BRK Stock Price, News & Analysis

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK) is a diversified holding company whose common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols BRK.A and BRK.B. According to its public disclosures, Berkshire Hathaway and its subsidiaries engage in a broad range of business activities that span insurance and reinsurance, utilities and energy, freight rail transportation, manufacturing, services and retailing.

Core business activities

Berkshire’s operations are organized around several major areas that are repeatedly described in its news releases and SEC filings:

• Insurance and reinsurance – Berkshire reports insurance-underwriting and insurance-investment income as key components of its operating earnings. These activities generate insurance float (net liabilities assumed under insurance contracts), which is highlighted in the company’s earnings releases.
• Utilities and energy – Through Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company, the group participates in utilities and energy-related businesses. Earnings from this segment are presented separately in the company’s operating results.
• Freight rail transportation – Berkshire owns BNSF, a freight rail transportation business. BNSF’s contribution is shown as a distinct line item in Berkshire’s operating earnings analysis.
• Manufacturing, service and retailing – Berkshire aggregates a wide collection of subsidiaries in this category, including consumer products, service and retailing businesses, as well as industrial and building products. Operating earnings from this group are disclosed as a separate segment.

Subsidiaries and operating companies

Berkshire’s communications emphasize that it owns numerous operating subsidiaries. Within its non-insurance operations, the company references businesses in industrial products, building products, consumer products, service and retailing, along with major holdings such as BNSF, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, Pilot and McLane. In press materials about leadership appointments, Berkshire notes that the President of its Consumer Products, Service and Retailing businesses supports the CEOs of 32 such companies.

External announcements also identify Helzberg, a retail and online fine jewelry business based in North Kansas City, Missouri, as a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Helzberg operates more than 160 jewelry stores nationwide and participates in both in‑store and digital retail channels, according to its own press releases that cite Berkshire as its parent company.

Recent portfolio development: OxyChem acquisition

In a series of announcements, Berkshire Hathaway disclosed an agreement to acquire OxyChem, the chemical business of Occidental, and later confirmed the completion of this transaction. OxyChem is described as a producer of essential chemistry with operations in the U.S., Canada and Latin America, and as a top three U.S. manufacturer of polyvinyl chloride, chlor‑alkali and chlorinated organic chemicals, and calcium chloride. Its products support applications in areas such as water treatment, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, personal hygiene, and residential and commercial construction. Following the closing, OxyChem became an operating subsidiary within Berkshire.

Capital markets presence

Berkshire Hathaway’s Class A and Class B common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In addition to equity, the company has multiple series of senior notes registered and traded, including issues due in 2027, 2028, 2030, 2034, 2035, 2039, 2041 and 2059, each with its own NYSE trading symbol (for example, BRK27, BRK28, BRK30, BRK34, BRK35, BRK39, BRK41 and BRK59). The company also issues senior notes in international markets under an SEC shelf registration, as reflected in filings describing yen‑denominated notes with maturities extending to 2040.

Through regular Form 8‑K filings, Berkshire reports material events such as earnings releases, debt issuances and amendments to its governing documents. These filings confirm its status as a Delaware corporation and detail the securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Governance and leadership structure

Berkshire’s SEC filings describe corporate governance developments, including amendments to its By‑Laws to separate the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors voted to implement this separation in connection with the appointment of Greg Abel as President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 1, 2026, while Warren Buffett continues as Chairman of the Board. Subsequent filings also document changes in executive compensation associated with this transition.

The company has reported additional leadership changes, such as the planned transition of its Chief Financial Officer role and the creation of a Senior Vice President and General Counsel position at the corporate level. These updates illustrate Berkshire’s practice of using SEC reports and press releases to communicate key governance and management information.

Financial reporting and operating metrics

Berkshire regularly publishes earnings releases that summarize net earnings attributable to Berkshire shareholders, investment gains and losses, and operating earnings. The company highlights that, under U.S. GAAP, changes in unrealized gains and losses on equity securities are included in investment gains (losses), which can cause significant volatility in reported net earnings. Management therefore presents operating earnings, defined as net earnings excluding investment gains (losses), impairments of goodwill and intangible assets, and certain other‑than‑temporary impairments, as an additional measure.

In these releases, Berkshire provides an analysis of operating earnings by segment, including insurance‑underwriting, insurance‑investment income, BNSF, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, manufacturing, service and retailing, and other activities. The company also discloses the level of insurance float, describing it as the net liabilities assumed under insurance contracts, and notes changes in float over time.

Regulatory filings and disclosure practices

Berkshire Hathaway uses a combination of SEC filings and public press releases to communicate with investors. Form 8‑K reports cover topics such as:

• Earnings releases for quarterly and year‑to‑date periods.
• Leadership appointments, retirements and compensation arrangements.
• Amendments to By‑Laws and other corporate governance changes.
• Debt offerings under its shelf registration statements, including related underwriting agreements, indentures and officers’ certificates.

These disclosures are often accompanied by cautionary statements regarding forward‑looking information, consistent with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Role within its sector

Across its communications, Berkshire consistently characterizes itself as a company whose subsidiaries participate in multiple sectors, notably insurance and reinsurance, utilities and energy, freight rail transportation, manufacturing, services and retailing. The addition of OxyChem brings a chemical manufacturing business into its group of operating subsidiaries. Subsidiaries such as Helzberg illustrate Berkshire’s presence in consumer‑facing retail, while entities like BNSF and Berkshire Hathaway Energy reflect its involvement in transportation and energy infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The following FAQs summarize key points about Berkshire Hathaway based solely on its public disclosures and related subsidiary announcements.