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 March 2026 as the baseline (latest available CPI).

The current value of Berkshire Hathaway (Class A) stock is 713,000 (as of the close of Apr 29, 2026), 11.9% 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 59,539%, which is equivalent to an annual growth rate of 14.86%.

In nominal values, the total return since this date has been 245,762%, or an annualized rate of 18.45%.

Inflation-Adjusted Values by Month

This data presents Berkshire Hathaway's end-of-month closing levels over time. Inflation-adjusted values express older levels in terms of roughly today's purchasing power using the latest CPI data, the same present-value method used by the US Inflation Calculator to compare dollar amounts across different years. The most recent entry will remain the same in both columns until the next CPI figures are published.

Date Inflation-Adjusted Nominal value
Apr 2026 713,000 713,000
Mar 2026 718,140 718,140
Feb 2026 764,940.99 757,000
Jan 2026 733,520.14 722,500
Dec 2025 769,145.8 754,800
Nov 2025 784,571.96 770,100
Oct 2025 715,740 715,740
Sep 2025 766,769.23 754,200
Aug 2025 769,820.22 755,280
Jul 2025 735,815.82 719,850
Jun 2025 746,089.06 728,800
May 2025 778,011.06 757,400
Apr 2025 824,042.5 800,540
Mar 2025 824,442.63 798,442
Feb 2025 802,035.45 775,000
Jan 2025 730,353.97 702,614
Dec 2024 712,436.86 680,920
Nov 2024 757,821.63 724,040
Oct 2024 708,161.19 676,960
Sep 2024 723,869.01 691,180
Aug 2024 750,331.51 715,300
Jul 2024 692,058.38 659,211
Jun 2024 643,494.67 612,241
May 2024 659,650.06 627,400
Apr 2024 631,363.28 599,500
Mar 2024 670,761.68 634,440
Feb 2024 656,072.83 616,561
Jan 2024 618,868.99 578,020
Dec 2023 584,137.46 542,625
Nov 2023 587,079.27 545,900
Oct 2023 555,764.26 517,825
Sep 2023 570,197.81 531,477
Aug 2023 588,014.38 546,725
Jul 2023 578,348.86 535,400
Jun 2023 560,414.78 517,810
May 2023 529,883.47 488,024
Apr 2023 547,388.82 502,880
Mar 2023 509,373.21 465,600
Feb 2023 508,782.01 463,525
Jan 2023 522,080.25 473,000
Dec 2022 521,482.58 468,711
Nov 2022 532,713.6 480,280
Oct 2022 493,138.85 445,050
Sep 2022 452,217.18 406,470
Aug 2022 469,733.29 421,308
Jul 2022 503,440.08 451,700
Jun 2022 455,739.43 408,950
May 2022 535,544.35 474,050
Apr 2022 553,200.92 484,340
Mar 2022 607,492.73 528,921
Feb 2022 554,248.2 476,205
Jan 2022 551,793.78 469,805
Dec 2021 533,763.93 450,662
Nov 2021 495,264.85 416,876
Oct 2021 516,831.36 432,902
Sep 2021 495,215.97 411,379
Aug 2021 518,917.01 429,900
Jul 2021 506,683.9 418,900
Jun 2021 508,757.92 418,601
May 2021 534,827.42 436,000
Apr 2021 510,057.38 412,500
Mar 2021 480,841.35 385,702
Feb 2021 457,728.7 364,580
Jan 2021 434,381.16 344,100
