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11. Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway
Rank: 11 (Previous rank: 13)
CEO: Warren E. Buffett
Compare tool: Berkshire Hathaway vs. Top 10
If Warren Buffett has lost a step, it didn't show in 2009. Berkshire rolled up its gaudiest net-worth gain ever and arranged its biggest deal, a $26 billion purchase of railroad Burlington Northern that was completed in 2010. The company also announced a stock split that brings Berkshire ownership within reach for those reluctant to plunk down thousands of dollars for a single share.

Skeptics complain Buffett has drifted from his value-seeking discipline, but the stock is up 23% this year. Maybe that's why fans spend so much time debating who might eventually fill his rather large shoes. --Colin Barr

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Is Berkshire Hathaway a great company, or what?
Key financials $ millions % change
from 2008
Revenues 112,493.0 4.4
Profits 8,055.0 61.3
Assets 297,119.0
Stockholders' equity 131,102.0
Market value (3/26/2010) 200,900.5
Profits as % of  
Revenues 7.2
Assets 2.7
Stockholders' equity 6.1
Earnings per share  
2009 $ 5193.00
% change from 2008 61.1
1999-2009 annual growth rate % 17.6
Total return to investors %
2009 2.7
1999-2009 annual rate 5.9
Rank Company 500
rank
Revenues
($ millions)
1 Berkshire Hathaway 11 112,493.0
2 American International Group 16 103,189.0
3 Allstate 68 32,013.0
4 Liberty Mutual Insurance Group 71 31,094.0
5 Hartford Financial Services 97 24,701.0
6 Travelers Cos. 98 24,680.0
7 Nationwide 118 20,751.0
8 United Services Automobile Association 132 17,557.6
9 Progressive 161 14,563.6
10 Loews 165 14,123.0
11 Chubb 176 13,016.0
12 Assurant 268 8,700.5
13 American Family Insurance Group 344 6,453.4
14 First American Corp. 361 5,972.8
15 Fidelity National Financial 366 5,857.7
16 W.R. Berkley 463 4,431.2
17 American Financial Group 478 4,320.6
18 Erie Insurance Group 484 4,255.4
Issue date: May 3, 2010.
Figures do not include Burlington Northern Santa Fe (2009 rank: 167), acquired Feb. 12, 2010.
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Headquarters
MAPS
Berkshire Hathaway
3555 Farnam St.
Omaha, NE 68131
402-346-1400
www.berkshirehathaway.com
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Rank # of Fortune 500 Companies
California 57
Texas 57
New York 56
Company 2009 $ (millions)
Exxon Mobil $19,280.0
Microsoft $14,569.0
Wal-Mart Stores $14,335.0
FAQ and methodology
Included in the survey are U.S. incorporated companies filing financial statements with a government agency. This includes private companies... More
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