Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) Stock Inflation-Adjusted

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a multinational conglomerate holding company that wholly owns a diverse range of businesses and holds significant minority stakes in publicly traded companies such as Apple, Bank of America and The Coca-Cola Company.

For a company known for long-term value, nominal stock prices offer an incomplete picture of an investment's growth in purchasing power. To provide a more complete analysis, this page adjusts Berkshire Hathaway's historical stock prices for inflation using the US Consumer Price Index. The charts and data below let you compare the nominal price to its real value, clarifying the company's true long-term performance.

Nominal prices are adjusted for stock splits and assume reinvestment of any dividends to reflect total return. Inflation-adjusted prices use December 2025 as the baseline (latest available CPI).

The current value of Berkshire Hathaway (Class A) stock is 709,500 (as of the close of Jan 28, 2026), 12.34% lower than the all-time high of 809,350 (May 2, 2025).

Since March 17, 1980, the inflation-adjusted total return for the stock has been 60,374%, which is equivalent to an annual growth rate of 14.99%.

In nominal values, the total return since this date has been 244,555%, or an annualized rate of 18.54%.

Inflation-Adjusted Values by Month

This data presents Berkshire Hathaway's end-of-month closing levels over time. Inflation-adjusted figures show what past levels would be worth using roughly today's purchasing power (based on the latest CPI data). The latest entry in the table will have equal nominal and adjusted values until the next CPI figures are released.

