Berkshire Hathaway vs BMW: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
Berkshire Hathaway reported $371.4B of revenue in FY2025 and $67B of net income. BMW reported ~$150.8B of revenue in FY2025 and ~$8.2B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Berkshire Hathaway
- Latest revenue
- $371.4B (FY2025)
- Net income
- $67B
- Net margin
- 18.0%
- Revenue growth
- +6.3% a year, FY2016–FY2025
BMW
- Latest revenue
- ~$150.8B (FY2025)
- Net income
- ~$8.2B
- Net margin
- 5.5%
- Revenue growth
- +4.7% a year, FY2021–FY2025
Financial summary
Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire reported 2025 revenue of $371.444 billion, operating earnings of $44.486 billion (down from $47.437 billion in 2024 and above the five-year average of about $37.5 billion), and net earnings attributable to shareholders of $66.968 billion. GAAP net earnings swing with the equity portfolio: 2025 included $30.737 billion of after-tax investment gains and $8.255 billion of after-tax impairments on Kraft Heinz and Occidental. The businesses produced $46 billion of net cash from operating activities. Insurance earned $9.460 billion of pre-tax underwriting profit, with GEICO contributing $6.824 billion, and insurance float grew to $176 billion from $171 billion a year earlier. Shareholders' equity ended 2025 at $717.4 billion, up $68.1 billion, and the insurance and other businesses held $369.0 billion of cash, cash equivalents and US Treasury Bills. Berkshire repurchased no stock in 2025 and has paid no dividend since 1967.
BMW
BMW's financial story has turned from peak to reset in three years. Revenue reached ~$176 billion (EUR155.5 billion) in 2023 with a 9.8% automotive EBIT margin, then fell to ~$161 billion (EUR142.4 billion) in 2024 and ~$151 billion (EUR133.5 billion) in 2025 as China pricing, tariffs and currency weighed. Group profit before tax still stayed above ~$11.3 billion (EUR10 billion) in 2025 (~$11.6 billion (EUR10.236 billion), 7.7% margin), helped by ~$2.82 billion (EUR2.5 billion) of cost cuts and a stable Financial Services business. 2026 is weaker: H1 revenue fell 8.0% to ~$70.4 billion (EUR62.3 billion), Group EBT dropped 29.4% to ~$4.52 billion (EUR4.0 billion), and BMW now guides to a 1-3% automotive EBIT margin and automotive free cash flow above ~$2.82 billion (EUR2.5 billion). Shareholder returns continue through a EUR4.40 dividend for 2025 and a ~$2.26 billion (EUR2 billion) buyback due to finish by November 2026.
Revenue and profit by year
Berkshire Hathaway
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $371.4B | $67B | 18.0% | +0.0% | Source |
| FY2024 | $371.4B | $89B | 24.0% | +1.9% | Source |
| FY2023 | $364.5B | $96.2B | 26.4% | +20.7% | Source |
| FY2022 | $302B | -$22.8B | -7.5% | +9.4% | Source |
| FY2021 | $276.2B | $89.9B | 32.6% | +12.5% | Source |
| FY2020 | $245.6B | $42.5B | 17.3% | -3.5% | Source |
| FY2019 | $254.6B | $81.4B | 32.0% | +2.7% | Source |
| FY2018 | $247.8B | $4B | 1.6% | +3.3% | Source |
| FY2017 | $239.9B | $44.9B | 18.7% | +11.5% | Source |
| FY2016 | $215.1B | $24.1B | 11.2% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
Berkshire Hathaway
- Insurance premiums earned23.9%
GEICO, Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group and Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group earned $88.902B of premiums in 2025 and produced $9.460B of pre-tax underwriting earnings.
- Sales and service revenues53.7%
Manufacturing, service and retailing businesses, plus McLane and Pilot distribution, generated $199.524B of sales and service revenue in 2025, the largest revenue line and a thin-margin one.
- Interest, dividend and other investment income6.3%
Investment income of $23.261B in 2025 came mostly from US Treasury Bills and dividends on the equity portfolio.
- Freight rail transportation6.3%
BNSF produced $23.330B of freight revenue in 2025 hauling consumer products, industrial products, agricultural and energy products and coal.
- Utility and energy operating revenues5.9%
Berkshire Hathaway Energy's regulated utilities and pipelines produced $21.856B in 2025, serving about 5.4 million retail customers.
- Leasing revenues2.7%
Leasing businesses including XTRA trailer leasing and other equipment lessors produced $10.034B in 2025.
- Railroad, utilities and energy service revenues and other income1.2%
Service revenues and other income inside the railroad, utilities and energy group added $4.537B in 2025.
BMW
- Automotive
~$133B (EUR117.6B) segment revenue (2025)
Sales of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars, parts and services; the segment's EBIT margin was 5.3% in 2025.
- Financial Services
~$45B (EUR39.8B) segment revenue (2025)
Leasing, retail loans, dealer financing and insurance; new business volume was ~$74.4B (EUR65.8B) in 2025.
- Motorcycles
~$3.5B (EUR3.1B) segment revenue (2025)
BMW Motorrad bikes, parts and gear; segment EBIT margin was 5.7% in 2025.
Business model and strategy
Berkshire Hathaway
How it makes money
Berkshire's business model is capital allocation on top of a decentralized group of operating companies. Subsidiary managers run their own businesses, with no corporate budget submissions and no committee structure at headquarters, and send surplus cash to Omaha.
Growth strategy
Berkshire's size limits what can move its results, so growth comes from large purchases, reinvestment inside existing businesses and buying back its own stock. Buffett described the 2009 BNSF agreement, a $34 billion investment in the railroad, as an all-in wager on the economic future of the United States.
Competitive advantage
Berkshire's advantages are permanent capital, a balance sheet that stays liquid by design, and a reputation that brings sellers to it.
BMW
How it makes money
BMW makes money by designing, building and selling premium cars at prices that carry a brand premium, then earning a second layer of profit from financing them. In 2025 the Automotive segment (BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce) generated ~$133 billion (EUR117.6 billion) of revenue, Financial Services ~$45 billion (EUR39.8 billion) and Motorcycles ~$3.5 billion (EUR3.1 billion) before intra-group eliminations.
Growth strategy
Under CEO Milan Nedeljković, BMW's growth plan is narrower and more regional. The group will cut variants (the 2 Series Active Tourer gets no successor), add top-end models such as the first BMW ALPINA car in 2027 and a US-focused SAV above the X7, and launch a compact Neue Klasse EV for Europe in 2028.
Competitive advantage
BMW's advantage rests on brand depth, engineering credibility and a flexible production network. Customers still pay for BMW driving dynamics, M performance models and Rolls-Royce craftsmanship, which supports pricing even when volumes are flat.
Questions about Berkshire Hathaway vs BMW
Which company has higher revenue — Berkshire Hathaway Inc. or Bayerische Motoren Werke AG?
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported $371.4B (FY2025), while Bayerische Motoren Werke AG reported ~$150.8B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is the larger business, with Bayerische Motoren Werke AG reporting a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. vs Bayerische Motoren Werke AG?
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s market capitalisation stands at $1.07T, while Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's is $39.8B. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG.
Which is more financially efficient — Berkshire Hathaway Inc. or Bayerische Motoren Werke AG?
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. generates $958k / employee in revenue per employee, while Bayerische Motoren Werke AG generates $976k / employee. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG shows higher revenue efficiency per headcount, though this reflects business model differences — capital-light software companies routinely outperform labour-intensive manufacturers on this metric.
How do Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG make money?
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: Berkshire's business model is capital allocation on top of a decentralized group of operating companies. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG: BMW makes money by designing, building and selling premium cars at prices that carry a brand premium, then earning a second layer of profit from financing them.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Berkshire Hathaway Inc. or Bayerische Motoren Werke AG?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. trades at 2.9x P/S and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG at 0.3x P/S. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is Berkshire Hathaway Inc. bigger than Bayerische Motoren Werke AG?
By last reported revenue, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. ($371.4B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (~$150.8B (FY2025)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Berkshire Hathaway vs BMW overview