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 May 2026 as the baseline (latest available CPI).

The current value of Berkshire Hathaway (Class A) stock is 742,046 (as of the close of Jun 15, 2026), 8.32% 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 61,059%, which is equivalent to an annual growth rate of 14.88%.

In nominal values, the total return since this date has been 255,778%, or an annualized rate of 18.49%.

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
Jun 2026 742,046 742,046
May 2026 710,900 710,900
Apr 2026 716,395.6 711,900
Mar 2026 728,818.16 718,140
Feb 2026 776,315.04 757,000
Jan 2026 744,426.99 722,500
Dec 2025 780,582.37 754,800
Nov 2025 796,237.91 770,100
Oct 2025 715,740 715,740
Sep 2025 778,170.46 754,200
Aug 2025 781,266.82 755,280
Jul 2025 746,756.8 719,850
Jun 2025 757,182.8 728,800
May 2025 789,579.46 757,400
Apr 2025 836,295.35 800,540
Mar 2025 836,701.42 798,442
Feb 2025 813,961.07 775,000
Jan 2025 741,213.74 702,614
Dec 2024 723,030.22 680,920
Nov 2024 769,089.83 724,040
Oct 2024 718,690.97 676,960
Sep 2024 734,632.35 691,180
Aug 2024 761,488.33 715,300
Jul 2024 702,348.72 659,211
Jun 2024 653,062.91 612,241
May 2024 669,458.53 627,400
Apr 2024 640,751.14 599,500
Mar 2024 680,735.36 634,440
Feb 2024 665,828.1 616,561
Jan 2024 628,071.07 578,020
Dec 2023 592,823.11 542,625
Nov 2023 595,808.66 545,900
Oct 2023 564,028.03 517,825
Sep 2023 578,676.19 531,477
Aug 2023 596,757.68 546,725
Jul 2023 586,948.44 535,400
Jun 2023 568,747.7 517,810
May 2023 537,762.41 488,024
Apr 2023 555,528.04 502,880
Mar 2023 516,947.18 465,600
Feb 2023 516,347.19 463,525
Jan 2023 529,843.16 473,000
Dec 2022 529,236.6 468,711
Nov 2022 540,634.62 480,280
Oct 2022 500,471.43 445,050
Sep 2022 458,941.29 406,470
Aug 2022 476,717.85 421,308
Jul 2022 510,925.82 451,700
Jun 2022 462,515.91 408,950
May 2022 543,507.47 474,050
Apr 2022 561,426.57 484,340
Mar 2022 616,525.66 528,921
Feb 2022 562,489.42 476,205
Jan 2022 559,998.51 469,805
Dec 2021 541,700.57 450,662
Nov 2021 502,629.04 416,876
Oct 2021 524,516.22 432,902
Sep 2021 502,579.43 411,379
Aug 2021 526,632.88 429,900
Jul 2021 514,217.88 418,900
Jun 2021 516,322.74 418,601
May 2021 542,779.87 436,000
Apr 2021 517,641.52 412,500
Mar 2021 487,991.07 385,702
Feb 2021 464,534.75 364,580
Jan 2021 440,840.06 344,100
Dec 2020 447,494.98 347,815
Nov 2020 442,601.53 343,688
Oct 2020 389,321.73 302,500
Sep 2020 412,016.66 320,001
Aug 2020 422,336.62 327,560
Jul 2020 379,784.34 293,631
Jun 2020 347,476.42 267,300
May 2020 364,199.91 278,640
Apr 2020 368,206.71 281,700
Mar 2020 353,150.56 272,000
Feb 2020 400,440.62 309,096