Date Inflation-Adjusted Nominal value
Jan 2026 709,500 709,500
Dec 2025 754,800 754,800
Nov 2025 769,938.43 770,100
Oct 2025 715,740 715,740
Sep 2025 752,467.75 754,200
Aug 2025 755,461.84 755,280
Jul 2025 722,091.68 719,850
Jun 2025 732,173.31 728,800
May 2025 763,499.91 757,400
Apr 2025 808,672.79 800,540
Mar 2025 809,065.46 798,442
Feb 2025 787,076.21 775,000
Jan 2025 716,731.7 702,614
Dec 2024 699,148.78 680,920
Nov 2024 743,687.05 724,040
Oct 2024 694,952.85 676,960
Sep 2024 710,367.69 691,180
Aug 2024 736,336.63 715,300
Jul 2024 679,150.38 659,211
Jun 2024 631,492.46 612,241
May 2024 647,346.54 627,400
Apr 2024 619,587.35 599,500
Mar 2024 658,250.9 634,440
Feb 2024 643,836.02 616,561
Jan 2024 607,326.1 578,020
Dec 2023 573,242.36 542,625
Nov 2023 576,129.3 545,900
Oct 2023 545,398.37 517,825
Sep 2023 559,562.71 531,477
Aug 2023 577,046.97 546,725
Jul 2023 567,561.73 535,400
Jun 2023 549,962.15 517,810
May 2023 520,000.29 488,024
Apr 2023 537,179.14 502,880
Mar 2023 499,872.59 465,600
Feb 2023 499,292.42 463,525
Jan 2023 512,342.62 473,000
Dec 2022 511,756.1 468,711
Nov 2022 522,777.64 480,280
Oct 2022 483,941.02 445,050
Sep 2022 443,782.61 406,470
Aug 2022 460,972.01 421,308
Jul 2022 494,050.11 451,700
Jun 2022 447,239.16 408,950
May 2022 525,555.6 474,050
Apr 2022 542,882.84 484,340
Mar 2022 596,162.02 528,921
Feb 2022 543,910.58 476,205
Jan 2022 541,501.95 469,805
Dec 2021 523,808.38 450,662
Nov 2021 486,027.37 416,876
Oct 2021 507,191.63 432,902
Sep 2021 485,979.4 411,379
Aug 2021 509,238.38 429,900
Jul 2021 497,233.44 418,900
Jun 2021 499,268.77 418,601
May 2021 524,852.04 436,000
Apr 2021 500,543.99 412,500
Mar 2021 471,872.89 385,702
Feb 2021 449,191.33 364,580
Jan 2021 426,279.26 344,100
Dec 2020 432,714.37 347,815
Nov 2020 427,982.55 343,688
Oct 2020 376,462.57 302,500
Sep 2020 398,407.88 320,001
Aug 2020 408,386.98 327,560
Jul 2020 367,240.19 293,631
Jun 2020 335,999.39 267,300
May 2020 352,170.51 278,640
Apr 2020 356,044.96 281,700
Mar 2020 341,486.11 272,000
Feb 2020 387,214.2 309,096
Jan 2020 422,066.23 335,996
Dec 2019 428,235.92 339,590
Nov 2019 416,387.62 330,495
Oct 2019 401,612.84 318,939
Sep 2019 393,561.3 311,832
Aug 2019 382,812.61 303,078
Jul 2019 389,850.97 308,666
Jun 2019 402,753.89 318,350
May 2019 375,894.14 297,060
Apr 2019 412,225.78 325,080
Mar 2019 383,985.67 301,215
Feb 2019 387,414.62 302,200
Jan 2019 401,025.06 311,500
Dec 2018 394,695.46 306,000
Nov 2018 419,149.51 326,000
Oct 2018 394,301.9 307,705
Sep 2018 410,781.54 320,000
Aug 2018 405,861.1 315,800
Jul 2018 387,762.53 301,550
Jun 2018 362,699.13 282,040
May 2018 369,923.48 287,200
Apr 2018 375,924.16 290,650
Mar 2018 388,391.1 299,100
Feb 2018 403,780.67 310,250
Jan 2018 422,770.93 323,375
Dec 2017 391,193.03 297,600
Nov 2017 382,949.38 291,500
Oct 2017 368,468.01 280,470
Sep 2017 360,712.08 274,740
Aug 2017 358,279.64 271,450
Jul 2017 347,882.86 262,786
Jun 2017 336,945.78 254,700
May 2017 328,962.48 248,440
Apr 2017 328,368.99 247,780
Mar 2017 332,094.17 249,850
Feb 2017 342,008.45 257,100
Jan 2017 328,245.48 245,980
Dec 2016 327,663.22 244,121
Nov 2016 318,209.42 237,000
Oct 2016 289,160.37 215,700
Sep 2016 290,218.85 216,220
Aug 2016 303,752.27 225,760
Jul 2016 290,887.44 216,000
Jun 2016 291,727.66 216,975
May 2016 285,563.41 211,695
Apr 2016 296,612.59 219,000
Mar 2016 290,466.32 213,450
Feb 2016 276,827.13 202,555
Jan 2016 265,845.85 194,360
Dec 2015 270,998.34 197,800
Nov 2015 274,933.06 201,360
Oct 2015 278,761.81 204,596
Sep 2015 265,894.65 195,240
Aug 2015 275,394.77 202,531
Jul 2015 290,577.81 214,000
Jun 2015 278,172.22 204,850
May 2015 292,705.36 214,800
Apr 2015 292,279.86 213,400
Mar 2015 298,500.95 217,500
Feb 2015 305,358.1 221,180
Jan 2015 299,314.6 215,865
Dec 2014 311,892.94 226,000
Nov 2014 306,096.97 223,065
Oct 2014 286,612.81 210,000
Sep 2014 281,672.44 206,900
Aug 2014 280,494.75 205,880
Jul 2014 255,875.49 188,124
Jun 2014 258,190.32 189,900
May 2014 261,531.6 192,000
Apr 2014 264,187.83 193,275
Mar 2014 256,933.2 187,350
Feb 2014 239,758.64 173,708
Jan 2014 234,830.95 169,511
Dec 2013 247,369.47 177,900
Nov 2013 242,968.55 174,750
Oct 2013 240,035.79 172,994
Sep 2013 235,841.46 170,410
Aug 2013 231,460.21 167,050
Jul 2013 241,241.25 173,900
Jun 2013 233,981.02 168,600
May 2013 238,298.53 171,300
Apr 2013 221,581.58 159,000
Mar 2013 217,564.58 156,280
Feb 2013 212,996.91 152,600
Jan 2013 205,277.82 145,875
Dec 2012 189,209.45 134,060
Nov 2012 185,682.05 131,916
Oct 2012 181,424.68 129,505
Sep 2012 185,828.28 132,700
Aug 2012 178,020.89 126,560
Jul 2012 180,263.38 127,445
Jun 2012 176,439.25 124,945
May 2012 167,586.18 118,850
Apr 2012 170,135.92 120,800
Mar 2012 172,203.84 121,900
Feb 2012 167,866.47 117,934
Jan 2012 168,592.72 117,925
Dec 2011 164,782.59 114,755
Nov 2011 169,740.53 118,500
Oct 2011 167,378.98 116,950
Sep 2011 152,537 106,800
Aug 2011 157,015.53 109,769
Jul 2011 159,931.4 111,500
Jun 2011 166,684.19 116,105
May 2011 170,334.72 118,775
Apr 2011 179,745.03 124,750
Mar 2011 181,700.06 125,300
Feb 2011 192,257.39 131,300
Jan 2011 180,146.08 122,425
Dec 2010 178,084.14 120,450
Nov 2010 178,019.91 120,200
Oct 2010 176,761.31 119,300
Sep 2010 184,695.6 124,500
Aug 2010 176,156.64 118,675
Jul 2010 173,910.11 117,000
Jun 2010 178,406.99 120,000
May 2010 157,305.32 105,910
Apr 2010 171,421.95 115,325
Mar 2010 181,361.01 121,800
Feb 2010 179,115.48 119,800
Jan 2010 171,383.56 114,600
Dec 2009 148,859.95 99,200
Nov 2009 150,694.92 100,600
Oct 2009 148,403.14 99,000
Sep 2009 151,547 101,000
Aug 2009 151,416.58 100,850
Jul 2009 145,962.81 97,000
Jun 2009 135,214.68 90,000
May 2009 138,800.62 91,600
Apr 2009 142,848.79 94,000
Mar 2009 132,084.12 86,700
Feb 2009 120,035.27 78,600
Jan 2009 137,364.16 89,502
Dec 2008 148,903.17 96,600
Nov 2008 158,651.83 104,000
Oct 2008 172,805.46 115,490
Sep 2008 193,440.31 130,600
Aug 2008 172,465.13 116,600
Jul 2008 168,609.32 114,450
Jun 2008 178,824.67 120,750
May 2008 201,419.32 134,650
Apr 2008 201,908.68 133,850
Mar 2008 202,450.28 133,400
Feb 2008 214,308.27 140,000
Jan 2008 208,789.77 136,000
Dec 2007 218,467.53 141,600
Nov 2007 216,008.25 140,100
Oct 2007 205,503.86 132,500
Sep 2007 184,198.95 118,510
Aug 2007 184,519.56 118,390
Jul 2007 171,128.71 110,000
Jun 2007 170,268.64 109,475
May 2007 170,621.99 109,490
Apr 2007 171,209.94 109,200
Mar 2007 171,990.75 108,990
Feb 2007 169,098.1 106,190
Jan 2007 176,182.43 110,050
Dec 2006 176,623.88 109,990
Nov 2006 172,239.12 107,100
Oct 2006 169,373.62 105,475
Sep 2006 153,003.32 95,800
Aug 2006 152,724.95 96,097
Jul 2006 145,864.11 91,600
Jun 2006 146,389.68 91,659
May 2006 147,688.61 92,290
Apr 2006 143,130.55 89,000
Mar 2006 146,537.93 90,350
Feb 2006 141,559.57 86,800
Jan 2006 146,241.01 89,490
Dec 2005 145,923.1 88,620
Nov 2005 146,595.08 89,390
Oct 2005 139,740.15 85,900
Sep 2005 133,664.12 82,000
Aug 2005 137,194.96 83,150
Jul 2005 138,477.53 83,500
Jun 2005 139,118.3 83,500
May 2005 140,190.03 84,100
Apr 2005 140,462.26 84,350
Mar 2005 145,849.45 87,000
Feb 2005 152,396.62 90,200
Jan 2005 152,765.89 89,900
Dec 2004 149,681.27 87,900
Nov 2004 142,006.91 83,700
Oct 2004 143,014.93 84,250
Sep 2004 147,863.5 86,650
Aug 2004 148,774.13 87,000
Jul 2004 149,280.42 87,250
Jun 2004 151,948.36 88,950
May 2004 152,516.16 89,000
