Buffett said Berkshire Hathaway has made a lot of money because "we are willing to act faster than anyone else. Buffett said that sometimes you have to act quickly.

Buffett said Berkshire Hathaway has made a lot of money because "we are willing to act faster than anyone else. Buffett said that sometimes you have to act quickly.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. recently released its first quarter 2025 earnings report, providing insights into the company's performance during the quarter. The report, available on the company's website [NUMBER:1], shows that Berkshire Hathaway's net earnings attributable to shareholders were $4,603 million, a decrease from $12,702 million in the first quarter of 2024.

Key highlights from the report include:

- Net Earnings Per Share (EPS): The EPS for Class A shares was $3,200, down from $8,825 in the same period last year. For Class B shares, the EPS was $2.13, compared to $5.88 in the first quarter of 2024.
- Operating Earnings: Operating earnings, which exclude investment gains and losses, were $9,641 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $11,222 million in the same period in 2024.
- Insurance Underwriting and Investment Income: The insurance underwriting segment contributed $1,336 million in earnings, while insurance investment income added $2,893 million. The BNSF and Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company segments contributed $1,214 million and $1,097 million, respectively.
- Investment Gains and Losses: Investment gains and losses, including unrealized gains and after-tax realized gains, were $5,038 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $1,480 million in the same period in 2024.

The report also notes that Berkshire Hathaway's insurance float, which represents the net liabilities assumed under insurance contracts, increased to approximately $173 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2025.

Investors should note that the earnings report is not comprehensive and does not provide a full picture of the company's performance. The report includes non-GAAP financial measures and cautions investors about the limitations of the information provided.

Berkshire Hathaway's CEO, Warren Buffett, has long emphasized the importance of acting quickly in business. According to Buffett, the company's success is partly due to its ability to make decisions and act faster than competitors [NUMBER:2].

References:
[1] https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20250503586072/berkshire-hathaway-inc-first-quarter-2025-earnings-release
[2] https://www.marketwatch.com/story/warren-buffett-turns-95-this-summer-and-hes-still-working-weekends-b4d91f8c