Buffett's Berkshire posts record profit, quarterly results also rise

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc on Saturday posted its second straight record annual profit, bolstered by gains from its common stock investments and as rising interest rates helped its insurance businesses generate more income.

Fourth-quarter operating profit rose 28% to $8.48 billion, or about $5,884 per Class A share, from $6.63 billion a year earlier.

Net income for the quarter more than doubled to $37.57 billion, or $26,043 per Class A share, from $18.08 billion a year earlier.

Buffett considers net results misleading because they include gains and losses on investments that Berkshire has not sold.

For all of 2023, Berkshire posted a net profit of $96.2 billion, topping the old record $89.9 billion set in 2021. Berkshire lost $22.8 billion in 2022, when the stock market fell.