Apr 2004 160,975.55 93,390
Mar 2004 161,335.32 93,300
Feb 2004 164,463.5 94,500
Jan 2004 156,585.27 89,490
Dec 2003 148,136.46 84,250
Nov 2003 147,097.68 83,750
Oct 2003 136,295.36 77,810
Sep 2003 131,231.37 75,000
Aug 2003 133,018.37 75,775
Jul 2003 126,890.31 72,010
Jun 2003 127,892.84 72,500
May 2003 125,383.29 71,000
Apr 2003 123,089.39 69,815
Mar 2003 112,240.2 63,800
Feb 2003 109,197.88 61,700
Jan 2003 120,561.64 67,600
Dec 2002 130,320.22 72,750
Nov 2002 129,228.37 72,300
Oct 2002 132,606.54 74,190
Sep 2002 132,307.13 73,900
Aug 2002 130,912.79 73,000
Jul 2002 122,892.22 68,300
Jun 2002 120,326.89 66,800
May 2002 134,451.77 74,600
Apr 2002 132,379.12 73,450
Mar 2002 128,860.4 71,100
Feb 2002 133,048.04 73,000
Jan 2002 135,220.73 73,900
Dec 2001 138,644.5 75,600
Nov 2001 127,867.98 70,000
Oct 2001 129,840.43 71,200
Sep 2001 127,222.55 70,000
Aug 2001 126,700.55 69,400
Jul 2001 126,335.42 69,200
Jun 2001 126,344.65 69,400
May 2001 125,281.43 68,700
Apr 2001 124,565.7 68,000
Mar 2001 120,370.8 65,450
Feb 2001 129,584.73 70,300
Jan 2001 126,586.49 68,400
Dec 2000 132,228.93 71,000
Nov 2000 122,660.3 65,900
Oct 2000 118,633.56 63,700
Sep 2000 120,144.37 64,400
Aug 2000 108,205.53 57,700
Jul 2000 103,329.72 55,100
Jun 2000 101,125.9 53,800
May 2000 110,726.32 58,600
Apr 2000 112,179.81 59,300
Mar 2000 108,270.38 57,200
Feb 2000 83,971.59 44,000
Jan 2000 98,291.26 51,200
Dec 1999 108,018 56,100
Nov 1999 110,328.55 57,300
Oct 1999 123,109.69 63,900
Sep 1999 106,152.29 55,000
Aug 1999 124,501.9 64,200
Jul 1999 131,808.53 67,805
Jun 1999 134,340.08 68,900
May 1999 140,384.4 72,000
Apr 1999 148,963.45 76,400
Mar 1999 140,227 71,400
Feb 1999 140,062.25 71,100
Jan 1999 128,201.52 65,000
Dec 1998 138,400.12 70,000
Nov 1998 134,166.26 67,900
Oct 1998 127,448.07 64,500
Sep 1998 118,053.9 59,600
Aug 1998 119,983.27 60,500
Jul 1998 139,202.24 70,105
Jun 1998 155,675.14 78,305
May 1998 140,728.61 70,700
Apr 1998 136,800.64 68,600
Mar 1998 134,256.65 67,200
Feb 1998 111,687.54 55,800
Jan 1998 100,865.82 50,300
Dec 1997 92,414.66 46,000
Nov 1997 90,895.64 45,300
Oct 1997 87,630.94 43,700
Sep 1997 90,059.67 44,800
Aug 1997 83,633.34 41,500
Jul 1997 95,298.12 47,200
Jun 1997 95,417.02 47,200
May 1997 87,035.12 43,000
Apr 1997 76,866.74 38,000
Mar 1997 73,317.22 36,200
Feb 1997 72,079.68 35,500
Jan 1997 70,880.45 34,800
Dec 1996 69,673.65 34,100
Nov 1996 67,834.76 33,200
Oct 1996 66,325.64 32,400
Sep 1996 66,022.41 32,150
Aug 1996 64,481.18 31,300
Jul 1996 63,778.78 30,900
Jun 1996 63,487.29 30,700
May 1996 63,113.97 30,500
Apr 1996 69,454.95 33,500
Mar 1996 70,451.05 33,850
Feb 1996 74,266.73 35,500
Jan 1996 66,951.57 31,900
Dec 1995 67,766.34 32,100
Nov 1995 66,034.44 31,300
Oct 1995 62,196.44 29,500
Sep 1995 62,187.91 29,400
Aug 1995 54,044.32 25,500
Jul 1995 52,592.37 24,750
Jun 1995 49,829.94 23,450
May 1995 48,331.31 22,700
Apr 1995 46,080.09 21,600
Mar 1995 48,479.68 22,650
Feb 1995 47,835.01 22,275
Jan 1995 53,038.78 24,600
Dec 1994 44,159.66 20,400
Nov 1994 44,430.25 20,525
Oct 1994 43,893.6 20,250
Sep 1994 41,103.23 18,950
Aug 1994 41,539.81 19,100
Jul 1994 42,799.58 19,600
Jun 1994 35,251.82 16,100
May 1994 35,371.32 16,100
Apr 1994 35,395.31 16,100
Mar 1994 35,058.15 15,925
Feb 1994 34,128.39 15,450
Jan 1994 35,907.49 16,200
Dec 1993 36,283.82 16,325
Nov 1993 38,339.72 17,250
Oct 1993 38,366.04 17,250
Sep 1993 37,240.53 16,675
Aug 1993 39,219.93 17,525
Jul 1993 35,906.26 16,000
Jun 1993 34,559.78 15,400
May 1993 33,708.81 15,000
Apr 1993 28,467.24 12,650
Mar 1993 28,772.2 12,750
Feb 1993 28,249.99 12,475
Jan 1993 27,496.87 12,100
Dec 1992 26,833.22 11,750
Nov 1992 24,475.21 10,725
Oct 1992 21,653.11 9,475
Sep 1992 21,557.73 9,400
Aug 1992 20,986.46 9,125
Jul 1992 21,968.79 9,525
Jun 1992 21,322.38 9,225
May 1992 21,108.74 9,100
Apr 1992 21,197.08 9,125
Mar 1992 20,820.41 8,950
Feb 1992 20,399.5 8,725
Jan 1992 20,766.68 8,850
Dec 1991 21,266.78 9,050
Nov 1991 19,636.07 8,350
Oct 1991 20,212.1 8,570
Sep 1991 20,961.95 8,875
Aug 1991 20,816.79 8,775
Jul 1991 20,283.12 8,525
Jun 1991 20,015.1 8,400
May 1991 20,910.56 8,750
Apr 1991 19,474.4 8,125
Mar 1991 19,263.21 8,025
Feb 1991 19,411.99 8,075
Jan 1991 17,815.75 7,400
Dec 1990 16,166.37 6,675
Nov 1990 15,367.13 6,345
Oct 1990 14,442.86 5,950
Sep 1990 14,346.78 5,875
Aug 1990 15,759.47 6,400
Jul 1990 17,395.54 7,000
Jun 1990 17,961.42 7,200
May 1990 17,933.33 7,150
Apr 1990 16,843.77 6,700
Mar 1990 16,932.89 6,725
Feb 1990 18,291.33 7,225
Jan 1990 18,962.5 7,455
Dec 1989 22,293.17 8,675
Nov 1989 21,234.67 8,250
Oct 1989 21,956.21 8,510
Sep 1989 22,359.73 8,625
Aug 1989 20,741.02 7,975
Jul 1989 19,537.02 7,500
Jun 1989 17,168.86 6,575
May 1989 16,817.83 6,425
Apr 1989 16,518.59 6,275
Mar 1989 13,115.84 4,950
Feb 1989 12,591.74 4,725
Jan 1989 13,178.91 4,925
Dec 1988 12,639.45 4,700
Nov 1988 12,660.46 4,700
Oct 1988 12,738.4 4,725
Sep 1988 12,983.8 4,800
Aug 1988 11,709.51 4,300
Jul 1988 11,964.02 4,375
Jun 1988 11,396.81 4,150
May 1988 10,824.78 3,925
Apr 1988 10,446.66 3,775
Mar 1988 9,526.91 3,425
Feb 1988 8,799.74 3,150
Jan 1988 8,486.46 3,030
Dec 1987 8,283.88 2,950
Nov 1987 8,143.47 2,900
Oct 1987 9,345.01 3,325
Sep 1987 11,891.37 4,220
Aug 1987 11,302.23 3,990
Jul 1987 11,276.4 3,960
Jun 1987 9,992.85 3,500
May 1987 9,770.33 3,410
Apr 1987 9,718.74 3,380
Mar 1987 10,175.47 3,520
Feb 1987 9,756.46 3,360
Jan 1987 9,033.88 3,100
Dec 1986 8,269.98 2,820
Nov 1986 8,042.64 2,740
Oct 1986 8,446.56 2,875
Sep 1986 7,719.07 2,625
Aug 1986 8,566.61 2,900
Jul 1986 8,360.3 2,825
Jun 1986 8,804.21 2,975
May 1986 8,510.51 2,860
Apr 1986 8,683.21 2,910
Mar 1986 9,292.73 3,120
Feb 1986 8,182.88 2,760
Jan 1986 6,667.35 2,255
Dec 1985 7,323.09 2,470
Nov 1985 7,804.05 2,625
Oct 1985 7,810.69 2,620
Sep 1985 6,343.44 2,120
Aug 1985 6,121.02 2,040
Jul 1985 6,342.8 2,110
Jun 1985 6,475.06 2,150
May 1985 5,617.34 1,860
Apr 1985 5,608.04 1,850
Mar 1985 5,527.8 1,815
Feb 1985 4,555.1 1,490
Jan 1985 4,284.88 1,395
Dec 1984 3,923.73 1,275
Nov 1984 3,939.12 1,280
Oct 1984 4,000.67 1,300
Sep 1984 4,027.53 1,305
Aug 1984 4,000.28 1,290
Jul 1984 3,860.01 1,240
Jun 1984 3,937.4 1,260
May 1984 4,042.84 1,290
Apr 1984 3,928.88 1,250
Mar 1984 3,916.44 1,240
Feb 1984 4,050.68 1,280
Jan 1984 4,213.66 1,325
Dec 1983 4,190.63 1,310
Nov 1983 4,322.85 1,350
Oct 1983 4,203.08 1,310
Sep 1983 3,990.34 1,240
Aug 1983 3,298.75 1,020
Jul 1983 3,081.59 950
Jun 1983 2,963.71 910
May 1983 3,217.67 985
Apr 1983 3,204.39 975
Mar 1983 3,194.2 965
Feb 1983 2,747.34 830
Jan 1983 2,534.78 765
Dec 1982 2,573.17 775
Nov 1982 2,281.6 690
Oct 1982 2,012.96 610
Sep 1982 1,820.53 550
Aug 1982 1,608.66 485
Jul 1982 1,578.72 475
Jun 1982 1,653.68 495
May 1982 1,708.22 505
Apr 1982 1,741.49 510
Mar 1982 1,645.99 480
Feb 1982 1,764.14 515
Jan 1982 1,752.57 510
Dec 1981 1,930.53 560
Nov 1981 1,988.59 575
Oct 1981 1,752.11 505
Sep 1981 1,599.41 460
Aug 1981 1,755.44 500
Jul 1981 1,715.79 485
Jun 1981 1,824.15 510
May 1981 1,876.48 520
Apr 1981 1,873.04 515
Mar 1981 1,757.58 480
Feb 1981 1,788.01 485
Jan 1981 1,601.65 430
Dec 1980 1,595.86 425
Nov 1980 1,629.75 430
Oct 1980 1,604.98 420
Sep 1980 1,485.25 385
Aug 1980 1,478.28 380
Jul 1980 1,332.27 340
Jun 1980 1,195.12 305
May 1980 1,267.69 320
Apr 1980 1,100.18 275
Mar 1980 1,051.86 260

Returns from Investing in Berkshire Hathaway (Class A) stock

How much did an investment in Berkshire Hathaway really grow each year after accounting for inflation? The following chart contains the inflation-adjusted real annual percentage returns.

Detailed Annual Returns (Adjusted vs. Nominal)

The table below shows the returns for Berkshire Hathaway (Class A) stock by year, both inflation-adjusted and nominal. You can sort any column by clicking on the header.

Observe how inflation erodes nominal gains, sometimes resulting in a negative real return even when the stock price nominally increased, as in 2022.

Year Inflation-Adjusted Return Nominal Return
2024 21.96% 25.49%
2023 12.01% 15.77%
2022 -2.3% 4%
2021 21.05% 29.57%
2020 1.05% 2.42%
2019 8.5% 10.98%
2018 0.9% 2.82%
2017 19.39% 21.91%
2016 20.91% 23.42%
2015 -13.11% -12.48%
2014 26.08% 27.04%
2013 30.74% 32.7%
2012 14.82% 16.82%
2011 -7.47% -4.73%
2010 19.63% 21.42%
2009 -0.03% 2.69%
2008 -31.84% -31.78%
2007 23.69% 28.74%
2006 21.04% 24.11%
2005 -2.51% 0.82%
2004 1.04% 4.33%
2003 13.67% 15.81%
2002 -6% -3.77%
2001 4.85% 6.48%
2000 22.41% 26.56%
1999 -21.95% -19.86%
1998 49.76% 52.17%
1997 32.64% 34.9%
1996 2.81% 6.23%
1995 53.46% 57.35%
1994 21.71% 24.96%
1993 35.22% 38.94%
1992 26.17% 29.83%
1991 31.55% 35.58%
1990 -27.48% -23.05%
1989 76.38% 84.57%
1988 52.58% 59.32%
1987 0.17% 4.61%
1986 12.93% 14.17%
1985 86.64% 93.73%
1984 -6.37% -2.67%
1983 62.86% 69.03%
1982 33.29% 38.39%
1981 20.97% 31.76%

