Berkshire Hathaway beats profit forecasts

Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate run by billionaire Warren Buffett, yesterday said its quarterly operating profit rose 14 per cent, more than analysts expected, as growth in several business lines offset the drag from trade tension and tariffs.

Results surpassed analysts’ estimates, as resilience in consumer spending offset a contraction in business investment, causing US economic growth to slow less than expected.

The US conglomerate operates more than 90 businesses including the Geico car insurer, BNSF railroad, Dairy Queen ice cream, Fruit of the Loom underwear, and its namesake energy company and real estate brokerage.

Berkshire said third-quarter operating income rose to $7.86 billion (Dh28.87bn), or about $4,816 per Class A share, from $6.88 billion, or roughly $4,189 per share, a year earlier.

Analysts on average expected operating profit of $4,405.16 per share, according to Refinitiv.

Net income fell 11 per cent to $16.52bn, or $10,119 per Class A share, from $18.54bn, or $11,280 per share, reflecting fewer gains from Berkshire’s investments.

A US accounting rule requires earnings to incorporate unrealised gains and losses even if Berkshire has no plans to sell the underlying investments. Mr Buffett said the resulting volatility can mislead investors.

US gross domestic product increased at a 1.9 per cent annualised rate in the third quarter, the Department of Commerce said in its advance estimate of economic growth.

But the Federal Reserve nevertheless lowered interest rates for the third time this year amid uncertainty over trade policy, slowing global growth and the UK’s proposed exit from the European Union.

BNSF, one of Berkshire’s largest businesses, was able to post a 5 per cent increase in profit to $1.47bn despite a decline in revenue. Cost-cutting helped to offset lower demand for consumer, coal, industrial and agricultural products, the latter in part because of new trade policies.

Berkshire also blamed US tariffs for cutting into sales of industrial gas turbine and pipe products by its Precision Castparts unit.

Shares of Berkshire have lagged the broader market, in part because of Buffett’s inability to deploy his company’s cash and equivalents, which totalled a record $128.2bn at the end of September.

Mr Buffett has gone nearly four years since completing a major acquisition, forcing him to look elsewhere to invest Berkshire’s cash.

Berkshire has also resumed stock buybacks, and said it repurchased about $700 million of its stock in the quarter.