BRK.B vs. COIN: Berkshire Hathaway vs. Coinbase Global Stock Comparison
How do Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Coinbase Global (COIN) 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.B) and Coinbase Global (COIN) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but BRK.B is classified in Financial Services while COIN is classified in Capital Markets.
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) has more than two decades of public-market history since May 9, 1996, whereas Coinbase Global (COIN) listed on April 14, 2021 and has a much shorter record to draw on.
| Profile Item | BRK.B | COIN |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class B | Coinbase Global Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Financial Services | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Multi-Sector Holdings | Financial Exchanges & Data |
| Market Capitalization | 1,222.11 billion USD | 35.68 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | May 9, 1996 | April 14, 2021 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | COIN |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 14.06% | -55.52% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 17.80% | 13.98% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.73% | -17.39% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Coinbase Global (COIN) has a highly aggressive beta of 3.33, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) is defensive at 0.56 and tends to be less market-sensitive — a wide gap in beta profiles.
| Metric | BRK.B | COIN |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 15.13% | 72.40% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.56 | 3.33 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -26.58% | -90.90% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.56M | 9.25M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | COIN |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.65 | -0.83 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.97 | -1.21 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Coinbase Global (COIN) reports a negative ROE of -4.68%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) reports 12.12%, ranking against industry peers normally.
BRK.B
Financial Services industry group
12.12%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- BRK.B
- 12.12%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
COIN
Financial Services industry group
-4.68%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- COIN
- -4.68%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Coinbase Global (COIN) reports a negative net margin of -12.89%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) reports 22.30%, ranking against industry peers normally.
BRK.B
Financial Services industry group
22.30%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- BRK.B
- 22.30%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
COIN
Financial Services industry group
-12.89%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- COIN
- -12.89%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Coinbase Global (COIN) reports a negative operating margin of -1.42%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) reports 32.56%, ranking against industry peers normally.
BRK.B
Financial Services industry group
32.56%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- BRK.B
- 32.56%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
COIN
Financial Services industry group
-1.42%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- COIN
- -1.42%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | COIN |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 12.12% | -4.68% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.01% | 0.01% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 22.30% | -12.89% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 32.56% | -1.42% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Coinbase Global (COIN) at 9.40% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at -3.23% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at -24.78% and Coinbase Global (COIN) at -53.06% post bottom-quartile EPS growth versus peers, pointing to weaker earnings momentum than typical rivals.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | COIN |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -3.23% | 9.40% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 20.59% | 31.00% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -24.78% | -53.06% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) in Financial Services and Coinbase Global (COIN) 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: Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) in Financial Services and Coinbase Global (COIN) 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 Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | COIN |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) nor Coinbase Global (COIN) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
BRK.B
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- BRK.B
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
COIN
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- COIN
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) nor Coinbase Global (COIN) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
BRK.B
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- BRK.B
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
COIN
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- COIN
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | COIN |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
An earnings multiple is available for just one side: Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) trades at 14.36 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Coinbase Global (COIN) has no P/E ratio this period.
BRK.B
Financial Services industry group
14.36
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- BRK.B
- 14.36
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
COIN
Financial Services industry group
--
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
- COIN
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 3.18 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Coinbase Global (COIN) at 6.56 sits in the pricier quartile — COIN costs more per dollar of sales.
BRK.B
Financial Services industry group
3.18
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- BRK.B
- 3.18
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
COIN
Financial Services industry group
6.56
- Max
- 9.23
- COIN
- 6.56
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 0.00 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile against book while Coinbase Global (COIN) at 2.56 is valued near its industry’s middle — BRK.B is cheaper on assets, though weigh it against ROE and asset quality.
BRK.B
Financial Services industry group
0.00
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- BRK.B
- 0.00
- Min
- -0.39
COIN
Financial Services industry group
2.56
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- COIN
- 2.56
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | COIN |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 14.36 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.18 | 6.56 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.00 | 2.56 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |