Stock of the Day

September 19, 2019

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)

$794,683.82
+$5,197.82 (+0.7%)
Market Cap: $1.13T

About Berkshire Hathaway

Berkshire Hathaway Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the insurance, freight rail transportation, and utility businesses worldwide. It provides property, casualty, life, accident, and health insurance and reinsurance; and operates railroad systems in North America. The company also generates, transmits, stores, and distributes electricity from natural gas, coal, wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, and geothermal sources; operates natural gas distribution and storage facilities, interstate pipelines, liquefied natural gas facilities, and compressor and meter stations; and holds interest in coal mining assets. In addition, the company manufactures boxed chocolates and other confectionery products; specialty chemicals, metal cutting tools, and components for aerospace and power generation applications; and flooring, insulation, roofing and engineered, building and engineered components, paints and coatings, and bricks and masonry products, as well as offers manufactured and site-built home construction, and related lending and financial services; and recreational vehicles, apparel products, jewelry, and custom picture framing products, and alkaline batteries. Further, it manufactures castings, forgings, fasteners/fastener systems, and aerostructures; and seamless pipes, fittings, downhole casing and tubing, and various mill forms. Additionally, the company distributes televisions and information; franchises and services quick service restaurants; distributes electronic components; and offers logistics services, grocery and foodservice distribution services, and professional aviation training and shared aircraft ownership programs. It also retails automobiles; furniture, bedding, and accessories; household appliances, electronics, and computers; jewelry, watches, crystal, china, stemware, flatware, gifts, and collectibles; kitchenware; and motorcycle apparel and equipment. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.

Berkshire Hathaway Bull Case

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Berkshire Hathaway:

  • Berkshire Hathaway is currently trading at $776,249.67, a price point that reflects a significant discount to its intrinsic value, with recent analysis suggesting the stock could be 36% below fair value following its recent expansion into the housing sector.
  • The company's insurance underwriting, railroad, energy, and manufacturing units raised their total earnings by 11% in the first half of 2026, demonstrating robust operational growth that does not rely on artificial intelligence trends to drive performance.
  • Berkshire Hathaway is leveraging its $177.5 billion insurance float, which acts as low-cost capital, to fund investments and acquisitions while reducing the need for external funding, a strategy that provides a powerful competitive advantage in the financial services industry.
  • Under new leadership, the company has aggressively expanded its portfolio by purchasing an additional $193 million in Lennar stock, bringing its total ownership to 12% of the homebuilder, signaling confidence in the housing market despite current headwinds.
  • With a P/E ratio of 13.01, Berkshire Hathaway offers a valuation that is attractive compared to many of its peers, providing a margin of safety for investors looking for stable, multi-sector holdings in a volatile market.

Berkshire Hathaway Bear Case

Investors should be bearish about investing in Berkshire Hathaway for these reasons:

  • Warren Buffett's decision to dump 75% of Berkshire Hathaway's Apple stake before a significant run-up has been cited as a major mistake, potentially costing the company up to $112 billion in lost gains.
  • The transition of leadership from Warren Buffett to Greg Abel has raised concerns among some investors, with recent commentary questioning whether the new CEO is up to the job, which has contributed to a worsening stock price problem.
  • Berkshire Hathaway is currently sitting on a record cash pile while the broader market chases AI stocks, which may indicate a lack of immediate high-growth investment opportunities or a conservative stance that could lag behind more aggressive competitors.
  • The company's recent expansion into the housing sector, including its increased stake in Lennar, comes at a time when America's housing market is deteriorating, with mortgage rates rising toward a three-year high and the CEO admitting he does not envision a quick recovery.
  • Regulatory scrutiny and index tilt issues have emerged as potential headwinds, which could impact the company's operational flexibility and market positioning in the near term.

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