Berkshire Hathaway became the first US company outside the technology sector to surpass a US$1 trillion market capitalization in 2024.
Berkshire Hathaway passed the US$1 trillion mark on August 28, 2024, after its Class A shares rose on the New York Stock Exchange. The achievement made it the first US non-technology company to reach that valuation.
Berkshire is a diversified holding company with businesses spanning insurance, railroads, utilities, energy, manufacturing, retail, and investments. Its best-known insurance operations include GEICO and General Re, while BNSF Railway and Berkshire Hathaway Energy are major operating subsidiaries.
Warren Buffett transformed Berkshire from a struggling textile manufacturer into a large investment and operating group. The company is unusual among major public corporations because its Class A shares have an exceptionally high per-share price and are rarely split. Market capitalization, however, includes both Class A and Class B shares.