Berkshire Hathaway BRK earnings Q3 2021

Berkshire Hathaway noticed one other double-digit improve in its working revenue due to a steady rebound in it railroad, utilities and power companies from the pandemic, whereas the corporate’s money pile hit a report excessive as Warren Buffett continued to take a seat on the sidelines.

The conglomerate reported working earnings of $6.47 billion within the third quarter, rising 18% from $5.48 billion in the identical quarter a yr in the past, in line with its earnings report launched on Saturday.

Berkshire stated its myriad of companies has benefited from the financial reopening as demand began to return to pre-pandemic ranges. Working earnings from its railroad, utilities and power phase grew 11% yr over yr to $3.03 billion within the third quarter.

“Starting within the third quarter of 2020, lots of our companies skilled considerably larger gross sales and earnings relative to the second quarter, reflecting larger buyer demand,” Berkshire stated within the report. “The extent of the consequences over longer phrases can’t be moderately estimated presently.”

On the finish of September, Berkshire’s money pile reached a report $149.2 billion, up from $144.1 billion within the second quarter. Buffett hasn’t made a large acquisition in the previous couple of years as valuations hit report highs and the deal-making atmosphere turned aggressive.

The report amount of money got here regardless of Berkshire’s aggressive share buybacks. The corporate repurchased $7.6 billion of its personal inventory within the third quarter, bringing the 9 month complete to $20.2 billion. Berkshire purchased a report $24.7 billion of its personal inventory final yr.

General earnings, which mirror Berkshire’s fluctuating fairness investments, fell to $10.3 billion within the third quarter, marking a greater than 60% decline yr over yr. The return from Berkshire’s fairness investments solely totaled $3.8 billion final quarter, in comparison with a $24.8 billion acquire a yr in the past.

Buffett harassed that buyers should not put a lot emphasis on the quarterly modifications in its funding good points or losses.

“The quantity of funding good points/losses in any given quarter is often meaningless and delivers figures for internet earnings per share that may be extraordinarily deceptive to buyers who’ve little or no data of accounting guidelines,” the conglomerate stated within the quarterly report.

Berkshire’s B shares are up greater than 24% this yr, sitting about 2% under its report excessive reached in Might.