Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) Stock Valuation — PE Analysis

Insurance - Diversified · NYSE

Current Price

$495.82

PE Ratio (TTM)

12.5x

Intrinsic Value

$532.83

+6.9% margin of safety

AI MOAT & RISK ANALYSIS
AI Generated · For Reference OnlyBRK-B

COMPETITIVE MOAT

Insurance Underwriting Expertise

Berkshire's long-standing ability to select and price insurance risks profitably provides a significant competitive edge. This deep understanding allows for superior capital allocation and returns.

Diversified Conglomerate Structure

Owning a vast array of wholly-owned businesses across diverse industries creates internal synergies and resilience. This structure allows for efficient capital deployment and cross-business opportunities.

Strong Brand and Reputation

Berkshire Hathaway's esteemed reputation, built by Warren Buffett, attracts top talent and fosters trust with customers and partners. This brand equity translates into preferential treatment and lower capital costs.

INVESTMENT RISKS

Regulatory Environment Changes

As a large financial conglomerate, Berkshire is subject to evolving insurance and financial regulations. Unfavorable changes could impact profitability and operational flexibility across its diverse holdings.

Economic Downturn Impact

A severe economic recession could negatively affect the performance of Berkshire's numerous operating businesses and its investment portfolio. Consumer spending and industrial demand are particularly vulnerable.

Concentration in Specific Investments

While diversified, Berkshire's significant stakes in certain companies, like Apple, create concentration risk. A substantial decline in these key holdings could materially impact overall financial results.

Base case

BRK-B base case PE valuation

A base case PE valuation for BRK-B estimates a fair value of about $532.83 per share, against a current price of $495.82. The model assumes 3.5% annual earnings growth, a 12.45x target PE multiple, and a 10% discount rate.

Intrinsic Value

$532.83

Margin of safety

+6.9%

Expected annual return

+1.5%

Base case assumptions: 3.5% annual earnings growth, 12.45x target PE, 10% discount rate, 5 year projection. Data as of 2026-08-21.

This base case uses default assumptions and is not financial advice. The fair value changes significantly when the target PE or earnings growth rate changes. Open the calculator to set your own assumptions and see the full sensitivity range.

Customize the BRK-B PE valuation

Adjust the target PE, earnings growth, and discount rate to see how the fair value and margin of safety for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. respond.

Open PE Calculator for BRK-B

Or try DCF Valuation for BRK-B

Company Overview

Berkshire Hathaway Inc., established in 1998 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, operates as a vast global conglomerate with diverse business interests. Its core operations primarily encompass insurance, freight rail transportation, and utility services. The company provides a comprehensive suite of insurance and reinsurance products, including coverage for property, casualty, life, accident, and health. Across North America, it manages extensive railway networks dedicated to freight transport. Its utility division is responsible for generating, transmitting, storing, and distributing electricity sourced from various origins such as natural gas, coal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear, and geothermal energy. This segment also oversees natural gas infrastructure, including distribution networks, storage facilities, interstate pipelines, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations, alongside its interests in coal mining. Beyond these foundational sectors, Berkshire Hathaway boasts a significant manufacturing footprint. It produces a wide array of goods ranging from confectionery and specialty chemicals to metal cutting tools and components for both aerospace and power generation applications. Its manufacturing portfolio also extends to flooring products, insulation, roofing materials, engineered building components, paints, coatings, and bricks. The company is also involved in residential construction, offering both manufactured and site-built homes, supplemented by related lending and financial services. Its product offerings further include recreational vehicles, apparel, footwear, jewelry, custom picture framing, and alkaline batteries. On the industrial side, it manufactures specialized components like castings, forgings, fasteners, aerostructures, and precision parts, often utilizing advanced alloys such as cobalt, nickel, and titanium. Additionally, Berkshire Hathaway provides a variety of services, which include distributing electronic components, franchising and servicing quick-service restaurants, offering logistics, grocery, and foodservice distribution, as well as professional aviation training and shared aircraft ownership programs. Finally, the company maintains a substantial retail presence, selling an extensive selection of products such as automobiles, furniture, home appliances, electronics, computers, jewelry, and kitchenware, in addition to motorcycle clothing and equipment.

Financial Metrics — BRK-B PE Stock Valuation Data

PE Ratio (TTM)

12.5x

PEG Ratio

0.34

Earnings Yield

8.03%

ROE (TTM)

11.9%

Revenue/Share (TTM)

$178.54

Debt/Equity

0.17x

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PE ratio of BRK-B?

The trailing twelve-month PE ratio of BRK-B reflects how much investors pay per dollar of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s earnings. This metric is most useful when compared to Insurance - Diversified peers and the company's own historical range.

Is BRK-B overvalued based on PE ratio?

BRK-B's PE of 12.5x combined with a PEG ratio of 0.34 provides a growth-adjusted perspective. A PEG below 1.0 means the P/E is low relative to the earnings growth rate. Keep in mind that PE-based valuation works best for profitable, mature companies — for high-growth or cyclical Insurance - Diversified, a DCF analysis may be more appropriate.

How do I value BRK-B stock using PE ratio?

To value Berkshire Hathaway Inc. using PE: (1) Compare the current PE (12.5x) against the Insurance - Diversified median to assess relative pricing, (2) check the PEG ratio (0.34) to adjust for growth expectations, (3) review the 5-year PE range to identify where the stock sits historically, and (4) estimate fair value by multiplying a target PE by forward EPS estimates. This relative approach complements DCF's absolute valuation.

What is the PEG ratio of BRK-B?

BRK-B's PEG ratio is 0.34, calculated by dividing the PE ratio (12.5x) by the expected earnings growth rate. A PEG below 1.0 means the P/E is low relative to the expected earnings growth rate. Note that PEG accuracy depends on the reliability of growth estimates.

Should I use PE ratio or DCF for BRK-B stock valuation?

PE ratio gives a quick relative read — how BRK-B is priced versus Insurance - Diversified peers. DCF provides an absolute value based on projected free cash flows. For the most reliable valuation, use PE as a quick comparability screen and DCF for a deeper fundamental analysis. Each method has blind spots: PE ignores capital structure and cash flow quality, while DCF is sensitive to growth and discount rate assumptions.

Learn More

P/E and DCF value BRK-B with different methods and assumptions, so the two conclusions can differ. Compare the DCF intrinsic value.

Price as of 2026-08-21. Financial data from Financial Modeling Prep (trailing twelve months) · Valuation methodology by Charlie Wang.

This is an estimate, not investment advice.