Prudent Capitalist
3 semanas hace
fung: BRK annual report, which will detail all of the manufacturing, retail, service and other operations and operating units, and all of the significant revenue from those vast operations, will be out Saturday. Should be a great read.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. News Release
06:30:00 AM ET, 02/18/2025 - Business Wire
OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 18, 2025--Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s 2024 Annual Report to the shareholders will be posted on the Internet on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at approximately 8:00 a.m. eastern time where it can be accessed at www.berkshirehathaway.com. Concurrent with the posting of the Annual Report, Berkshire will also issue an earnings release.
The Annual Report will include Warren Buffett’s annual letter to shareholders as well as information about Berkshire’s financial position and results of operations. The Annual Report will also include information regarding Berkshire’s Shareholders Meeting to be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025 and related events.
Berkshire Hathaway and its subsidiaries engage in diverse business activities including insurance and reinsurance, utilities and energy, freight rail transportation, manufacturing services and retailing. Common stock of the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading symbols BRK.A and BRK.B.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250218829862/en/
Marc D. Hamburg
402-346-1400
Source: Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Prudent Capitalist
2 meses hace
Marc Hamburg, Senior Vice President. is CFO, Kerby Ham is Treasurer, Daniel Jaksich is VP and Controller, Rebecca Amick is Auditing and principal accounting officer, Mark Millard is VP and Director of Financial Assets. This is from the 2023 Annual Report. BRK uses outside counsel, and I am not certain who its primary law firm is.
bar1080
2 meses hace
I went to a huge amount of trouble to write this summary of BRK when I re-did the webpage intros a few years: A few things are no longer completely accurate. In writing that, I read about 15 descriptions of BRK online. It's not easy to summarize BRK in two paragraphs.
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"Berkshire Hathaway, which began in 1839 as a textile mill, neared collapse in 1962 when 32-year-old Warren Buffett started buying control in the belief the company could be saved. Buffett initially maintained Berkshire’s textile business, but by 1967, he was expanding into other investments. Berkshire bought stock in the Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO) that now forms the core of its colossal insurance operations. Other early acquisitions included See's Candies, Blue Chip Trading Stamps and Dairy Queen. BRK moved from the OTC to the NYSE in 1988.
Today Berkshire is a combination of 66 wholly owned subsidiaries such as the BNSF Railroad and 47 passive minority investments, notably its huge stake in Apple. As of 2021, BRK has a market cap of >$600 billion and 360,000 employees. Berkshire Hathaway is the nation's 7th largest business."
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Prudent Capitalist
2 meses hace
Yes. None of BRK's subsidiaries, units of divisions have any separate life or identity other than as part of BRK. BRK only invests passively in the other publicly traded companies. I am not sure what you are trying to say in claiming that BRK has private holdings. BRK is a publicly traded company and all of BRK is publicly traded. What you do not seem to understand is that all of these divisions, units and subsidiaries that are all fully operated by BREK are Berkshire Hathaway. Just read the annual report and see all of the sources of its vast revenue from manufacturing, insurance, retail and services, railroad operations, etc. There are no separate entities outside BRK, and it has to recognize all of the revenue and pay taxes on it. If BRK was only holding investments it would not have to recognize such huge operational revenue each year from its various divisions, units and subsidiaries.
The chart you put at the bottom of your post was a chart of then BRK Board members and their other corporate and Board affiliations. BRK does not own or have investments in all of those companies.
fung_derf
2 meses hace
I do understand what you are saying, but honestly, its semantics. I chose Apollo Group as a random example, but what's the difference? They both own publicly traded stock in companies and wholly owned in private holdings, they both instruct the companies how they want to be run. My daughter once worked for one of these companies that was owned by a VC, and they had to answer to them monthly.
The difference is perhaps in the taxation.
I do see how if you wish to say Berkshire produces all these products vs saying Apollo owns them, but is there really a difference?
Among the most notable companies currently owned by Apollo are Claire’s, Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Norwegian Cruise Line, Novitex Enterprise Solutions, Racksapce, and CORE Media Group.
Total AUM:
USD 455 billion
Headquarters:
New York, United States
https://fintel.io/i/apollo-management-holdings
For more than 30 years, Private Equity has been a cornerstone of Apollo’s equity platform. Our tenured team works in partnership with management teams to build stronger businesses. Recognizing one size does not fit all, Apollo Private Equity is focused on providing bespoke, innovative capital solutions to Apollo-managed funds’ portfolio companies. Our flexible and vast platform enables us to add value throughout the lifecycle of an investment.
We are responsible stewards of capital and are proud of our commitment to sustainability and demonstrated ability to generate attractive returns for our investors.
Lastly, according to AI....
AI Overview
Berkshire Hathaway is a diversified holding company that primarily invests in a wide range of publicly traded companies across various sectors, while Apollo Holdings, part of Apollo Global Management, focuses on alternative asset investments like private equity, often targeting distressed companies or those requiring restructuring, making their investment strategy more actively involved and focused on specific opportunities compared to Berkshire's buy-and-hold approach.
Key Differences:
Investment Strategy:
Berkshire Hathaway takes a long-term, buy-and-hold approach to investing in publicly traded companies across diverse industries, while Apollo Holdings actively seeks out distressed or undervalued companies to invest in through private equity strategies, often involving debt restructuring or operational improvements.
Public vs. Private Investments:
Berkshire Hathaway primarily invests in publicly traded companies, while Apollo Holdings primarily focuses on private equity investments, which are not readily available to the general public.
Focus on Insurance:
A significant part of Berkshire Hathaway's business is derived from its large insurance operations, which generate "float" that is used for further investments, while Apollo Holdings does not have a major insurance component.
Leadership and Reputation:
Berkshire Hathaway is widely recognized for its leadership under Warren Buffett, known for his value investing philosophy, while Apollo Global Management is known for its expertise in distressed investing and complex financial transactions.
Prudent Capitalist
2 meses hace
There is a very well-developed plan in place for when that unfortunate event comes to pass. Greg Abel will take over as CEO and Howard Buffett will become non-executive Chairman, and most investors feel the company will not skip a beat. Berkshires 400,000+ employees will continue to show up for work and perform just like they were prior to the unfortunate passing. And, the publicly traded companies in which BRK has passive investments, e.g. KOK, AAPL, BAC, AXP, etc. will continue to function and kick off profits and dividends for their investors. And Ted Weschler and Todd Combs, who were hand-picked and brought in by Warre Buffett years ago to help with the investing, (each was a top money manager with similar style to Buffett) will handle the investments in outside companies.
Many believe the stock price will appreciate upon the event, and other believe it will take a hit. If BRK shares fall significantly upon his passing many will be huge buyers that day, IMO, including yours truly.
My biggest concern though has always been, what happens when Warren passes?
Prudent Capitalist
2 meses hace
Fung: what else do you think a corporate subsidiary or operating division is? BRK does not just own these operations. It operates them, and in every case the managers and CEO's report directly to Warren Buffet or another corporate officer in Omaha. And, BRK's some of the corporate officers, e.g. Ajit Jain, Greg Abel and Todd Combs, are actually CEO's or managers in some of these operating divisions. In a typical year, the majority of BRK's revenue and earnings come from the manufacturing, services and retail division, as opposed to the railroad, energy and insurance divisions. The fact that these operating companies and divisions retain their brand and names does not change the fact that they do not exist in any form other than as an operating division or subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. As International Dairy Queen states on its website, it is a Subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. All of the revenue and earnings from the Dairy Queen operations are Berkshire Hathaway's revenue and earnings and are reported as such by BRK. It is really pretty simple, and it is a very large collection of profitable operation divisions and companies, including the world's largest jewelry retailer and the world's largest home furnishings retailer. And, all of the revenues and earnings are BRK's revenue and earnings, unlike a separate company in which BRK simply has an investment, but which is not part of BRK.
Prudent Capitalist
2 meses hace
LMAO! They are all subsidiaries, or operating companies and divisions of BRK. BRK has passive stock investments in AAPL, BAC, AXP, etc., but the divisions and operations to which I referred are all subsidiaries or operating divisions operated by BRK. You obviously do not understand BRK or its operations. When BRK acquires a manufacturer or other company outright and merges it in, it is no different than when one bank acquires another and merges in all operations. Berkshire may make Peanut Butter parfaits in its Dairy Queen operations. All of the revenue and earnings of every one of those operating companies inure to BRK as its own operating earnings. You should do some DD and read the annual report.
Prudent Capitalist
2 meses hace
Not true fung. BRK operating divisions and companies produce all kinds of products from manufactured homes, running shoes (Brooks), high tech airplane parts, medical devices, underwear and apparel (Fruit of the Loom), paints (Benjamin Moore & Co.), candies (See's), cowboy boots (Tony Lama), chemicals and industrial lubricants (Lubrizol), carbide metal cutting tools, agricultural systems, plumbing and refrigeration supplies, carpet and flooring products (Shaw), building insulation and industrial and mechanical insulation (Johns Manville), bricks and concrete block (ACME), high quality kitchen products (Pampered Chef), RV's, buses and boats, including the Jimmy Buffett themed Pontoon boat (Forest River) to name just a few, and a whole host of other wholly owned operating companies in the manufacturing sector. Marmon Holdings alone (wholly owned subsidiary of BRK) is comprised of 11 diverse business groups and more than 100 autonomous manufacturing and services businesses. Not to mention Pilot/Flying J truck stops, which are a wholly owned operating division of BRK, as well as NetJets, the automotive group, which owns 105 new vehicle franchises through 82 Dealerships in the US, and BRK Home services Real Estate Business.
It is totally inaccurate to claim that Berkshire Hathaway does not produce anything.
fung_derf
2 meses hace
Look, I know you LOVE Berkshire and feel Warren "hung the moon", which considering his age, me may have. But there ARE good and BETTER mutual funds.
Here's one of mine for example, and it has not only beaten the S&P typically, it has also bested Warren....
Investment Fund
The Growth Fund of America® (AGTHX)
JUMP TO A FUND
Share Class
A
DOWNLOAD DATA ADD TO COMPARE ADD TO TRACKER
SUMMARY
RETURNS
RATINGS & RISK
HOLDINGS
PRICES & DISTRIBUTIONS
FEES & EXPENSES
RESOURCES
Summary
A flexible approach to growth investing. Seeks opportunities in traditional growth stocks as well as cyclical companies and turnaround situations with significant potential for growth of capital.
Price at NAV $76.98 as of 1/17/2025 (updated daily)Fund Assets (millions) $297,657.2
Portfolio Managers 1,2 12Expense Ratio
(Gross/Net %) 3 0.61 / 0.61%
Quarterly Fund Fact Sheet (PDF)
Prospectus
Returns at NAV
Returns at MOP
Read important investment disclosures
21.05%
1-year return
13.60%
5-year return
13.00%
10-year return
0.15%
30-Day SEC Yield
Returns as of 12/31/24 (updated monthly). Yield as of 12/31/24 (updated monthly).
Asset Mix
U.S. Equities90.4% Non-U.S. Equities7.7%
U.S. Bonds0.0% Non-U.S. Bonds0.0%
Cash & Equivalents 4,51.9%
As of 12/31/2024 (updated monthly)
Volatility & Return VIEW LARGER CHART
Read important investment disclosures
Equities
For Class A Shares, this chart tracks the 10-year standard deviation 6 and 10-year annualized return of the equity funds
AGTHX S&P 500 Index Other AF Funds
Standard Deviation as of 12/31/2024 (updated monthly) . Annualized return as of 12/31/2024 (updated monthly) .
Market Capitalization
80.2%
Large
17.7%
Medium
2.1%
Small
$814,220.00 Million
Weighted Average 7
As of 9/30/2024 (updated quarterly). FactSet data as of 12/31/2024 (updated quarterly).
Morningstar Ownership ZoneTM 8
Large Growth
Weighted average of holdings
75% of fund's stock holdings
Morningstar data as of 12/31/24 (updated quarterly)
INSIGHTS ON THE MORNINGSTAR OWNERSHIP ZONE
Description
ObjectiveThe fund's investment objective is to provide you with growth of capital.
Distinguishing Characteristics This fund takes a flexible approach to growth investing, seeking opportunities in traditional growth stocks as well as cyclical companies and turnarounds with significant potential for growth of capital. Geographic flexibility also allows portfolio managers to pursue opportunities outside of the U.S. This differentiated approach has the potential to enable the fund to navigate a variety of market environments.
Types of InvestmentsInvests at least 65% of its assets in common stocks. May also invest in convertibles, preferred stocks, U.S. government securities, bonds and cash equivalents.
Holdings Outside the U.S.The fund may invest up to 25% of its assets in securities of issuers domiciled outside the United States.
Fund Facts
Fund Inception 12/01/1973
Fund Assets (millions)
As of 12/31/2024
$297,657.2
Companies/Issuers
Holdings are as of 12/31/2024 (updated monthly).
298+
Shareholder Accounts
Shareholder accounts are as of 12/31/2024
3,754,625
Regular Dividends Paid 9 Dec
Minimum Initial Investment $250
Capital Gains Paid 9 Dec
Portfolio Turnover (2024) 25%
Fiscal Year-End Aug
Prospectus Date 11/01/2024
CUSIP 399874 10 6
Fund Number 5
Returns
Month-End Returns as of 12/31/24
Quarter-End Returns as of 12/31/24
ANNUAL RETURNS CHART
Returns at NAV 10,11 | at MOP 10,11Read important investment disclosures
AGTHX S&P 500 Index
Growth of 10K 11
High & Low Prices
Read important investment disclosures
For Class A Shares, this chart tracks a hypothetical investment with dividends reinvested, over the last 20 years, or since inception date if the fund has been in existence under 20 years, through 12/31/2022.VIEW LARGER CHART
AGTHX S&P 500 Index
Yield
12-month
Distribution Rates 12 30-day SEC Yield
Fund at NAV 0.38% N/A
Fund at MOP 0.36% 0.15%
As of 12/31/2024 (updated monthly)
Valuation
Price/ Price/ Price/
Book Cash Flow Earnings
Fund 5.76 14.76 24.59
S&P 500 Index 4.30 15.60 21.60
Fund as of 12/31/24. Index as of 9/30/24.
Portfolio Management 1,2LEARN ABOUT THE CAPITAL SYSTEMSM
Years of Experience with Fund
Years of Experience with Capital Group
Years of Experience with Investment Industry
Julian N. Abdey29225Christopher D. Buchbinder292911Mark L. Casey242412J. Blair Frank313023Roz Hongsaranagon22225Carl M. Kawaja373314Aidan O'Connell30215Anne-Marie Peterson302012Andraz Razen26206Martin Romo323214Eric H. Stern35336Alan J. Wilson343412
A boldface number indicates that years of experience with Capital Group is equal to years of experience with investment industry.
Ratings & Risk
Morningstar Rating TM 13
Overall Morningstar RatingTM
Funds rated(1020)
3-yr. Morningstar RatingTM
(1020 funds rated)
5-yr. Morningstar RatingTM
(952 funds rated)
10-yr. Morningstar RatingTM
(748 funds rated)
Overall Morningstar Risk Below Average HIGHLOW
Category Large Growth
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF MORNINGSTAR RATINGS
Ratings are based on risk-adjusted returns as of 12/31/2024 (updated monthly).
Lipper Leader Scorecard 14
Overall 3 yr. 5 yr. 10 yr.
Consistent Return Within Category
Funds Rated
(627)
(627)
(593)
(469)
Expense Within Category
Funds Rated
(167)
(167)
(165)
(152)
Preservation Within Category
Funds Rated
(12261)
(12261)
(11246)
(8291)
Tax Efficiency Within Category
Funds Rated
(628)
(628)
(594)
(470)
Total Return Within Category
Funds Rated
(628)
(628)
(594)
(470)
Category Large-Cap Growth Funds
KEYHIGHEST LOWEST
As of 12/31/2024 (updated monthly)
Risk Measures
Fund
Standard Deviation 6 16.74
Sharpe Ratio 6 0.74
For the 10 Years ending 12/31/24 (updated monthly).
American Funds/
Morningstar Benchmark 6
S&P 500 TR USD
R-squared 92
Beta 1.04
Capture Ratio (Downside/Upside) 104/104
American Funds and Morningstar Benchmark for the 10 Years ending 12/31/24 (updated monthly).
https://www.slickcharts.com/berkshire-hathaway/returns
fung_derf
2 meses hace
Yes. I know the advantages they have. However, in the fact they are not a company that produces anything, and their goal is to own a whole bunch of profitable companies, they are in this criteria, a mutual fund.
Of course they have the advantages of not having to report things for a while, and are of course, privy to all sorts of inside info......this isn't a criticism, just a fact.
So again though, how in heck can they possibly keep up with technology if Buffet only likes buying companies he understands and Charlie is gone?
I've followed this for years and admittedly talked my father out of keeping his shares, which in hindsight may or may not have been a mistake. I've never done the math as to whether he would have been better here or APPL, MSFT, MSFT, AMZN and a bevy of other stocks which he bought after selling this.
bar1080
2 meses hace
"Berkshire is basically a mutual fund," Yes and_no.
Among many differences, mutual funds are required to distribute 95% of net realized capital gains to shareholders every year. As you know BRK usually keeps it all. BRK wholly owns many corps, some are not publicly traded (such as BNSF, Sees Candies), and is very active in running some of them. BRK can be a smart investment for investors who prefer tax favored capital gains over ordinary taxable income. BRK can lend money.
BRK can be non-diversified if Buffett wants to go that way. Most mutual funds have broad diversification requirements. BRK doesn't.
BRK's management costs are much lower than most mutual funds. BRK can keep secrets.