Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A) is a diversified holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, with a broad portfolio of subsidiaries spanning multiple industries. Its core operations include insurance and reinsurance, utilities and energy, freight rail transportation, manufacturing, and retailing. Through its insurance businesses—such as GEICO and Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group—the company generates float that it deploys into new investments and acquisitions, supporting long-term growth across its other operating segments.
The company’s utilities and energy division operates under Berkshire Hathaway Energy, providing regulated and renewable power generation, transmission and distribution primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. BNSF Railway, one of North America’s largest freight railroad networks, offers rail transportation services across key trade corridors. Berkshire Hathaway’s manufacturing arm encompasses a diverse range of products, including building materials, industrial components, automotive parts, packaging, and consumer goods. In retail, the company owns businesses such as See’s Candies and several home furnishings and apparel chains, serving customers through both brick-and-mortar stores and digital platforms.
Berkshire Hathaway conducts its operations globally, with a concentration of revenue in North America but significant exposures in Europe, Asia and Latin America through its energy projects and cross-border insurance treaties. Under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Warren E. Buffett, the company emphasizes a decentralized management philosophy, granting autonomy to subsidiary leaders to make operational decisions while adhering to a capital allocation strategy focused on long-term value creation. Vice Chair Greg Abel oversees non-insurance operations, and Vice Chair Ajit Jain leads the insurance businesses, reflecting a clear succession framework and strong bench of seasoned executives.
Founded in the 19th century as a New England textile manufacturer, Berkshire Hathaway transformed under Warren Buffett’s stewardship beginning in the mid-1960s. Buffett gradually redirected capital from the declining textile operations into the insurance industry, laying the groundwork for sustained expansion through strategic acquisitions. Over decades, the company has pursued high-quality franchises, disciplined underwriting and prudent investment practices, building a reputation for financial strength, operational excellence and an enduring commitment to shareholders and stakeholders worldwide.
