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Berkshire Hathaway Reports 34% Rise in Operating Profit, Cash Hoard Reaches Record $381 Billion

2025-11-01

The BareStory

Berkshire Hathaway’s third-quarter operating profit rose 34% year-over-year to $13.485 billion, according to its latest financial results. The increase was driven primarily by a more than 200% surge in its insurance underwriting income. The company’s overall earnings, which include investment gains, increased by 17% to $30.8 billion.

The conglomerate's cash holdings grew to a record high of $381.6 billion, surpassing the previous record of $347.7 billion from the first quarter of 2025. During the third quarter, Berkshire was a net seller of equities, and it did not repurchase any of its own shares in the first nine months of the year. Last month, Berkshire announced an agreement to acquire Occidental Petroleum’s petrochemical unit, OxyChem, for $9.7 billion in cash.

The earnings report follows the May announcement that CEO Warren Buffett, 95, will step down at the end of the year, though he will remain chairman of the board. Greg Abel, the current vice chairman of non-insurance operations, is set to become the new CEO.

Following the news of Buffett's upcoming departure, Berkshire's shares fell from their all-time highs. Year-to-date, the company’s stock has increased by 5%, underperforming the S&P 500’s 16.3% gain. Ahead of the earnings release, market commentator Jim Cramer said he expected investors might engage in profit-taking as the CEO leaves his post.

Left Perspective

  • The company reported a significant increase in operating profit.
  • Cash holdings reached a new record high.
  • Overall earnings and investments remain highly profitable.

Right Perspective

  • The company's stock has underperformed the broader market.
  • A major leadership transition is creating market uncertainty.
  • The company has adopted a cautious capital deployment strategy.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• Berkshire's strategy of holding record cash and selling equities may be interpreted as a cautious economic outlook, potentially influencing wider market sentiment and investment decisions.

• Shareholders, including those with retirement funds, face stock performance lagging the broader market and potential volatility due to the upcoming CEO leadership change.

• The company’s multi-billion dollar acquisition in the petrochemical sector signals major capital deployment into U.S. industry, which could affect competition and jobs in that area.

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