Berkshire Hathaway became one of the world’s most valuable non-technology companies under Warren Buffett.
Berkshire Hathaway is a diversified holding company whose major businesses include insurance, railroads, utilities, energy, manufacturing, and retail. Warren Buffett became its chairman and chief executive after acquiring control in the 1960s and transformed it from a struggling textile manufacturer into an investment conglomerate.
The company is unusual among mega-cap businesses because it has historically retained large amounts of earnings rather than paying regular cash dividends. Investors have often viewed its Class A shares as a long-term ownership vehicle.
Berkshire’s market capitalization reflects both its operating subsidiaries and its large portfolio of publicly traded investments. Its insurance operations, especially reinsurance and automobile insurance, provide important capital for further investments.