Berkshire Hathaway operating earnings rise to $12.98 billion

Companies

• BRK-B

Article body

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B), the diversified holding company, reported net earnings attributable to shareholders of $25,667 million in the second quarter of 2026 [1]. The result follows a second-quarter profit of $12,370 million in 2025 [1].

Operating earnings increased to $12,983 million [1][2]. This represents growth from the $11,160 million reported in the second quarter of 2025 and a sequential increase from $11,346 million in the first quarter of 2026 [2][3].

Growth was driven largely by the manufacturing, service and retailing segment, where operating earnings rose to $4,470 million [2][3]. This figure exceeded the $3,601 million reported in the second quarter of 2025 and the $3,199 million recorded in the first quarter of 2026 [2][3].

Other business units also saw gains. BNSF operating earnings rose to $1,558 million from $1,466 million in the prior-year period [2]. Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company operating earnings increased to $891 million from $702 million in the second quarter of 2025 [2].

Performance in the insurance sector was mixed. Insurance-underwriting operating earnings declined to $1,731 million from $1,992 million in the second quarter of 2025 [2]. Insurance-investment income also decreased to $3,059 million from $3,367 million in the same period last year [2].

Investment gains rose to $12,684 million, compared to $4,970 million in the second quarter of 2025 [1]. The company also recorded a gain of $326 million in foreign currency exchange results within the 'Other' category, reversing a loss of $877 million from the prior-year quarter [2].

Berkshire acquired approximately $4.5 billion in treasury shares during the second quarter, bringing the total for the first six months of 2026 to $4.8 billion [2]. Insurance float increased to approximately $177.5 billion as of June 30, 2026, up $1.1 billion since year-end 2025 [2].

Citations

citations[3]{marker,ticker,item,date,accession,source}:
  1,BRK-B,ex_99_1,2026-08-11,0001193125-26-344495,filing
  2,BRK-B,ex_99_1,2026-08-11,0001193125-26-344495,filing
  3,BRK-B,ex_99_1,2026-05-07,0001193125-26-212148,filing