawdown of -33.10%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and USMV.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| BRK-B | USMV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.86% | -33.10% | -20.76% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.42% | -6.46% | -2.96% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.95% | -9.36% | -5.59% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.58% | -17.93% | -8.65% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.57% | -33.10% | +3.53% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.78% | -2.24% | -7.54% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.07% | -2.88% | -8.19% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.49% | 1.94% | +2.55% |
Volatility
BRK-B vs. USMV - Volatility Comparison
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) has a higher volatility of 3.98% compared to iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) at 2.65%. This indicates that BRK-B's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than USMV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| BRK-B | USMV | 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% | 6.02% | +4.85% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.38% | 8.57% | +5.81% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.13% | 12.36% | +4.77% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.44% | 14.51% | +4.93% |
Dividends
BRK-B vs. USMV - Dividend Comparison
BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders, while USMV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.54%.
| 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% |
USMV iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF | 1.54% | 1.49% | 1.67% | 1.82% | 1.62% | 1.26% | 1.81% | 1.88% | 2.12% | 1.77% | 2.22% | 2.02% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BRK-B and USMV have a correlation of 0.43, 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 USMV (2.65%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs USMV's -33.10%.
USMV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.37 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.
Find the right allocation for BRK-B and USMV
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer