Berkshire Hathaway stock scales record as operating profit tops $10 bln

Berkshire Hathaway’s (BRKa.N) stock price set a record high on Monday, rising more than 2%, after the conglomerate run by billionaire investor Warren Buffett said quarterly operating profit topped $10 billion for the first time.

In morning trading, Berkshire’s stock price rose $14,300, or 2.7%, to $547,900, surpassing the previous high $544,000 set on March 28, 2022.

Rising interest rates helped Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire in the second quarter generate more profit from fixed-income investments, including a cash stake that grew to $147.4 billion, while fewer accident claims bolstered Geico car insurance.

That helped offset declining profit at the BNSF railroad, and lower earnings from building products companies such as Clayton Homes as well as consumer businesses such as Forest River recreational vehicles and Duracell batteries.

Buffett’s company also posted second-quarter net income of $35.9 billion, reflecting unrealized gains on investments such as Apple (AAPL.O), whose stock price rose 17.6% in the quarter.

Berkshire owned $177.6 billion of the iPhone maker’s shares at the end of June.

UBS analyst Brian Meredith, who rates Berkshire “buy,” raised his 12-month price target for the Class A shares to $621,591 from $608,000, calling the stock “an attractive play in an uncertain macro environment.”

This report’s information was first seen on REUTERS; to read more, click this link.