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BRK.A vs. PLTR: Berkshire Hathaway vs. Palantir Stock Comparison

How do Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR) 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

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) is classified in the Financials sector (Financial Services), whereas Palantir (PLTR) belongs to Information Technology (Software & Services) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) has more than two decades of public-market history since March 17, 1980, whereas Palantir (PLTR) listed on September 30, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR)
Profile ItemBRK.APLTR
NameBerkshire Hathaway Inc. Class APalantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupFinancial ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryFinancial ServicesSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-Sector HoldingsApplication Software
Market Capitalization1,222.51 billion USD386.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980September 30, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BRK.A
PLTR
GSPC
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBRK.APLTR
Total Return (1Y)13.87%-4.94%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.28%109.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)14.57%47.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BRK.A
PLTR
GSPC
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Palantir (PLTR) has an aggressive beta of 1.63, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) is defensive at 0.56 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Palantir (PLTR) is heavily traded at around 27.20M shares per day, whereas Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) is thinly traded at only 206 — larger orders in the latter may face more price impact or wider spreads, depending on market conditions.

Risk profile metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBRK.APLTR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)14.86%60.50%
Beta (5Y)0.561.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-25.98%-75.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)20627.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BRK.A and PLTR are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBRK.APLTR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.65-0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.96-0.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at 12.12% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PLTR.

BRK.A

Financial Services industry group

12.12%

Max
44.78%
Q3
21.85%
Median
12.91%
BRK.A
12.12%
Q1
4.48%
Min
-18.71%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

40.91%

Max
53.85%
PLTR
40.91%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Financial Services and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at 22.30% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

BRK.A

Financial Services industry group

22.30%

Max
62.84%
Q3
28.05%
BRK.A
22.30%
Median
15.36%
Q1
4.82%
Min
-28.52%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

50.34%

PLTR
50.34%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Financial Services and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at 32.56%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

BRK.A

Financial Services industry group

32.56%

Max
107.33%
Q3
55.90%
BRK.A
32.56%
Median
30.09%
Q1
14.60%
Min
-44.34%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

46.89%

PLTR
46.89%
Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Financial Services and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBRK.APLTR
ROE (TTM)12.12%40.91%
ROA (TTM)6.01%19.31%
Net Margin (TTM)22.30%50.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)32.56%46.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)--84.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% delivers above-range revenue growth, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at -3.23% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.

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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% delivers above-range EPS growth, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at -24.78% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in earnings momentum.

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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBRK.APLTR
Revenue Growth (YoY)-3.23%56.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)20.59%32.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)-24.78%231.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) shows current ratio of 7.10; Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) doesn’t get one — Financial Services balance sheets aren’t split into current and non-current buckets, so short-term liquidity there is judged through regulatory measures instead.

BRK.A

Financial Services industry group

--

BRK.A
--
Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

7.10

PLTR
7.10
Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR): BRK.A’s current ratio is not assessed under the Financial Services industry convention, so the chart shows available visual context for PLTR only.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) shows debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02; for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) the ratio is set aside — in Financial Services, balance-sheet leverage is part of the business model itself, so capital-adequacy measures do the job this ratio does elsewhere.

BRK.A

Financial Services industry group

--

BRK.A
--
Max
--
Q3
--
Median
--
Q1
--
Min
--

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.02

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
PLTR
0.02
Min
0.00
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR): BRK.A’s debt-to-equity ratio is not assessed under the Financial Services industry convention, so the chart shows available visual context for PLTR only.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBRK.APLTR
Current Ratio (MRQ)--7.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--0.02
Net Debt / EBITDA---3.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) nor Palantir (PLTR) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

BRK.A

Financial Services industry group

0.00%

Max
9.77%
Q3
3.92%
Median
1.09%
BRK.A
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Financial Services and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) nor Palantir (PLTR) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

BRK.A

Financial Services industry group

0.00%

Max
241.07%
Q3
97.36%
Median
25.77%
BRK.A
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Financial Services and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBRK.APLTR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at 14.36 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

BRK.A

Financial Services industry group

14.36

Max
45.85
Q3
24.64
Median
15.37
BRK.A
14.36
Q1
9.68
Min
0.16

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

112.94

PLTR
112.94
Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Financial Services and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at 3.18 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 clears its benchmark range — PLTR looks notably rich on sales.

BRK.A

Financial Services industry group

3.18

Max
9.23
Q3
4.57
BRK.A
3.18
Median
2.72
Q1
1.28
Min
-0.55

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

53.02

PLTR
53.02
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Financial Services and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) at 1.72 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 prices above its benchmark range — PLTR looks rich relative to book.

BRK.A

Financial Services industry group

1.72

Max
7.79
Q3
3.63
BRK.A
1.72
Median
1.57
Q1
0.81
Min
-0.39

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

34.41

PLTR
34.41
Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Financial Services and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricBRK.APLTR
P/E Ratio (TTM)14.36112.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.1853.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.7234.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)--0.69%