Berkshire Hathaway (Class A) Stock: Average Annualized Returns

Annualized returns show the average rate of growth per year, making it easier to compare performance across different time periods. While nominal returns indicate the headline growth, adjusting for inflation reveals the actual change in purchasing power.

This table presents both nominal and inflation-adjusted average annual returns for Berkshire Hathaway over various trailing periods ending December 31, 2025, offering a clearer view of long-term, real investment performance.

Period Avg. Annual Return (Inflation-Adjusted) Avg. Annual Return (Nominal)
Last 1 year 7.96% 10.85%
Last 3 years 13.83% 17.21%
Last 5 years 11.77% 16.76%
Last 10 years 10.79% 14.33%
Last 20 years 8.56% 11.31%
Last 30 years 8.37% 11.1%
Last 40 years 12.29% 15.38%

Real Returns of Investing in the Berkshire Hathaway

The chart and table below show the nominal and inflation-adjusted value of a hypothetical $100 investment over various long-term historical periods, ending in September 2025.

The inflation-adjusted line, in green, represents the real increase in purchasing power for the initial investment. Observe the gap between both lines, which illustrates the cumulative effect of inflation over time.

Even over just five years, inflation takes a noticeable bite out of investments. Investing $100 in the Berkshire Hathaway five years ago yielded an 106.87% nominal gain, but the real return (the actual increase in buying power) was 67.52%.

As investment periods get longer, the difference between reported nominal returns and the inflation-adjusted gains usually becomes much greater due to the compounding effect of inflation over time.

Investment Period What $100 Grew To (Nominal) Total Nominal Return (%) Total Inflation-Adjusted Return (%)
Last 5 years Feb 2021 - Sep 2025 $206.87 106.87% 67.52%
Last 10 years Feb 2016 - Sep 2025 $372.34 272.34% 171.82%
Last 25 years Feb 2001 - Sep 2025 $1,072.83 972.83% 480.68%

Inflation & Berkshire's Operations

Berkshire Hathaway's decentralized and diverse nature gives it a unique resilience to inflation, though its individual businesses experience impacts differently.

  • Insurance Operations: In insurance units like GEICO and General Re, high inflation can increase the costs of claims, potentially outpacing premium adjustments and squeezing underwriting profits.
  • Manufacturing, Service and Retailing: Businesses like See's Candies or Clayton Homes face rising costs for raw materials, labor and transportation. Their ability to pass these costs to consumers without losing volume is key.
  • Regulated Utilities: Energy companies such as BHE are capital-intensive and can be impacted by rising costs for infrastructure projects. However, regulatory frameworks often allow them to pass on inflation-related costs to customers over time.

Berkshire's primary mitigation strategy lies in its philosophy of owning businesses with durable competitive advantages. These companies often have strong pricing power, allowing them to raise prices in line with inflation without significant loss of business. Additionally, its large cash reserves can be deployed to acquire assets advantageously during economic uncertainty.

About Berkshire Hathaway

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a holding company with a wide array of subsidiaries engaged in numerous diverse business activities.

Shaped by the leadership of Warren Buffett, the company is renowned for its value investing philosophy. Its core business is insurance, with substantial holdings across freight rail transportation, utilities, energy, manufacturing, services and retailing.

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Berkshire Hathaway is one of the largest public companies globally. Its high-priced Class A shares (BRK.A) have famously never been split.

Last Close
Jan 28, 2026
709,500
Highest
May 2, 2025
809,350
Highest, Inflation-Adjusted
May 2, 2025
815,868.31
Annualized return
Since Mar 17, 1980
18.54%
Annualized return, Inflation-Adjusted
Since Mar 17, 1980
14.99%

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Other Inflation-Adjusted Data