BLK vs. BRK.A: BlackRock vs. Berkshire Hathaway Stock Comparison
How do BlackRock (BLK) and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
BlackRock (BLK) and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but BLK is classified in Capital Markets while BRK.A is classified in Financial Services.
| Profile Item | BLK | BRK.A |
|---|---|---|
| Name | BlackRock, Inc. | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Financial Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Asset Management & Custody Banks | Multi-Sector Holdings |
| Market Capitalization | 171.27 billion USD | 1,056.00 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 1, 1999 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | BLK | BRK.A |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 10.19% | 0.60% |
Risk
Drawdown
BlackRock (BLK) has an aggressive beta of 1.41, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) is defensive at 0.61 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | BLK | BRK.A |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.88% | 13.98% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.41 | 0.61 |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 692.07K | 198 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both BlackRock (BLK) at 11.90% and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at 10.50% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
BLK
Financial Services industry group
11.90%
- Max
- 42.17%
- Q3
- 21.45%
- Median
- 12.25%
- BLK
- 11.90%
- Q1
- 5.03%
- Min
- -17.69%
BRK.A
Financial Services industry group
10.50%
- Max
- 42.17%
- Q3
- 21.45%
- Median
- 12.25%
- BRK.A
- 10.50%
- Q1
- 5.03%
- Min
- -17.69%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both BlackRock (BLK) at 24.40% and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at 19.31% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
BLK
Financial Services industry group
24.40%
- Max
- 66.55%
- Q3
- 30.55%
- BLK
- 24.40%
- Median
- 16.68%
- Q1
- 4.51%
- Min
- -26.88%
BRK.A
Financial Services industry group
19.31%
- Max
- 66.55%
- Q3
- 30.55%
- BRK.A
- 19.31%
- Median
- 16.68%
- Q1
- 4.51%
- Min
- -26.88%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both BlackRock (BLK) at 35.64% and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at 14.35% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
BLK
Financial Services industry group
35.64%
- Max
- 95.95%
- Q3
- 48.12%
- BLK
- 35.64%
- Median
- 26.49%
- Q1
- 11.92%
- Min
- -36.26%
BRK.A
Financial Services industry group
14.35%
- Max
- 95.95%
- Q3
- 48.12%
- Median
- 26.49%
- BRK.A
- 14.35%
- Q1
- 11.92%
- Min
- -36.26%
Profitability at a Glance
| Metric | BLK | BRK.A |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 11.90% | 10.50% |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.62% | 5.39% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 24.40% | 19.31% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 35.64% | 14.35% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Metric | BLK | BRK.A |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 18.67% | -3.23% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.65% | 20.59% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Metric | BLK | BRK.A |
|---|---|---|
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -15.95% | -24.78% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 1.30% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: BlackRock (BLK) in Financial Services and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) in Financial Services both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: BlackRock (BLK) in Financial Services and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) in Financial Services run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Metric | BLK | BRK.A |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile BlackRock (BLK) reports a yield of 2.03%, ranking against industry peers normally.
BLK
Financial Services industry group
2.03%
- Max
- 18.02%
- Q3
- 8.19%
- BLK
- 2.03%
- Median
- 1.52%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BRK.A
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 18.02%
- Q3
- 8.19%
- Median
- 1.52%
- BRK.A
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile BlackRock (BLK) reports a payout of 53.76%, ranking against industry peers normally.
BLK
Financial Services industry group
53.76%
- Max
- 228.57%
- Q3
- 94.58%
- BLK
- 53.76%
- Median
- 25.37%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BRK.A
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 228.57%
- Q3
- 94.58%
- Median
- 25.37%
- BRK.A
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | BLK | BRK.A |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.03% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 53.76% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at 14.58 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while BlackRock (BLK) at 26.45 sits in the richer quartile — BLK needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
BLK
Financial Services industry group
26.45
- Max
- 45.51
- BLK
- 26.45
- Q3
- 25.29
- Median
- 14.65
- Q1
- 9.07
- Min
- 0.64
BRK.A
Financial Services industry group
14.58
- Max
- 45.51
- Q3
- 25.29
- Median
- 14.65
- BRK.A
- 14.58
- Q1
- 9.07
- Min
- 0.64
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at 2.81 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while BlackRock (BLK) at 6.68 sits in the pricier quartile — BLK costs more per dollar of sales.
BLK
Financial Services industry group
6.68
- Max
- 9.92
- BLK
- 6.68
- Q3
- 4.86
- Median
- 2.85
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- -1.10
BRK.A
Financial Services industry group
2.81
- Max
- 9.92
- Q3
- 4.86
- Median
- 2.85
- BRK.A
- 2.81
- Q1
- 1.44
- Min
- -1.10
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both BlackRock (BLK) at 2.88 and Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at 1.45 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
BLK
Financial Services industry group
2.88
- Max
- 7.44
- Q3
- 3.58
- BLK
- 2.88
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 0.90
- Min
- 0.00
BRK.A
Financial Services industry group
1.45
- Max
- 7.44
- Q3
- 3.58
- Median
- 1.67
- BRK.A
- 1.45
- Q1
- 0.90
- Min
- 0.00
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | BLK | BRK.A |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.45 | 14.58 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 6.68 | 2.81 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.88 | 1.45 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |