Berkshire Hathaway's Q1 Operating Earnings Jumped 39%

Berkshire Hathaway's ( BRK ) Q1 operating earnings rose 39% to $11.22 billion, driven by robust insurance and investment income. The Omaha-based company reported a 39% increase from $8.065 billion in the year-ago quarter. At the end of the quarter, approximately 75% of the aggregate fair value was concentrated in five companies.

In Q1 net earnings, investment losses totaled approximately $9.7 billion, while gains amounted to around $23.4 billion in the same period of 2023. These gains and losses were primarily due to changes in unrealized gains in equity security investments. After-tax realized gains from investment sales were $11.2 billion in the quarter under review, compared with $1.7 billion in the year-ago period.

Net earnings attributable to Berkshire ( BRK ) shareholders decreased to $12.702 billion from $35.504 billion a year ago. Insurance underwriting generated earnings of $2.59 billion versus $911 million year over year. Earnings from insurance-investment income totaled $2.598 billion compared to $1.969 billion in the year-ago period.

Berkshire Hathaway ( BRK ) Energy Company generated first-quarter earnings of $717 million, higher than $416 million a year ago. Other controlled businesses earnings in the first quarter totaled $3.088 billion, higher than the $3.065 billion in the first quarter of 2023.

Warren Buffett, known as the "Oracle of Omaha," has a real-time net worth of $131.7 billion. BRK/B shares closed higher by 0.07% to $400.87 on Friday, with shares up by 0.26% after hours.