Jan 2020 436,483.12 335,996
Dec 2019 442,863.56 339,590
Nov 2019 430,610.54 330,495
Oct 2019 415,331.09 318,939
Sep 2019 407,004.53 311,832
Aug 2019 395,888.68 303,078
Jul 2019 403,167.45 308,666
Jun 2019 416,511.12 318,350
May 2019 388,733.89 297,060
Apr 2019 426,306.54 325,080
Mar 2019 397,101.81 301,215
Feb 2019 400,647.89 302,200
Jan 2019 414,723.23 311,500
Dec 2018 408,177.42 306,000
Nov 2018 433,466.77 326,000
Oct 2018 407,770.42 307,705
Sep 2018 424,812.96 320,000
Aug 2018 419,724.46 315,800
Jul 2018 401,007.68 301,550
Jun 2018 375,088.16 282,040
May 2018 382,559.29 287,200
Apr 2018 388,764.94 290,650
Mar 2018 401,657.71 299,100
Feb 2018 417,572.97 310,250
Jan 2018 437,211.89 323,375
Dec 2017 404,555.36 297,600
Nov 2017 396,030.12 291,500
Oct 2017 381,054.1 280,470
Sep 2017 373,033.25 274,740
Aug 2017 370,517.71 271,450
Jul 2017 359,765.81 262,786
Jun 2017 348,455.14 254,700
May 2017 340,199.15 248,440
Apr 2017 339,585.39 247,780
Mar 2017 343,437.81 249,850
Feb 2017 353,690.73 257,100
Jan 2017 339,457.65 245,980
Dec 2016 338,855.5 244,121
Nov 2016 329,078.78 237,000
Oct 2016 299,037.48 215,700
Sep 2016 300,132.11 216,220
Aug 2016 314,127.81 225,760
Jul 2016 300,823.55 216,000
Jun 2016 301,692.46 216,975
May 2016 295,317.65 211,695
Apr 2016 306,744.25 219,000
Mar 2016 300,388.04 213,450
Feb 2016 286,282.96 202,555
Jan 2016 274,926.58 194,360
Dec 2015 280,255.07 197,800
Nov 2015 284,324.2 201,360
Oct 2015 288,283.73 204,596
Sep 2015 274,977.05 195,240
Aug 2015 284,801.68 202,531
Jul 2015 300,503.33 214,000
Jun 2015 287,673.99 204,850
May 2015 302,703.56 214,800
Apr 2015 302,263.53 213,400
Mar 2015 308,697.11 217,500
Feb 2015 315,788.49 221,180
Jan 2015 309,538.55 215,865
Dec 2014 322,546.54 226,000
Nov 2014 316,552.6 223,065
Oct 2014 296,402.9 210,000
Sep 2014 291,293.78 206,900
Aug 2014 290,075.86 205,880
Jul 2014 264,615.65 188,124
Jun 2014 267,009.55 189,900
May 2014 270,464.97 192,000
Apr 2014 273,211.93 193,275
Mar 2014 265,709.5 187,350
Feb 2014 247,948.28 173,708
Jan 2014 242,852.28 169,511
Dec 2013 255,819.08 177,900
Nov 2013 251,267.84 174,750
Oct 2013 248,234.9 172,994
Sep 2013 243,897.31 170,410
Aug 2013 239,366.41 167,050
Jul 2013 249,481.54 173,900
Jun 2013 241,973.32 168,600
May 2013 246,438.3 171,300
Apr 2013 229,150.34 159,000
Mar 2013 224,996.12 156,280
Feb 2013 220,272.43 152,600
Jan 2013 212,289.68 145,875
Dec 2012 195,672.45 134,060
Nov 2012 192,024.56 131,916
Oct 2012 187,621.77 129,505
Sep 2012 192,175.79 132,700
Aug 2012 184,101.71 126,560
Jul 2012 186,420.8 127,445
Jun 2012 182,466.05 124,945
May 2012 173,310.57 118,850
Apr 2012 175,947.4 120,800
Mar 2012 178,085.96 121,900
Feb 2012 173,600.44 117,934
Jan 2012 174,351.49 117,925
Dec 2011 170,411.22 114,755
Nov 2011 175,538.5 118,500
Oct 2011 173,096.29 116,950
Sep 2011 157,747.34 106,800
Aug 2011 162,378.85 109,769
Jul 2011 165,394.32 111,500
Jun 2011 172,377.77 116,105
May 2011 176,152.99 118,775
Apr 2011 185,884.74 124,750
Mar 2011 187,906.55 125,300
Feb 2011 198,824.49 131,300
Jan 2011 186,299.49 122,425
Dec 2010 184,167.12 120,450
Nov 2010 184,100.7 120,200
Oct 2010 182,799.1 119,300
Sep 2010 191,004.42 124,500
Aug 2010 182,173.78 118,675
Jul 2010 179,850.52 117,000
Jun 2010 184,501 120,000
May 2010 162,678.53 105,910
Apr 2010 177,277.36 115,325
Mar 2010 187,555.92 121,800
Feb 2010 185,233.69 119,800
Jan 2010 177,237.66 114,600
Dec 2009 153,944.69 99,200
Nov 2009 155,842.34 100,600
Oct 2009 153,472.28 99,000
Sep 2009 156,723.53 101,000
Aug 2009 156,588.65 100,850
Jul 2009 150,948.6 97,000
Jun 2009 139,833.33 90,000
May 2009 143,541.76 91,600
Apr 2009 147,728.2 94,000
Mar 2009 136,595.84 86,700
Feb 2009 124,135.42 78,600
Jan 2009 142,056.23 89,502
Dec 2008 153,989.39 96,600
Nov 2008 164,071.05 104,000
Oct 2008 178,708.13 115,490
Sep 2008 200,047.83 130,600
Aug 2008 178,356.18 116,600
Jul 2008 174,368.66 114,450
Jun 2008 184,932.94 120,750
May 2008 208,299.38 134,650
Apr 2008 208,805.45 133,850
Mar 2008 209,365.55 133,400
Feb 2008 221,628.58 140,000
Jan 2008 215,921.58 136,000
Dec 2007 225,929.92 141,600
Nov 2007 223,386.63 140,100
Oct 2007 212,523.44 132,500
Sep 2007 190,490.8 118,510
Aug 2007 190,822.36 118,390
Jul 2007 176,974.11 110,000
Jun 2007 176,084.66 109,475
May 2007 176,450.08 109,490
Apr 2007 177,058.11 109,200
Mar 2007 177,865.6 108,990
Feb 2007 174,874.13 106,190
Jan 2007 182,200.45 110,050
Dec 2006 182,656.98 109,990
Nov 2006 178,122.45 107,100
Oct 2006 175,159.06 105,475
Sep 2006 158,229.59 95,800
Aug 2006 157,941.71 96,097
Jul 2006 150,846.52 91,600
Jun 2006 151,390.04 91,659
May 2006 152,733.34 92,290
Apr 2006 148,019.59 89,000
Mar 2006 151,543.36 90,350
Feb 2006 146,394.95 86,800
Jan 2006 151,236.29 89,490
Dec 2005 150,907.52 88,620
Nov 2005 151,602.45 89,390
Oct 2005 144,513.38 85,900
Sep 2005 138,229.81 82,000
Aug 2005 141,881.25 83,150
Jul 2005 143,207.63 83,500
Jun 2005 143,870.29 83,500
May 2005 144,978.62 84,100
Apr 2005 145,260.15 84,350
Mar 2005 150,831.36 87,000
Feb 2005 157,602.16 90,200
Jan 2005 157,984.05 89,900
Dec 2004 154,794.07 87,900
Nov 2004 146,857.57 83,700
Oct 2004 147,900.01 84,250
Sep 2004 152,914.21 86,650
Aug 2004 153,855.94 87,000
Jul 2004 154,379.52 87,250
Jun 2004 157,138.59 88,950
May 2004 157,725.79 89,000
Apr 2004 166,474.13 93,390
Mar 2004 166,846.19 93,300
Feb 2004 170,081.22 94,500
Jan 2004 161,933.89 89,490
Dec 2003 153,196.49 84,250
Nov 2003 152,122.23 83,750
Oct 2003 140,950.92 77,810
Sep 2003 135,713.96 75,000
Aug 2003 137,562 75,775
Jul 2003 131,224.62 72,010
Jun 2003 132,261.39 72,500
May 2003 129,666.12 71,000
Apr 2003 127,293.86 69,815
Mar 2003 116,074.09 63,800
Feb 2003 112,927.85 61,700
Jan 2003 124,679.77 67,600
Dec 2002 134,771.69 72,750
Nov 2002 133,642.54 72,300
Oct 2002 137,136.1 74,190
Sep 2002 136,826.46 73,900
Aug 2002 135,384.5 73,000
Jul 2002 127,089.96 68,300
Jun 2002 124,437 66,800
May 2002 139,044.36 74,600
Apr 2002 136,900.91 73,450
Mar 2002 133,262 71,100
Feb 2002 137,592.68 73,000
Jan 2002 139,839.58 73,900
Dec 2001 143,380.3 75,600
Nov 2001 132,235.68 70,000
Oct 2001 134,275.51 71,200
Sep 2001 131,568.2 70,000
Aug 2001 131,028.37 69,400
Jul 2001 130,650.77 69,200
Jun 2001 130,660.32 69,400
May 2001 129,560.78 68,700
Apr 2001 128,820.6 68,000
Mar 2001 124,482.41 65,450
Feb 2001 134,011.07 70,300
Jan 2001 130,910.41 68,400
Dec 2000 136,745.59 71,000
Nov 2000 126,850.12 65,900
Oct 2000 122,685.83 63,700
Sep 2000 124,248.25 64,400
Aug 2000 111,901.6 57,700
Jul 2000 106,859.24 55,100
Jun 2000 104,580.15 53,800
May 2000 114,508.5 58,600
Apr 2000 116,011.64 59,300
Mar 2000 111,968.67 57,200
Feb 2000 86,839.88 44,000
Jan 2000 101,648.68 51,200
Dec 1999 111,707.67 56,100
Nov 1999 114,097.14 57,300
Oct 1999 127,314.86 63,900
Sep 1999 109,778.23 55,000
Aug 1999 128,754.62 64,200
Jul 1999 136,310.83 67,805
Jun 1999 138,928.85 68,900
May 1999 145,179.64 72,000
Apr 1999 154,051.73 76,400
Mar 1999 145,016.86 71,400
Feb 1999 144,846.48 71,100
Jan 1999 132,580.61 65,000
Dec 1998 143,127.58 70,000
Nov 1998 138,749.1 67,900
Oct 1998 131,801.42 64,500
Sep 1998 122,086.37 59,600
Aug 1998 124,081.65 60,500
Jul 1998 143,957.1 70,105
Jun 1998 160,992.68 78,305
May 1998 145,535.6 70,700
Apr 1998 141,473.46 68,600
Mar 1998 138,842.57 67,200
Feb 1998 115,502.55 55,800
Jan 1998 104,311.18 50,300
Dec 1997 95,571.35 46,000
Nov 1997 94,000.45 45,300
Oct 1997 90,624.23 43,700
Sep 1997 93,135.92 44,800
Aug 1997 86,490.08 41,500
Jul 1997 98,553.31 47,200
Jun 1997 98,676.27 47,200
May 1997 90,008.05 43,000
Apr 1997 79,492.35 38,000
Mar 1997 75,821.58 36,200
Feb 1997 74,541.77 35,500
Jan 1997 73,301.57 34,800
Dec 1996 72,053.56 34,100
Nov 1996 70,151.85 33,200
Oct 1996 68,591.19 32,400
Sep 1996 68,277.59 32,150
Aug 1996 66,683.72 31,300
Jul 1996 65,957.33 30,900
Jun 1996 65,655.88 30,700
May 1996 65,269.81 30,500
Apr 1996 71,827.39 33,500
Mar 1996 72,857.51 33,850
Feb 1996 76,803.53 35,500
Jan 1996 69,238.5 31,900
Dec 1995 70,081.1 32,100
Nov 1995 68,290.04 31,300
Oct 1995 64,320.94 29,500
Sep 1995 64,312.12 29,400
Aug 1995 55,890.36 25,500
Jul 1995 54,388.81 24,750
Jun 1995 51,532.03 23,450
May 1995 49,982.21 22,700
Apr 1995 47,654.09 21,600
Mar 1995 50,135.64 22,650
Feb 1995 49,468.95 22,275
Jan 1995 54,850.47 24,600
Dec 1994 45,668.06 20,400
Nov 1994 45,947.89 20,525
Oct 1994 45,392.91 20,250
Sep 1994 42,507.23 18,950
Aug 1994 42,958.72 19,100
Jul 1994 44,261.53 19,600
Jun 1994 36,455.95 16,100
May 1994 36,579.53 16,100
Apr 1994 36,604.34 16,100
Mar 1994 36,255.66 15,925
Feb 1994 35,294.14 15,450
Jan 1994 37,134.01 16,200
Dec 1993 37,523.2 16,325
Nov 1993 39,649.33 17,250
Oct 1993 39,676.54 17,250
Sep 1993 38,512.58 16,675
Aug 1993 40,559.6 17,525
Jul 1993 37,132.74 16,000
Jun 1993 35,740.26 15,400
May 1993 34,860.23 15,000
Apr 1993 29,439.62 12,650
Mar 1993 29,755 12,750
Feb 1993 29,214.95 12,475
Jan 1993 28,436.1 12,100
Dec 1992 27,749.79 11,750
Nov 1992 25,311.23 10,725
Oct 1992 22,392.74 9,475
Sep 1992 22,294.1 9,400
Aug 1992 21,703.32 9,125
Jul 1992 22,719.19 9,525
Jun 1992 22,050.71 9,225
May 1992 21,829.77 9,100
Apr 1992 21,921.13 9,125
Mar 1992 21,531.59 8,950
Feb 1992 21,096.31 8,725
Jan 1992 21,476.02 8,850
Dec 1991 21,993.21 9,050
Nov 1991 20,306.8 8,350
Oct 1991 20,902.5 8,570
Sep 1991 21,677.96 8,875
Aug 1991 21,527.85 8,775
Jul 1991 20,975.94 8,525
Jun 1991 20,698.77 8,400
May 1991 21,624.82 8,750
Apr 1991 20,139.6 8,125
Mar 1991 19,921.2 8,025
Feb 1991 20,075.06 8,075
Jan 1991 18,424.3 7,400
Dec 1990 16,718.58 6,675
Nov 1990 15,892.04 6,345
Oct 1990 14,936.19 5,950
Sep 1990 14,836.83 5,875
Aug 1990 16,297.78 6,400
Jul 1990 17,989.73 7,000
Jun 1990 18,574.95 7,200
May 1990 18,545.89 7,150
Apr 1990 17,419.12 6,700
Mar 1990 17,511.28 6,725
Feb 1990 18,916.12 7,225
Jan 1990 19,610.22 7,455
Dec 1989 23,054.66 8,675
Nov 1989 21,960.01 8,250
Oct 1989 22,706.18 8,510
Sep 1989 23,123.49 8,625
Aug 1989 21,449.49 7,975
Jul 1989 20,204.36 7,500
Jun 1989 17,755.31 6,575
May 1989 17,392.29 6,425
Apr 1989 17,082.83 6,275
Mar 1989 13,563.85 4,950
Feb 1989 13,021.84 4,725
Jan 1989 13,629.07 4,925
Dec 1988 13,071.19 4,700
Nov 1988 13,092.92 4,700
Oct 1988 13,173.51 4,725
Sep 1988 13,427.3 4,800
Aug 1988 12,109.49 4,300
Jul 1988 12,372.68 4,375
Jun 1988 11,786.11 4,150
May 1988 11,194.53 3,925
Apr 1988 10,803.5 3,775
Mar 1988 9,852.33 3,425
Feb 1988 9,100.32 3,150
Jan 1988 8,776.34 3,030
Dec 1987 8,566.84 2,950
Nov 1987 8,421.64 2,900
Oct 1987 9,664.21 3,325
Sep 1987 12,297.56 4,220
Aug 1987 11,688.29 3,990
Jul 1987 11,661.57 3,960
Jun 1987 10,334.19 3,500
