10 Most Profitable Large Cap Stocks to Buy Now

2. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 131

Last year net income: $88.99 billion

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) is a multinational conglomerate with a diverse portfolio of wholly owned subsidiaries and equity investments across industries such as insurance, energy, manufacturing, retail, and transportation. It owns companies like GEICO, BNSF Railway, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy, while holding significant stakes in publicly traded firms such as Apple, Coca-Cola, and Bank of America. The company generates revenue through its insurance underwriting, investment income, and the operations of its subsidiaries.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B)’s net earnings attributable to shareholders were $89 billion for 2024, including $41.6 billion in after-tax investment gains, which can cause earnings volatility. Insurance underwriting earnings were $9.0 billion in 2024, benefiting from improved results at GEICO, and included estimated claims from Hurricanes Helene and Milton ($1.2 billion after-tax) and a bankruptcy settlement accrual. BNSF’s after-tax earnings declined 1.1% due to a labor agreement charge and litigation charges, offset by higher volume, productivity, and lower costs. Berkshire Hathaway Energy’s earnings increased $1.4 billion, reflecting lower wildfire loss accruals and higher pipeline earnings. Manufacturing, service, and retailing earnings decreased 2.2%, with lower service and retailing earnings offsetting manufacturing increases.

No Class A or Class B shares were repurchased by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK-B) in the fourth quarter of 2024. Cash, cash equivalents, and US Treasury Bills were $318.0 billion at year-end. Equity and fixed maturity securities, excluding Kraft Heinz and Occidental, were $287.0 billion. The company acquired the remaining Pilot ownership (20%) for $2.6 billion and BHE repurchased 5.85% of its outstanding common stock from noncontrolling shareholders for $2.9 billion. Consolidated borrowings were $124.8 billion. Operating cash flows were $30.6 billion, net of $28.5 billion in income tax payments, largely from equity security sales gains. All in all, BRK-B is one of the most profitable large cap stocks to buy now.