Dec 2020 440,938.58 347,815
Nov 2020 436,116.83 343,688
Oct 2020 383,617.65 302,500
Sep 2020 405,980.06 320,001
Aug 2020 416,148.82 327,560
Jul 2020 374,219.99 293,631
Jun 2020 342,385.42 267,300
May 2020 358,863.9 278,640
Apr 2020 362,811.99 281,700
Mar 2020 347,976.43 272,000
Feb 2020 394,573.63 309,096
Jan 2020 430,088.06 335,996
Dec 2019 436,375.01 339,590
Nov 2019 424,301.52 330,495
Oct 2019 409,245.93 318,939
Sep 2019 401,041.37 311,832
Aug 2019 390,088.38 303,078
Jul 2019 397,260.51 308,666
Jun 2019 410,408.67 318,350
May 2019 383,038.42 297,060
Apr 2019 420,060.58 325,080
Mar 2019 391,283.74 301,215
Feb 2019 394,777.86 302,200
Jan 2019 408,646.98 311,500
Dec 2018 402,197.08 306,000
Nov 2018 427,115.9 326,000
Oct 2018 401,796.04 307,705
Sep 2018 418,588.89 320,000
Aug 2018 413,574.93 315,800
Jul 2018 395,132.38 301,550
Jun 2018 369,592.62 282,040
May 2018 376,954.28 287,200
Apr 2018 383,069.01 290,650
Mar 2018 395,772.89 299,100
Feb 2018 411,454.97 310,250
Jan 2018 430,806.15 323,375
Dec 2017 398,628.08 297,600
Nov 2017 390,227.75 291,500
Oct 2017 375,471.15 280,470
Sep 2017 367,567.81 274,740
Aug 2017 365,089.13 271,450
Jul 2017 354,494.76 262,786
Jun 2017 343,349.8 254,700
May 2017 335,214.78 248,440
Apr 2017 334,610.01 247,780
Mar 2017 338,405.99 249,850
Feb 2017 348,508.69 257,100
Jan 2017 334,484.14 245,980
Dec 2016 333,890.82 244,121
Nov 2016 324,257.34 237,000
Oct 2016 294,656.18 215,700
Sep 2016 295,734.77 216,220
Aug 2016 309,525.42 225,760
Jul 2016 296,416.08 216,000
Jun 2016 297,272.26 216,975
May 2016 290,990.85 211,695
Apr 2016 302,250.04 219,000
Mar 2016 295,986.95 213,450
Feb 2016 282,088.53 202,555
Jan 2016 270,898.54 194,360
Dec 2015 276,148.95 197,800
Nov 2015 280,158.47 201,360
Oct 2015 284,059.99 204,596
Sep 2015 270,948.27 195,240
Aug 2015 280,628.95 202,531
Jul 2015 296,100.56 214,000
Jun 2015 283,459.19 204,850
May 2015 298,268.55 214,800
Apr 2015 297,834.96 213,400
Mar 2015 304,174.28 217,500
Feb 2015 311,161.76 221,180
Jan 2015 305,003.4 215,865
Dec 2014 317,820.8 226,000
Nov 2014 311,914.68 223,065
Oct 2014 292,060.2 210,000
Sep 2014 287,025.93 206,900
Aug 2014 285,825.86 205,880
Jul 2014 260,738.68 188,124
Jun 2014 263,097.51 189,900
May 2014 266,502.3 192,000
Apr 2014 269,209.01 193,275
Mar 2014 261,816.5 187,350
Feb 2014 244,315.51 173,708
Jan 2014 239,294.17 169,511
Dec 2013 252,070.99 177,900
Nov 2013 247,586.43 174,750
Oct 2013 244,597.93 172,994
Sep 2013 240,323.88 170,410
Aug 2013 235,859.37 167,050
Jul 2013 245,826.3 173,900
Jun 2013 238,428.09 168,600
May 2013 242,827.65 171,300
Apr 2013 225,792.98 159,000
Mar 2013 221,699.63 156,280
Feb 2013 217,045.15 152,600
Jan 2013 209,179.35 145,875
Dec 2012 192,805.58 134,060