May 1987 10,104.06 3,410
Apr 1987 10,050.72 3,380
Mar 1987 10,523.04 3,520
Feb 1987 10,089.72 3,360
Jan 1987 9,342.46 3,100
Dec 1986 8,552.46 2,820
Nov 1986 8,317.36 2,740
Oct 1986 8,735.07 2,875
Sep 1986 7,982.74 2,625
Aug 1986 8,859.22 2,900
Jul 1986 8,645.87 2,825
Jun 1986 9,104.94 2,975
May 1986 8,801.21 2,860
Apr 1986 8,979.82 2,910
Mar 1986 9,610.14 3,120
Feb 1986 8,462.39 2,760
Jan 1986 6,895.09 2,255
Dec 1985 7,573.23 2,470
Nov 1985 8,070.62 2,625
Oct 1985 8,077.48 2,620
Sep 1985 6,560.12 2,120
Aug 1985 6,330.1 2,040
Jul 1985 6,559.46 2,110
Jun 1985 6,696.23 2,150
May 1985 5,809.22 1,860
Apr 1985 5,799.6 1,850
Mar 1985 5,716.62 1,815
Feb 1985 4,710.69 1,490
Jan 1985 4,431.25 1,395
Dec 1984 4,057.76 1,275
Nov 1984 4,073.67 1,280
Oct 1984 4,137.32 1,300
Sep 1984 4,165.1 1,305
Aug 1984 4,136.93 1,290
Jul 1984 3,991.86 1,240
Jun 1984 4,071.89 1,260
May 1984 4,180.93 1,290
Apr 1984 4,063.08 1,250
Mar 1984 4,050.22 1,240
Feb 1984 4,189.04 1,280
Jan 1984 4,357.59 1,325
Dec 1983 4,333.77 1,310
Nov 1983 4,470.51 1,350
Oct 1983 4,346.64 1,310
Sep 1983 4,126.64 1,240
Aug 1983 3,411.43 1,020
Jul 1983 3,186.86 950
Jun 1983 3,064.94 910
May 1983 3,327.58 985
Apr 1983 3,313.84 975
Mar 1983 3,303.31 965
Feb 1983 2,841.19 830
Jan 1983 2,621.36 765
Dec 1982 2,661.07 775
Nov 1982 2,359.54 690
Oct 1982 2,081.72 610
Sep 1982 1,882.71 550
Aug 1982 1,663.61 485
Jul 1982 1,632.65 475
Jun 1982 1,710.16 495
May 1982 1,766.57 505
Apr 1982 1,800.98 510
Mar 1982 1,702.21 480
Feb 1982 1,824.4 515
Jan 1982 1,812.44 510
Dec 1981 1,996.48 560
Nov 1981 2,056.52 575
Oct 1981 1,811.96 505
Sep 1981 1,654.04 460
Aug 1981 1,815.4 500
Jul 1981 1,774.4 485
Jun 1981 1,886.45 510
May 1981 1,940.58 520
Apr 1981 1,937.02 515
Mar 1981 1,817.62 480
Feb 1981 1,849.09 485
Jan 1981 1,656.36 430
Dec 1980 1,650.37 425
Nov 1980 1,685.41 430
Oct 1980 1,659.81 420
Sep 1980 1,535.98 385
Aug 1980 1,528.77 380
Jul 1980 1,377.77 340
Jun 1980 1,235.94 305
May 1980 1,310.99 320
Apr 1980 1,137.76 275
Mar 1980 1,087.79 260

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 May 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 -9.96% -6.14%
Last 3 years 9.75% 13.36%
Last 5 years 5.54% 10.27%
Last 10 years 9.18% 12.88%
Last 20 years 7.99% 10.75%
Last 30 years 8.29% 11.07%
Last 40 years 11.6% 14.79%

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
Jun 15, 2026
742,046
Highest
May 2, 2025
809,350
Highest, Inflation-Adjusted
May 2, 2025
843,736.64
Annualized return
Since Mar 17, 1980
18.49%
Annualized return, Inflation-Adjusted
Since Mar 17, 1980
14.88%

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Other Inflation-Adjusted Data