Berkshire Hathaway, founded in 1839, is Warren Buffett's conglomerate and is often among the world's most valuable firms.
The business began as Valley Falls Company, a Rhode Island textile manufacturer established in 1839. It later became associated with Berkshire Fine Spinning Associates and Hathaway Manufacturing Company. Warren Buffett began buying Berkshire shares in the 1960s and transformed it from a struggling textile business into a diversified holding company.
Berkshire's businesses and investments have included insurance, railroads, utilities, manufacturing, retail, and large public-company shareholdings. Its insurance operations, including GEICO and General Re, have been especially important to the group's financial structure.
Berkshire is unusual among giant public companies because it has historically not paid a regular cash dividend. Investors often study its annual shareholder meeting, called “Woodstock for Capitalists,” and its two share classes. Market capitalization can rank Berkshire alongside technology and energy giants even though its operating mix is very different.