Berkshire purchased $51 billion inventory as Buffett combats provide chain; working outcomes flat By Reuters

By Jonathan Stempel

OMAHA, Neb. (Reuters) – Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:) Inc dove into fairness markets within the first quarter, spending greater than $51 billion on shares together with a a lot bigger stake in Chevron Corp. (NYSE:)

Berkshire, which Buffett has run since 1965, additionally stated on Saturday quarterly working revenue was little modified from a 12 months earlier, with some companies capable of fend off provide chain disruptions. Geico, the automobile insurer, posted an underwriting loss.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based firm additionally stated it repurchased $3.2 billion of its personal inventory within the quarter, however none within the first three weeks of April.

Berkshire’s disclosures recommend that Buffett has lastly discovered giant new makes use of to eliminate Berkshire’s money pile, which shrank greater than $40 billion to about $106 billion.

The Chevron stake grew to $25.9 billion as of March 31 from simply $4.5 billion three months earlier, as oil costs surged greater following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

That got here on the heels of Berkshire’s buy of nicely over $6 billion of inventory in Occidental Petroleum Corp (NYSE:), the place it already had a $10 billion most well-liked inventory stake.

Buffett has additionally dedicated $11.6 billion to purchase insurance coverage firm Alleghany (NYSE:) Corp, and purchased $4.2 billion of HP Inc (NYSE:) inventory.

Berkshire ended March with $391 billion of shares, greater than half of the corporate’s $712 billion total market worth.

Different companies embrace the BNSF railroad, Berkshire Hathaway Vitality, and a wide range of manufacturing and retail operations together with See’s Candies and Dairy Queen ice cream.

NET RESULTS FALL

First-quarter working revenue edged as much as $7.04 billion, or about $4,786 per Class A share, from $7.02 billion a 12 months earlier.

Berkshire’s web earnings fell 53% to $5.46 billion, or $3,702 per Class A share, to $11.71 billion, or $7,638 per Class A share, a 12 months earlier.

Internet outcomes included $1.58 billion of positive factors and losses from shares together with Apple Inc (NASDAQ:), in addition to Chevron.

An accounting rule requires Berkshire to report unrealized positive factors and losses with web outcomes, and Buffett urges traders to disregard the ensuing volatility.

Berkshire launched outcomes forward of its first in-person annual shareholder assembly since 2019 in Omaha.

DISRUPTIONS

In its quarterly report, Berkshire alluded to the Ukraine invasion, with out mentioning it particularly, and the unfold of Omicron variants of COVID-19 in discussing the provision chain points that many companies now face.

“Vital disruptions of provide chains and better prices have continued in 2022,” it stated. “Additional, the event of geopolitical conflicts in 2022 have contributed to disruptions of provide chains, leading to value will increase for commodities, items, and providers in lots of components of the world.”

Berkshire companies that took hits included Precision Castparts plane components, Clayton Properties cell properties and McLane meals distribution.

Chip shortages had been additionally an issue, dampening shopper delivery quantity at BNSF and lowering gross sales quantity at Berkshire Hathaway Automotive automobile dealerships.

Income however rose at each, with BNSF benefiting from greater gas costs and surcharges, and automobile and truck gross sales income rising as a result of automobiles are getting dearer.

Rising used automobile costs and shortages of alternative components additionally weighed on the Geico auto insurer, which posted an underwriting loss as a result of loss claims are growing.

Revenue from Berkshire Hathaway Vitality, certainly one of Berkshire’s largest companies and a gradual earnings generator, rose 7%, helped by greater electrical utility margins and tax advantages at its MidAmerican Vitality unit.

Berkshire’s inventory has withstood latest market volatility much better than many different giant U.S. shares. Its Class A shares are up greater than 7% this 12 months, whereas the has fallen 13%.