BRK.B vs. EQH: Berkshire Hathaway vs. Equitable Stock Comparison
How do Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Equitable (EQH) 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 Equitable (EQH) both belong to the Financial Services industry, though BRK.B is classified under Multi-Sector Holdings while EQH falls under Diversified Financial Services.
| Profile Item | BRK.B | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class B | Equitable Holdings Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Multi-Sector Holdings | Diversified Financial Services |
| Market Capitalization | 1,222.11 billion USD | 14.04 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 9, 1996 | May 10, 2018 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 14.06% | 26.35% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 17.80% | 32.07% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.73% | 12.88% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 15.13% | 33.44% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.56 | 1.04 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -26.58% | -35.85% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.56M | 2.71M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.65 | 0.66 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.97 | 0.94 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Equitable (EQH) at 171.08% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 12.12%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
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%
EQH
Financial Services industry group
171.08%
- EQH
- 171.08%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 22.30% and Equitable (EQH) at 11.52% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
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%
EQH
Financial Services industry group
11.52%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- EQH
- 11.52%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 32.56% and Equitable (EQH) at 37.18% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
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%
EQH
Financial Services industry group
37.18%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- EQH
- 37.18%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 12.12% | 171.08% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.01% | 0.45% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 22.30% | 11.52% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 32.56% | 37.18% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at -3.23% and Equitable (EQH) at -6.12% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Neither side shows strong earnings momentum: Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at -24.78% sits in the bottom EPS growth quartile, and Equitable (EQH) at -227.78% is weaker still, below its industry range.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -3.23% | -6.12% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 20.59% | -2.65% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -24.78% | -227.78% |
| 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 Equitable (EQH) 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 Equitable (EQH) 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 | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Equitable (EQH) reports a yield of 0.51%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
EQH
Financial Services industry group
0.51%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- EQH
- 0.51%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Equitable (EQH) reports a payout of 22.49%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
EQH
Financial Services industry group
22.49%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- EQH
- 22.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.51% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 22.49% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 14.36 and Equitable (EQH) at 10.39 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
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
EQH
Financial Services industry group
10.39
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- EQH
- 10.39
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Equitable (EQH) at 1.08 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 3.18 prices around its industry’s middle — EQH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
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
EQH
Financial Services industry group
1.08
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- EQH
- 1.08
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Equitable (EQH) reports a negative P/B ratio of -4.92, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) reports 0.00, ranking against industry peers normally.
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
EQH
Financial Services industry group
-4.92
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
- EQH
- -4.92
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | EQH |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 14.36 | 10.39 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.18 | 1.08 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.00 | -4.92 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |