BRK-B vs. XHB

Last updated Jul 21, 2026

BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while XHB (SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF) is Building & Construction fund tracking the S&P Homebuilders Select Industry Index. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B returned 13.01%/yr vs 12.48%/yr for XHB. At a 0.49 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

BRK-B vs. XHB - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -2.27% return, which is significantly lower than XHB's 3.33% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with BRK-B having a 13.01% annualized return and XHB not far behind at 12.48%.

BRK-B

• 1D: 0.07%
• 1M: 0.37%
• 6M: -0.41%
• YTD: -2.27%
• 1Y: 3.68%
• 3Y*: 12.42%
• 5Y*: 11.91%
• 10Y*: 13.01%
• ALL TIME*: 10.58%

XHB

• 1D: -2.01%
• 1M: -4.34%
• 6M: -7.13%
• YTD: 3.33%
• 1Y: 5.21%
• 3Y*: 9.51%
• 5Y*: 8.51%
• 10Y*: 12.48%
• ALL TIME*: 5.18%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

BRK-B vs. XHB - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	-2.27%	10.89%	27.09%	15.46%	3.31%	28.95%	2.37%	10.93%	3.01%	21.62%
XHB SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF	3.33%	-0.69%	9.87%	60.10%	-28.93%	49.70%	27.97%	41.30%	-25.73%	31.80%

Correlation

The correlation between BRK-B and XHB is 0.24, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.24
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.35
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.45
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.49
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 6, 2006	0.49

Over the past year, the correlation between BRK-B and XHB has dropped to 0.24 - well below their long-term average of 0.49, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

BRK-B vs. XHB — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

BRK-B

BRK-B Risk / Return Rank: 51
BRK-B Sharpe Ratio Rank: 55
BRK-B Sortino Ratio Rank: 46
BRK-B Omega Ratio Rank: 45
BRK-B Calmar Ratio Rank: 56
BRK-B Martin Ratio Rank: 55

XHB

XHB Risk / Return Rank: 14
XHB Sharpe Ratio Rank: 14
XHB Sortino Ratio Rank: 15
XHB Omega Ratio Rank: 14
XHB Calmar Ratio Rank: 14
XHB Martin Ratio Rank: 13

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

BRK-B vs. XHB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB). 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	XHB	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	0.25	0.18	+0.07
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	0.45	0.52	-0.07
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.05	1.06	0.00
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	0.39	0.24	+0.15
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	0.82	0.48	+0.34

BRK-B vs. XHB - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current BRK-B Sharpe Ratio is 0.25, which is higher than the XHB Sharpe Ratio of 0.18. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of BRK-B and XHB, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

BRK-B vs. XHB - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, smaller than the maximum XHB drawdown of -81.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and XHB.

Drawdown Indicators

	BRK-B	XHB	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-53.86%	-81.61%	+27.75%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.42%	-21.71%	+12.29%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.95%	-30.53%	+15.58%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-26.58%	-39.46%	+12.88%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-29.57%	-49.57%	+20.00%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-8.99%	-14.44%	+5.45%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-11.06%	-27.50%	+16.44%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.50%	10.86%	-6.36%

Volatility

BRK-B vs. XHB - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) is 4.42%, while SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB) has a volatility of 9.53%. This indicates that BRK-B experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XHB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	BRK-B	XHB	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.42%	9.53%	-5.11%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.07%	21.48%	-10.41%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.57%	28.65%	-14.08%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.09%	27.98%	-10.89%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.40%	27.57%	-8.17%

Dividends

BRK-B vs. XHB - Dividend Comparison

BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders, while XHB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.61%.

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%
XHB SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF	0.61%	0.78%	0.59%	0.77%	1.06%	0.51%	0.73%	0.89%	1.25%	0.72%	0.67%	0.50%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both BRK-B and XHB in my portfolio?

BRK-B and XHB have a correlation of 0.24, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, BRK-B or XHB?

XHB has higher volatility (9.53%) compared to BRK-B (4.42%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs XHB's -81.61%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BRK-B currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.25 vs 0.18), 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.