BRK.B vs. LPLA: Berkshire Hathaway vs. LPL Financial Stock Comparison
How do Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and LPL Financial (LPLA) 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 LPL Financial (LPLA) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but BRK.B is classified in Financial Services while LPLA is classified in Capital Markets.
| Profile Item | BRK.B | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class B | LPL Financial Holdings Inc. |
| 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 | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 1,222.11 billion USD | 23.01 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | May 9, 1996 | November 18, 2010 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 14.06% | -17.27% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 17.80% | 11.10% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 14.73% | 13.92% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 15.13% | 39.22% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.56 | 0.52 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -26.58% | -33.18% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 4.56M | 855.76K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.65 | -0.55 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.97 | -0.70 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 25.66% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 12.12% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for LPLA.
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%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
25.66%
- Max
- 44.78%
- LPLA
- 25.66%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 22.30% and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 6.97% 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%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
6.97%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- LPLA
- 6.97%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 32.56% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while LPL Financial (LPLA) at 10.85% operates in the bottom quartile.
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%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
10.85%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- LPLA
- 10.85%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 12.12% | 25.66% |
| ROA (TTM) | 6.01% | 7.35% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 22.30% | 6.97% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 32.56% | 10.85% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 37.18% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at -3.23% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
LPL Financial (LPLA) at -22.17% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at -24.78% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -3.23% | 37.18% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 20.59% | 25.47% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -24.78% | -22.17% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 1.64% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) in Financial Services and LPL Financial (LPLA) 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 LPL Financial (LPLA) 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 | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| 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 LPL Financial (LPLA) reports a yield of 0.40%, 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%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
0.40%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- LPLA
- 0.40%
- 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 LPL Financial (LPLA) reports a payout of 6.88%, 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%
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
6.88%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- LPLA
- 6.88%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.40% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 6.88% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 14.36 and LPL Financial (LPLA) at 16.93 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
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
16.93
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- LPLA
- 16.93
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
LPL Financial (LPLA) at 1.15 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 3.18 prices around its industry’s middle — LPLA 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
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
1.15
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- LPLA
- 1.15
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 0.00 looks cheap against book in the lower P/B ratio quartile, while LPL Financial (LPLA) at 3.98 carries a premium in the upper quartile — a clear price-to-book gap.
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
LPLA
Financial Services industry group
3.98
- Max
- 7.79
- LPLA
- 3.98
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | BRK.B | LPLA |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 14.36 | 16.93 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.18 | 1.15 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.00 | 3.98 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |