Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Originally a textile manufacturer, the company transitioned into a conglomerate starting in 1965 under the management of chairman and CEO Warren Buffett and vice chairman Charlie Munger. Greg Abel succeeded Buffett as CEO at the beginning of 2026. Buffett personally owns 38.4% of the Class A voting shares of Berkshire Hathaway, representing a 15.1% overall economic interest in the company.
The company is often compared to an investment fund; between 1965, when Buffett gained control of the company, and 2023, the company's shareholder returns amounted to a compound annual growth rate of 19.8% compared to a 10.2% CAGR for the S&P 500. However, in the 10 year span from 2014 through 2023, Berkshire Hathaway produced a CAGR of 11.8% for shareholders, compared to a 12.0% CAGR for the S&P 500. From 1965 to 2023, the stock price had negative performance in only eleven years. In August 2024, Berkshire Hathaway became the eighth U.S. public company and the first non-technology company to be valued at over $1 trillion on the list of public corporations by market capitalization.
Berkshire Hathaway is ranked 5th on the Fortune 500 rankings of the largest United States corporations by total revenue and 9th on the Fortune Global 500. Berkshire is one of the ten largest components of the S&P 500 and is on the list of largest employers in the United States. Its class A shares have the highest per-share price of any public company in the world, reaching $700,000 in August 2024, because the board of directors has historically been opposed to stock splits.
History
Berkshire Hathaway originated as a textile manufacturer formed in 1955 from the merger of Hathaway Manufacturing Company and Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates. Berkshire Associates takes it name from Berkshire County, Massachusetts, where it was based, and Hathaway Manufacturing was named for its founder, Horatio Hathaway. After the merger, Berkshire Hathaway had 15 plants employing over 12,000 workers with over $120 million in revenue, and was headquartered in New Bedford. However, seven of those locations were closed by the end of the 1950s, accompanied by large layoffs.In 1962, Warren Buffett began buying Berkshire Hathaway stock for his investment fund, Buffett Partnership Ltd., at $7.50 per share, anticipating that as the company liquidated textile mills there would come a tender offer when he could sell the shares at a profit. A year later, Buffett's fund owned 7% of the company. In 1964, Buffett offered to sell his shares back to the company for $11.50 each. Seabury Stanton, the manager of Berkshire Hathaway, told Buffett orally that he had a deal. A few weeks later, Warren Buffett received the tender offer in writing, but the tender offer was for only $11.375 per share. Buffett later admitted that this lower, undercutting offer made him angry. Instead of selling at the slightly lower price, Buffett bought more of the stock at an even higher price to take control of the company and fire Stanton; Stanton and his son resigned in 1965. However, this left Buffett's fund with a major interest in a declining textile business.
Buffett has described buying the Berkshire Hathaway textile company as the biggest investment mistake he had ever made, denying him compounded investment returns of about $200 billion over the subsequent 45 years. He has estimated that had he invested the same money directly in insurance businesses instead of indirectly via Berkshire Hathaway, it would have paid off several hundredfold. In 1985, the company's last textile operations were shut down.
Also in 1962, Warren Buffett set up his office in Omaha, Nebraska, at the current Berkshire Hathaway headquarters located at Blackstone Plaza. As of the end of 2024, the company had only 27 employees at that corporate headquarters. In 1963, Franklin Otis Booth Jr. invested $1 million in the company, and in 1968 David Gottesman also invested in the company. The investments eventually made both men billionaires.
Acquisitions
In March 1967, Berkshire acquired National Indemnity Company, based in Omaha, Nebraska, for $8.6 million in the first acquisition by the company under Buffett's control and the company's entrance into the insurance business. National Indemnity was founded in 1940 by Jack Dabney Ringwalt. In 2012, National Indemnity acquired workers' compensation insurer GUARD for $221 million.Berkshire acquired See's Candies in 1972 for $25 million. It produces boxed chocolates and other confectionery products in two large kitchens in California. See's revenues are highly seasonal, with approximately 50% of total annual revenue earned in the months of November and December. By 2019, the $25 million investment had returned over $2 billion, or an 8000% return, to Berkshire.
In 1976, Berkshire first invested in GEICO, at a time when it was facing financial difficulty and had a very low stock price.
In 1977, Berkshire bought the Buffalo Evening News and resumed publication of a Sunday edition of the paper that had ceased in 1914. After the morning newspaper Buffalo Courier-Express ceased operation in 1982, the Buffalo Evening News changed its name to The Buffalo News and began to print morning and evening editions. It now prints only a morning edition. Berkshire formed BH Media Group with a purchase of the Omaha World-Herald in December 2011, which included six other daily newspapers and several weeklies across Nebraska and southwest Iowa. In June 2012, Berkshire bought 63 newspapers from Media General, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Winston-Salem Journal, for $142 million in cash. In 2012, Berkshire Hathaway bought Texas dailies The Bryan-College Station Eagle and the Waco Tribune-Herald. In 2013, the company bought the Tulsa World, the Greensboro, North Carolina-based News & Record, Virginia's Roanoke Times, and Press of Atlantic City. In 2014, Graham Holdings Company sold its Miami television station, ABC affiliate WPLG to BH Media in a cash and stock deal. In June, 2018, Lee Enterprises and Berkshire Hathaway reached a five-year agreement to allow Lee Enterprises to manage Berkshire Hathaway's newspaper and digital operations. In 2020, Lee Enterprises acquired BH Media Group's publications and The Buffalo News for $140 million in cash, retaining WPLG. In conjunction with the sale, Berkshire lent $576 million to Lee.
In 1983, Berkshire acquired Nebraska Furniture Mart for $60 million. In 2000, Nebraska Furniture Mart bought Homemakers Furniture.
In 1986, Berkshire acquired Scott Fetzer Company, a diversified group of 32 brands that manufactures and distributes products for residential, industrial, and institutional use, including Ginsu knives and World Book Encyclopedia. It included Kirby Company, which was sold in 2021, Wayne Water Systems, and Campbell Hausfeld products. Campbell Hausfeld was transferred to Marmon, also a Berkshire subsidiary, in 2015.
In January 1986, Berkshire acquired Fechheimer Brothers, owner of Flying Cross, which manufactures public safety uniforms, and Vertx, a civilian tactical clothing company.
In 1991, Berkshire acquired H.H. Brown Shoe Group.
In May 1995, Berkshire acquired RC Willey Home Furnishings. In June 1997, Berkshire acquired Star Furniture.
In January 1996, Berkshire acquired full ownership of GEICO, acquiring the 49% of the company that it did not then own for $2.3 billion. GEICO, headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, primarily offers private passenger automobile insurance marketed directly to individual consumers in the United States. The company is known for its advertising characters including a gecko and the GEICO Cavemen.
File:FlightSafety International C-17 Globemaster III full flight simulator at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.jpg|thumb|C-17 Globemaster III full flight simulator at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam
In February 1997, Berkshire acquired FlightSafety International, a pilot training company founded in 1951 by Albert Lee Ueltschi and headquartered at LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, New York. It uses flight simulators and is the largest provider of professional aviation training services.
In October 1997, Berkshire acquired Dairy Queen, based in Edina, Minnesota, for $585 million. It franchises approximately 6,000 stores operating under the names Dairy Queen, Orange Julius, and Karmelkorn that sell dairy desserts, beverages, prepared foods, blended fruit drinks, popcorn, and other snack foods.
In July 1998, Berkshire Hathaway acquired NetJets, formerly Executive Jet Aviation, for $725 million in cash. NetJets is the world's largest provider of fractional ownership programs for general aviation aircraft. In 1986, NetJets created the fractional ownership of aircraft concept and introduced its NetJets program in the United States with one aircraft type. In 2019, the NetJets program operated more than 10 aircraft types with a fleet size of greater than 750.
In December 1998, Berkshire acquired Gen Re, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, for $22 billion. Berkshire paid for the acquisition with Class A shares valued at $58,400 each; Buffett later said he overpaid, despite strong performance by General Re.
In 1999, Berkshire acquired MidAmerican Energy Holdings. At the time of purchase, Berkshire's voting interest was limited to 10% of the company's shares, but this restriction ended when the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 was repealed in 2005. It owns Northern Powergrid, which operates in the UK. In 2005, it acquired PacifiCorp for $5.1 billion in cash, and assumed $4.3 billion in PacificCorp debt and preferred stock. MidAmerican was rebranded as Berkshire Hathaway Energy in April 2014. The division owns a residential real estate brokerage business, which, in March 2013, was rebranded as HomeServices of America, a division of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. In addition to brokerage services, it provides mortgage loan originations, title insurance and closing services, home warranty, property insurance and casualty insurance and other related services. The company has acquired several residential real estate brokerages including Long & Foster, acquired in September 2017.
In October 1999, Berkshire acquired Jordan's Furniture for an estimated $200 million to $300 million.
CORT Business Services Corporation was acquired in February 2000 by Wesco Financial Corporation, an 80.1% owned subsidiary of Berkshire and is the largest U.S. provider of rental furniture, accessories and related services in the "rent-to-rent" segment of the furniture rental industry.
In May 2000, Berkshire acquired Ben Bridge Jeweler, a chain of jewelry stores established in 1912 with locations primarily in the western United States. Helzberg Diamonds, a chain of jewelry stores based in Kansas City that began in 1915, was acquired by Berkshire in 1995 after a chance run in between Buffett and Barnett Helzberg on a street in New York City.
In June 2000, the company acquired Justin Brands, the parent company of Justin Boots, Acme Boots, and Acme Brick for $600 million in cash. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, Acme manufactures and distributes clay bricks, concrete block, and cut limestone. Justin Brands also owns Chippewa Boots, Nocona Boots, and Tony Lama Boots.
In December 2000, Berkshire acquired Benjamin Moore & Co., headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey. Moore formulates, manufactures, and sells architectural coatings that are available primarily in the United States and Canada. Buffett agreed not to sell the products through major retail chains.
In January 2001, Berkshire acquired 87% of Dalton, Georgia-based Shaw Industries. It acquired the remaining 12% in January 2002. Shaw is the world's largest carpet manufacturer based on both revenue and volume of production and designs and manufactures over 3,000 styles of tufted and woven carpet and laminate flooring for residential and commercial use under approximately 30 brand and trade names and under certain private labels.
In February 2001, Berkshire acquired Johns Manville, established in 1858 and a manufacturer of fiberglass wool insulation products for homes and commercial buildings, as well as pipe, duct, and equipment insulation products.
In July 2001, Berkshire acquired a 90% equity interest in MiTek, headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri, which makes engineered connector products, engineering software and services, and manufacturing machinery for the truss fabrication segment of the building components industry. In May 2008, Mitek acquired Hohmann & Barnard, a fabricator of anchors and reinforcement systems for masonry. In October 2008, Mitek acquired Blok-Lok of Toronto, Canada. On April 23, 2010, Mitek acquired the assets of Dur-O-Wal from Dayton Superior.
In February 2002, Berkshire acquired Albecca, headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, operating under the Larson-Juhl name. Albecca designs, manufactures, and distributes custom framing products, including wood and metal molding, matboard, foamboard, glass, equipment, and other framing supplies.
In April 2002, Berkshire acquired Fruit of the Loom for $835 million in cash. It acquired Russell Corporation in August 2006, for $600 million. Fruit of the Loom also acquired Brooks Sports in 2006.
In September 2002, Berkshire acquired Garanimals for $273 million.
In October 2002, Berkshire acquired The Pampered Chef, the largest direct seller of kitchen tools in the United States. Products are researched, designed, and tested by The Pampered Chef, and manufactured by third-party suppliers. From its headquarters in Addison, Illinois, The Pampered Chef utilizes a network of more than 65,000 independent sales representatives to sell its products through home-based party demonstrations, principally in the United States.
Also in October 2002, Berkshire also acquired CTB International. CTB, headquartered in Milford, Indiana, is a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of systems used in the grain industry and in the production of poultry, hogs, and eggs. Products are produced in the United States and Europe and are sold primarily through a global network of independent dealers and distributors, with peak sales occurring in the second and third quarters.
In May 2003, Berkshire acquired McLane Company from Walmart. The company later acquired Professional Datasolutions and Salado Sales. McLane provides wholesale distribution and logistics services in all 50 states and internationally in Brazil to customers that include discount retailers, convenience stores, quick-service restaurants, drug stores and movie theatre complexes.
In August 2003, Berkshire Hathaway acquired Clayton Homes, a maker of manufactured housing, modular homes, storage trailers, chassis, intermodal piggyback trailers and domestic containers, headquartered near Knoxville, Tennessee, for $1.7 billion.
In July 2005, Berkshire Hathaway acquired Forest River, the world's largest seller of recreational vehicles, from Pete Liegl for $800 million.
In 2005, Berkshire acquired Applied Underwriters. In 2019, Applied Underwriters was sold back to its founder for $920 million.
In January 2006, Berkshire bought Business Wire, a U.S. press release agency.
In March 2007, Berkshire Hathaway acquired TTI, Inc. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, TTI is the largest distributor specialist of passive, interconnect, and electromechanical components. TTI's extensive product line includes; resistors, capacitors, connectors, potentiometers, trimmers, magnetic and circuit protection components, wire and cable, identification products, application tools, and electromechanical devices.
In April 2007, Berkshire acquired 10.9% of BNSF Railway for $3.23 billion. In February 2010, the remaining portion that it did not already own was acquired for $26 billion. This was the largest acquisition to date in Berkshire's history.
NRG was acquired by Berkshire from ING Group in December 2007.
Also in December 2007, when stresses that led to the 2008 financial crisis were forming, Berkshire created a government bond insurance company to insure municipal bonds, starting with New York State bonds.
In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway acquired 60% of Marmon Group, a conglomerate owned by the Pritzker family for over fifty years that owned and operated companies that produce railroad tank cars, shopping carts, plumbing pipes, metal fasteners, wiring and water treatment products used in residential construction. Berkshire acquired the remainder of Marmon in 2013.
In September 2011, Berkshire Hathaway acquired Lubrizol for $9 billion in cash.
In March 2011, Berkshire Hathaway made its first foray into the Indian insurance sector with its non-direct subsidiary BerkshireInsurance.com.
In 2012, Berkshire acquired Oriental Trading Company, a direct marketing company for novelty items, small toys, and party items for around $500 million.
On October 2, 2014, Berkshire Hathaway Automotive, an auto dealership subsidiary, was created through the acquisition of Van Tuyl Group, the largest auto dealer in the nation that was still independently owned up to that date. In 2016, it was the fifth-largest auto dealership group, with ownership of 81 dealerships and revenues of $8 billion.
In January 2016, Berkshire Hathaway acquired Precision Castparts Corp. for $32.1 billion. In 2020, Buffett said he overpaid for the company and wrote down its value by approximately $10 billion.
In February 2016, Berkshire Hathaway acquired Duracell from Procter & Gamble for $4.7 billion in stock in P&G previously owned by Berkshire Hathaway.
In 2017, Berkshire acquired 38.6% of truck stop chain Pilot Flying J for $2.8 billion, followed by the acquisition of an additional 41.4% of the company for $8.2 billion in 2023, and the remaining 20% in 2024 for $3 billion. It appointed two Berkshire Hathaway Energy executives as CEO and CFO of the company, retaining Jimmy Haslam as chairman.
In October 2022, Berkshire Hathaway acquired insurance company Alleghany Corporation for $11.6 billion. As part of the transaction, Berkshire reduced the purchase price of the company by any fees that it paid investment bankers. This move was touted as an example of Warren Buffett's "disdain" for investment bankers.
In October 2025, Berkshire acquired OxyChem, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum, in a $9.7 billion cash deal.