Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.B) is a diversified holding company with operations spanning insurance, rail transportation, utilities and energy, manufacturing, retail, and services. Its insurance businesses include GEICO, Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group, and Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group, which provide automobile, property and casualty, life, and reinsurance products to customers in the United States and international markets.
The company also owns BNSF Railway, one of North America’s largest freight railroad systems, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy, which operates regulated electric and natural gas utilities, renewable energy projects, and energy-related businesses. Its manufacturing, service, and retail operations include companies involved in building products, industrial components, aerospace manufacturing, apparel, furniture, recreational vehicles, residential construction, business aviation, food service, and consumer products. Notable businesses include Precision Castparts, Lubrizol, Marmon, Clayton Homes, NetJets, Duracell, Dairy Queen, Fruit of the Loom, Benjamin Moore, and See’s Candies.
Berkshire Hathaway traces its roots to textile companies founded in the 19th century and adopted its present structure following the 1955 merger of Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates and Hathaway Manufacturing Company. Warren Buffett took control of Berkshire in the 1960s and developed it into a diversified holding company built around wholly owned subsidiaries and long-term investments in publicly traded businesses. Greg Abel became chief executive officer in 2026, while Buffett serves as chairman.