Nov 2012 189,211.14 131,916
Oct 2012 184,872.86 129,505
Sep 2012 189,360.15 132,700
Aug 2012 181,404.37 126,560
Jul 2012 183,689.49 127,445
Jun 2012 179,792.67 124,945
May 2012 170,771.34 118,850
Apr 2012 173,369.54 120,800
Mar 2012 175,476.76 121,900
Feb 2012 171,056.96 117,934
Jan 2012 171,797 117,925
Dec 2011 167,914.46 114,755
Nov 2011 172,966.63 118,500
Oct 2011 170,560.2 116,950
Sep 2011 155,436.13 106,800
Aug 2011 159,999.78 109,769
Jul 2011 162,971.07 111,500
Jun 2011 169,852.21 116,105
May 2011 173,572.11 118,775
Apr 2011 183,161.28 124,750
Mar 2011 185,153.46 125,300
Feb 2011 195,911.45 131,300
Jan 2011 183,569.96 122,425
Dec 2010 181,468.83 120,450
Nov 2010 181,403.37 120,200
Oct 2010 180,120.85 119,300
Sep 2010 188,205.95 124,500
Aug 2010 179,504.69 118,675
Jul 2010 177,215.47 117,000
Jun 2010 181,797.81 120,000
May 2010 160,295.07 105,910
Apr 2010 174,680.01 115,325
Mar 2010 184,807.97 121,800
Feb 2010 182,519.77 119,800
Jan 2010 174,640.89 114,600
Dec 2009 151,689.19 99,200
Nov 2009 153,559.04 100,600
Oct 2009 151,223.71 99,000
Sep 2009 154,427.32 101,000
Aug 2009 154,294.42 100,850
Jul 2009 148,737 97,000
Jun 2009 137,784.58 90,000
May 2009 141,438.68 91,600
Apr 2009 145,563.79 94,000
Mar 2009 134,594.53 86,700
Feb 2009 122,316.67 78,600
Jan 2009 139,974.92 89,502
Dec 2008 151,733.24 96,600
Nov 2008 161,667.19 104,000
Oct 2008 176,089.81 115,490
Sep 2008 197,116.86 130,600
Aug 2008 175,743.02 116,600
Jul 2008 171,813.92 114,450
Jun 2008 182,223.43 120,750
May 2008 205,247.52 134,650
Apr 2008 205,746.17 133,850
Mar 2008 206,298.07 133,400
Feb 2008 218,381.43 140,000
Jan 2008 212,758.04 136,000
Dec 2007 222,619.75 141,600
Nov 2007 220,113.72 140,100
Oct 2007 209,409.69 132,500
Sep 2007 187,699.85 118,510
Aug 2007 188,026.55 118,390
Jul 2007 174,381.2 110,000
Jun 2007 173,504.78 109,475
May 2007 173,864.85 109,490
Apr 2007 174,463.97 109,200
Mar 2007 175,259.63 108,990
Feb 2007 172,311.99 106,190
Jan 2007 179,530.97 110,050
Dec 2006 179,980.81 109,990
Nov 2006 175,512.72 107,100
Oct 2006 172,592.75 105,475
Sep 2006 155,911.31 95,800
Aug 2006 155,627.65 96,097
Jul 2006 148,636.42 91,600
Jun 2006 149,171.97 91,659
May 2006 150,495.59 92,290
Apr 2006 145,850.9 89,000
Mar 2006 149,323.05 90,350
Feb 2006 144,250.07 86,800
Jan 2006 149,020.48 89,490
Dec 2005 148,696.52 88,620
Nov 2005 149,381.28 89,390
Oct 2005 142,396.07 85,900
Sep 2005 136,204.56 82,000
Aug 2005 139,802.5 83,150
Jul 2005 141,109.44 83,500
Jun 2005 141,762.39 83,500
May 2005 142,854.49 84,100
Apr 2005 143,131.89 84,350
Mar 2005 148,621.47 87,000
Feb 2005 155,293.08 90,200
Jan 2005 155,669.37 89,900
Dec 2004 152,526.13 87,900
Nov 2004 144,705.91 83,700
Oct 2004 145,733.08 84,250
Sep 2004 150,673.81 86,650
Aug 2004 151,601.75 87,000
Jul 2004 152,117.66 87,250
Jun 2004 154,836.3 88,950
May 2004 155,414.9 89,000
Apr 2004 164,035.06 93,390
Mar 2004 164,401.67 93,300
Feb 2004 167,589.3 94,500
Jan 2004 159,561.35 89,490
Dec 2003 150,951.95 84,250
Nov 2003 149,893.43 83,750
Oct 2003 138,885.8 77,810
Sep 2003 133,725.57 75,000
Aug 2003 135,546.53 75,775
Jul 2003 129,302 72,010
Jun 2003 130,323.58 72,500
May 2003 127,766.34 71,000
Apr 2003 125,428.84 69,815
Mar 2003 114,373.45 63,800
Feb 2003 111,273.3 61,700
Jan 2003 122,853.05 67,600
Dec 2002 132,797.1 72,750
Nov 2002 131,684.5 72,300
Oct 2002 135,126.88 74,190
Sep 2002 134,821.77 73,900
Aug 2002 133,400.94 73,000
Jul 2002 125,227.92 68,300
Jun 2002 122,613.83 66,800
May 2002 137,007.17 74,600
Apr 2002 134,895.13 73,450
Mar 2002 131,309.53 71,100
Feb 2002 135,576.77 73,000
Jan 2002 137,790.74 73,900
Dec 2001 141,279.59 75,600
Nov 2001 130,298.25 70,000
Oct 2001 132,308.19 71,200
Sep 2001 129,640.55 70,000
Aug 2001 129,108.63 69,400
Jul 2001 128,736.56 69,200
Jun 2001 128,745.97 69,400
May 2001 127,662.54 68,700
Apr 2001 126,933.21 68,000
Mar 2001 122,658.57 65,450
Feb 2001 132,047.63 70,300
Jan 2001 128,992.4 68,400
Dec 2000 134,742.09 71,000
Nov 2000 124,991.6 65,900
Oct 2000 120,888.32 63,700
Sep 2000 122,427.85 64,400
Aug 2000 110,262.1 57,700
Jul 2000 105,293.61 55,100
Jun 2000 103,047.91 53,800
May 2000 112,830.8 58,600
Apr 2000 114,311.91 59,300
Mar 2000 110,328.18 57,200
Feb 2000 85,567.56 44,000
Jan 2000 100,159.39 51,200
Dec 1999 110,071 56,100
Nov 1999 112,425.46 57,300
Oct 1999 125,449.53 63,900
Sep 1999 108,169.83 55,000
Aug 1999 126,868.19 64,200
Jul 1999 134,313.69 67,805
Jun 1999 136,893.36 68,900
May 1999 143,052.56 72,000
Apr 1999 151,794.66 76,400
Mar 1999 142,892.17 71,400
Feb 1999 142,724.28 71,100
Jan 1999 130,638.13 65,000
Dec 1998 141,030.57 70,000
Nov 1998 136,716.24 67,900
Oct 1998 129,870.36 64,500
Sep 1998 120,297.65 59,600
Aug 1998 122,263.69 60,500
Jul 1998 141,847.93 70,105
Jun 1998 158,633.92 78,305
May 1998 143,403.31 70,700
Apr 1998 139,400.69 68,600
Mar 1998 136,808.35 67,200
Feb 1998 113,810.29 55,800
Jan 1998 102,782.88 50,300
Dec 1997 94,171.1 46,000
Nov 1997 92,623.21 45,300
Oct 1997 89,296.46 43,700
Sep 1997 91,771.35 44,800
Aug 1997 85,222.88 41,500
Jul 1997 97,109.37 47,200
Jun 1997 97,230.53 47,200
May 1997 88,689.31 43,000
Apr 1997 78,327.68 38,000
Mar 1997 74,710.69 36,200
Feb 1997 73,449.63 35,500
Jan 1997 72,227.61 34,800
Dec 1996 70,997.88 34,100
Nov 1996 69,124.03 33,200
Oct 1996 67,586.24 32,400
Sep 1996 67,277.24 32,150
Aug 1996 65,706.72 31,300
Jul 1996 64,990.97 30,900
Jun 1996 64,693.93 30,700
May 1996 64,313.52 30,500
Apr 1996 70,775.02 33,500
Mar 1996 71,790.05 33,850
Feb 1996 75,678.25 35,500
Jan 1996 68,224.06 31,900
Dec 1995 69,054.31 32,100
Nov 1995 67,289.5 31,300
Oct 1995 63,378.55 29,500
Sep 1995 63,369.86 29,400
Aug 1995 55,071.49 25,500
Jul 1995 53,591.95 24,750
Jun 1995 50,777.02 23,450
May 1995 49,249.9 22,700
Apr 1995 46,955.9 21,600
Mar 1995 49,401.09 22,650
Feb 1995 48,744.17 22,275
Jan 1995 54,046.84 24,600
Dec 1994 44,998.97 20,400
Nov 1994 45,274.69 20,525
Oct 1994 44,727.85 20,250
Sep 1994 41,884.45 18,950
Aug 1994 42,329.32 19,100
Jul 1994 43,613.04 19,600
Jun 1994 35,921.82 16,100
May 1994 36,043.59 16,100
Apr 1994 36,068.04 16,100
Mar 1994 35,724.47 15,925
Feb 1994 34,777.03 15,450
Jan 1994 36,589.95 16,200
Dec 1993 36,973.44 16,325
Nov 1993 39,068.41 17,250
Oct 1993 39,095.22 17,250
Sep 1993 37,948.32 16,675
Aug 1993 39,965.35 17,525
Jul 1993 36,588.7 16,000
Jun 1993 35,216.62 15,400
May 1993 34,349.48 15,000
Apr 1993 29,008.29 12,650
Mar 1993 29,319.05 12,750
Feb 1993 28,786.91 12,475
Jan 1993 28,019.48 12,100
Dec 1992 27,343.22 11,750
Nov 1992 24,940.38 10,725
Oct 1992 22,064.66 9,475
Sep 1992 21,967.46 9,400
Aug 1992 21,385.33 9,125
Jul 1992 22,386.33 9,525
Jun 1992 21,727.64 9,225
May 1992 21,509.94 9,100
Apr 1992 21,599.95 9,125
Mar 1992 21,216.13 8,950
Feb 1992 20,787.22 8,725
Jan 1992 21,161.37 8,850
Dec 1991 21,670.98 9,050
Nov 1991 20,009.28 8,350
Oct 1991 20,596.25 8,570
Sep 1991 21,360.35 8,875
Aug 1991 21,212.44 8,775
Jul 1991 20,668.62 8,525
Jun 1991 20,395.51 8,400
May 1991 21,307.99 8,750
Apr 1991 19,844.53 8,125
Mar 1991 19,629.33 8,025
Feb 1991 19,780.93 8,075
Jan 1991 18,154.36 7,400
Dec 1990 16,473.63 6,675
Nov 1990 15,659.2 6,345
Oct 1990 14,717.36 5,950
Sep 1990 14,619.45 5,875
Aug 1990 16,058.99 6,400
Jul 1990 17,726.16 7,000
Jun 1990 18,302.8 7,200
May 1990 18,274.17 7,150
Apr 1990 17,163.9 6,700
Mar 1990 17,254.72 6,725
Feb 1990 18,638.98 7,225
Jan 1990 19,322.9 7,455
Dec 1989 22,716.87 8,675
Nov 1989 21,638.26 8,250
Oct 1989 22,373.51 8,510
Sep 1989 22,784.7 8,625
Aug 1989 21,135.22 7,975
Jul 1989 19,908.34 7,500
Jun 1989 17,495.17 6,575
May 1989 17,137.47 6,425
Apr 1989 16,832.55 6,275
Mar 1989 13,365.12 4,950
Feb 1989 12,831.06 4,725
Jan 1989 13,429.39 4,925
Dec 1988 12,879.68 4,700
Nov 1988 12,901.09 4,700
Oct 1988 12,980.5 4,725
Sep 1988 13,230.57 4,800
Aug 1988 11,932.07 4,300
Jul 1988 12,191.41 4,375
Jun 1988 11,613.42 4,150
May 1988 11,030.52 3,925
Apr 1988 10,645.21 3,775
Mar 1988 9,707.98 3,425
Feb 1988 8,966.99 3,150
Jan 1988 8,647.76 3,030
Dec 1987 8,441.32 2,950
Nov 1987 8,298.25 2,900
Oct 1987 9,522.62 3,325
Sep 1987 12,117.38 4,220
Aug 1987 11,517.04 3,990
Jul 1987 11,490.72 3,960
Jun 1987 10,182.78 3,500
May 1987 9,956.02 3,410
Apr 1987 9,903.46 3,380
