ABT vs. BRK-B: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ABT and BRK-B, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
BRK-B’s market capitalization of 1,047.52 billion USD is significantly greater than ABT’s 233.90 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.
With betas of 0.74 for ABT and 0.84 for BRK-B, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.
| Symbol | ABT | BRK-B |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Abbott Laboratories | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Healthcare | Financial Services |
| Industry | Medical - Devices | Insurance - Diversified |
| CEO | Robert B. Ford | Warren E. Buffett |
| Price | 134.44 USD | 485 USD |
| Market Cap | 233.90 billion USD | 1,047.52 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.74 | 0.84 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | March 17, 1980 | May 9, 1996 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ABT and BRK-B by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
ABT
30.76%
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 49.04%
- Q3
- 9.53%
- Median
- -7.46%
- Q1
- -32.83%
- Min
- -82.64%
In the upper quartile for the Medical - Devices industry, ABT’s Return on Equity of 30.76% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
BRK-B
12.77%
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 19.59%
- Q3
- 17.66%
- Median
- 12.77%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- -4.43%
BRK-B’s Return on Equity of 12.77% is on par with the norm for the Insurance - Diversified industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Return on Invested Capital
ABT
19.13%
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 21.88%
- Q3
- 6.63%
- Median
- -1.11%
- Q1
- -21.08%
- Min
- -51.95%
In the upper quartile for the Medical - Devices industry, ABT’s Return on Invested Capital of 19.13% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
BRK-B
7.95%
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 32.46%
- Q3
- 16.21%
- Median
- 9.46%
- Q1
- 2.09%
- Min
- -10.51%
Return on Invested Capital is often not a primary measure of capital efficiency in the Insurance - Diversified industry.
Net Profit Margin
ABT
31.89%
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 44.80%
- Q3
- 9.77%
- Median
- -5.53%
- Q1
- -29.37%
- Min
- -87.68%
A Net Profit Margin of 31.89% places ABT in the upper quartile for the Medical - Devices industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
BRK-B
21.07%
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 26.00%
- Q3
- 19.46%
- Median
- 9.37%
- Q1
- 5.55%
- Min
- -7.05%
A Net Profit Margin of 21.07% places BRK-B in the upper quartile for the Insurance - Diversified industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
Operating Profit Margin
ABT
16.97%
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 30.13%
- Q3
- 13.12%
- Median
- 3.47%
- Q1
- -24.42%
- Min
- -80.56%
An Operating Profit Margin of 16.97% places ABT in the upper quartile for the Medical - Devices industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
BRK-B
25.62%
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 44.52%
- Q3
- 25.84%
- Median
- 14.16%
- Q1
- 6.78%
- Min
- -2.60%
BRK-B’s Operating Profit Margin of 25.62% is around the midpoint for the Insurance - Diversified industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ABT | BRK-B |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 30.76% | 12.77% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 16.58% | 6.95% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | 19.13% | 7.95% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 31.89% | 21.07% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 16.97% | 25.62% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 55.89% | 39.00% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
ABT
1.78
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 12.68
- Q3
- 6.30
- Median
- 4.05
- Q1
- 1.85
- Min
- 0.01
ABT’s Current Ratio of 1.78 falls into the lower quartile for the Medical - Devices industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
BRK-B
2.87
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 4.41
- Q3
- 4.03
- Median
- 2.86
- Q1
- 2.82
- Min
- 2.82
BRK-B’s Current Ratio of 2.87 aligns with the median group of the Insurance - Diversified industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
ABT
0.27
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 2.34
- Q3
- 1.09
- Median
- 0.37
- Q1
- 0.08
- Min
- 0.00
ABT’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.27 is typical for the Medical - Devices industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
BRK-B
0.19
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 0.54
- Q3
- 0.39
- Median
- 0.27
- Q1
- 0.21
- Min
- 0.13
Falling into the lower quartile for the Insurance - Diversified industry, BRK-B’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.19 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
Interest Coverage Ratio
ABT
15.39
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 18.18
- Q3
- 7.53
- Median
- 0.85
- Q1
- -9.80
- Min
- -33.94
ABT’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 15.39 is in the upper quartile for the Medical - Devices industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
BRK-B
19.13
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 19.23
- Q3
- 17.46
- Median
- 7.97
- Q1
- 4.61
- Min
- -1.63
BRK-B’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 19.13 is in the upper quartile for the Insurance - Diversified industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ABT | BRK-B |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.78 | 2.87 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.27 | 2.72 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.27 | 0.19 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.16 | 0.11 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 0.60 | 0.71 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 15.39 | 19.13 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ABT and BRK-B. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
ABT
1.70%
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 3.57%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 1.70%, ABT offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Medical - Devices industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
BRK-B
0.00%
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 8.16%
- Q3
- 5.54%
- Median
- 2.46%
- Q1
- 1.59%
- Min
- 0.00%
BRK-B currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
Dividend Payout Ratio
ABT
28.92%
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 102.12%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ABT’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 28.92% is in the upper quartile for the Medical - Devices industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
BRK-B
0.00%
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 101.86%
- Q3
- 53.36%
- Median
- 21.69%
- Q1
- 5.33%
- Min
- 0.00%
BRK-B has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ABT | BRK-B |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.70% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 28.92% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
ABT
17.40
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 90.56
- Q3
- 56.92
- Median
- 43.19
- Q1
- 21.79
- Min
- 5.55
In the lower quartile for the Medical - Devices industry, ABT’s P/E Ratio of 17.40 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
BRK-B
12.93
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 18.52
- Q3
- 16.13
- Median
- 13.33
- Q1
- 9.73
- Min
- 2.62
BRK-B’s P/E Ratio of 12.93 is within the middle range for the Insurance - Diversified industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
ABT
1.73
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 6.56
- Q3
- 3.52
- Median
- 2.22
- Q1
- 0.55
- Min
- 0.03
ABT’s Forward PEG Ratio of 1.73 is within the middle range of its peers in the Medical - Devices industry. This suggests a reasonable balance between the stock’s price and its expected growth, aligning with sector valuation norms.
BRK-B
2.59
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 2.60
- Q3
- 2.07
- Median
- 1.20
- Q1
- 0.77
- Min
- 0.04
A Forward PEG Ratio of 2.59 places BRK-B in the upper quartile for the Insurance - Diversified industry. This suggests the stock is potentially expensive compared to its peers relative to its growth forecast, which may warrant caution.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
ABT
5.52
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 15.74
- Q3
- 8.12
- Median
- 3.40
- Q1
- 2.37
- Min
- 0.42
ABT’s P/S Ratio of 5.52 aligns with the market consensus for the Medical - Devices industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
BRK-B
2.73
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 3.08
- Q3
- 2.00
- Median
- 1.15
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- 0.38
BRK-B’s P/S Ratio of 2.73 is in the upper echelon for the Insurance - Diversified industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio
ABT
4.81
Medical - Devices Industry
- Max
- 16.65
- Q3
- 8.03
- Median
- 3.73
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- 0.65
ABT’s P/B Ratio of 4.81 is within the conventional range for the Medical - Devices industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
BRK-B
1.60
Insurance - Diversified Industry
- Max
- 2.12
- Q3
- 1.80
- Median
- 1.59
- Q1
- 1.29
- Min
- 0.74
BRK-B’s P/B Ratio of 1.60 is within the conventional range for the Insurance - Diversified industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ABT | BRK-B |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 17.40 | 12.93 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 1.73 | 2.59 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 5.52 | 2.73 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 4.81 | 1.60 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 35.14 | 86.82 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 21.49 | 9.59 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 5.68 | 2.95 |