Mar 1987 10,368.86 3,520
Feb 1987 9,941.9 3,360
Jan 1987 9,205.58 3,100
Dec 1986 8,427.16 2,820
Nov 1986 8,195.5 2,740
Oct 1986 8,607.09 2,875
Sep 1986 7,865.78 2,625
Aug 1986 8,729.42 2,900
Jul 1986 8,519.19 2,825
Jun 1986 8,971.54 2,975
May 1986 8,672.26 2,860
Apr 1986 8,848.25 2,910
Mar 1986 9,469.34 3,120
Feb 1986 8,338.41 2,760
Jan 1986 6,794.07 2,255
Dec 1985 7,462.27 2,470
Nov 1985 7,952.38 2,625
Oct 1985 7,959.14 2,620
Sep 1985 6,464 2,120
Aug 1985 6,237.36 2,040
Jul 1985 6,463.35 2,110
Jun 1985 6,598.12 2,150
May 1985 5,724.1 1,860
Apr 1985 5,714.63 1,850
Mar 1985 5,632.86 1,815
Feb 1985 4,641.67 1,490
Jan 1985 4,366.32 1,395
Dec 1984 3,998.31 1,275
Nov 1984 4,013.99 1,280
Oct 1984 4,076.7 1,300
Sep 1984 4,104.08 1,305
Aug 1984 4,076.31 1,290
Jul 1984 3,933.37 1,240
Jun 1984 4,012.23 1,260
May 1984 4,119.68 1,290
Apr 1984 4,003.55 1,250
Mar 1984 3,990.88 1,240
Feb 1984 4,127.66 1,280
Jan 1984 4,293.74 1,325
Dec 1983 4,270.28 1,310
Nov 1983 4,405.02 1,350
Oct 1983 4,282.96 1,310
Sep 1983 4,066.18 1,240
Aug 1983 3,361.45 1,020
Jul 1983 3,140.16 950
Jun 1983 3,020.04 910
May 1983 3,278.83 985
Apr 1983 3,265.29 975
Mar 1983 3,254.91 965
Feb 1983 2,799.56 830
Jan 1983 2,582.95 765
Dec 1982 2,622.08 775
Nov 1982 2,324.97 690
Oct 1982 2,051.22 610
Sep 1982 1,855.13 550
Aug 1982 1,639.24 485
Jul 1982 1,608.73 475
Jun 1982 1,685.11 495
May 1982 1,740.68 505
Apr 1982 1,774.59 510
Mar 1982 1,677.27 480
Feb 1982 1,797.67 515
Jan 1982 1,785.88 510
Dec 1981 1,967.23 560
Nov 1981 2,026.39 575
Oct 1981 1,785.41 505
Sep 1981 1,629.81 460
Aug 1981 1,788.8 500
Jul 1981 1,748.4 485
Jun 1981 1,858.81 510
May 1981 1,912.15 520
Apr 1981 1,908.64 515
Mar 1981 1,790.99 480
Feb 1981 1,821.99 485
Jan 1981 1,632.09 430
Dec 1980 1,626.19 425
Nov 1980 1,660.72 430
Oct 1980 1,635.49 420
Sep 1980 1,513.48 385
Aug 1980 1,506.37 380
Jul 1980 1,357.59 340
Jun 1980 1,217.84 305
May 1980 1,291.79 320
Apr 1980 1,121.09 275
Mar 1980 1,071.85 260

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 March 31, 2026, offering a clearer view of long-term, real investment performance.

Period Avg. Annual Return (Inflation-Adjusted) Avg. Annual Return (Nominal)
Last 1 year -12.89% -10.06%
Last 3 years 12.13% 15.54%
Last 5 years 8.35% 13.24%
Last 10 years 9.27% 12.9%
Last 20 years 8.17% 10.92%
Last 30 years 7.98% 10.72%
Last 40 years 11.43% 14.56%

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
Apr 29, 2026
713,000
Highest
May 2, 2025
809,350
Highest, Inflation-Adjusted
May 2, 2025
831,374.77
Annualized return
Since Mar 17, 1980
18.45%
Annualized return, Inflation-Adjusted
Since Mar 17, 1980
14.86%

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Other Inflation-Adjusted Data