Berkshire Hathaway Inc. vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.: Strategic Comparison
Key Differences at a Glance
| Field | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | United Airlines Holdings, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $371.4B | $59.1B |
| Founded | 1839 | 1926 |
| Employees | 387,800 | 113,200 |
| Market Cap | $1.05T | $38.2B |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
Quick Stats Comparison
| Metric | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | United Airlines Holdings, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $371.4B | $59.1B |
| Founded | 1839 | 1926 |
| Headquarters | Omaha, Nebraska | Chicago, Illinois |
| Market Cap | $1.05T | $38.2B |
| Employees | 387,800 | 113,200 |
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Revenue vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Revenue — Year by Year
| Year | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | United Airlines Holdings, Inc. | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $371.4B | $59.1B | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. |
| 2024 | $371.4B | $57.1B | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. |
| 2023 | $364.5B | $53.7B | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. |
Business Model Breakdown
Overview: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
This in-depth comparison examines Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. across revenue, market value, business model, competitive positioning, and long-term growth strategy. Whether you are researching Berkshire Hathaway Inc. on its own, evaluating United Airlines Holdings, Inc., or weighing the two companies side by side, the breakdown below highlights where each company leads and where the gap between Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is widest.
On the headline numbers, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reports annual revenue of $371.4B against $59.1B for United Airlines Holdings, Inc., while their respective market capitalizations stand at $1.05T and $38.2B. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is headquartered in United States and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. operates from United States, and those different home markets shape how each company competes.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: Berkshire began as a textile company and became a holding company after Warren Buffett gained control in 1965. The modern company is a collection of operating businesses and investments bound by decentralized management, conservative financing, and a long-term shareholder culture.
United Airlines Holdings, Inc.: A network airline is a coordination machine. United's value comes from putting the right aircraft, crew, schedules, airport slots, loyalty incentives, and corporate contracts together so thousands of connecting markets become sellable every day.
Business Models: How Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Make Money
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. pursue distinct approaches to generating revenue, and understanding how each company operates is the foundation of any fair comparison between Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc..
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. business model: Berkshire makes money through insurance underwriting and float investment, freight rail, regulated utilities and energy infrastructure, industrial manufacturing, wholesale distribution, retail, services, and a large portfolio of equity and fixed-income investments.
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. business model: United makes money from passenger tickets, premium cabins, basic economy, cargo, MileagePlus loyalty economics, co-branded credit card revenue, baggage and seat fees, United Club memberships, and partner revenue. Hubs create network density that lets the airline fill aircraft and price global itineraries.
Competitive Advantage: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
The durability of a company's moat often decides long-term winners. Here is how the competitive advantages of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. stack up against those of United Airlines Holdings, Inc..
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. competitive advantage: Berkshire's advantage is permanent capital, insurance float, a conservative balance sheet, reputation with sellers, and a decentralized culture that attracts owner-minded managers.
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. competitive advantage: United's advantage is its hub network, international route breadth, Star Alliance connectivity, premium-cabin expansion, MileagePlus loyalty base, corporate account strength, and major positions at airports such as Chicago O'Hare, Newark, Denver, Houston, San Francisco, Washington Dulles, and Los Angeles.
Growth Strategy: Where Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Are Headed
Future prospects matter as much as current results. The growth strategies below explain how Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. each plan to expand from here.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. growth strategy: Berkshire's growth strategy is not a top-down operating plan; it is disciplined capital allocation. The company reinvests in subsidiaries, buys public equities, acquires private businesses when prices fit, and keeps a fortress balance sheet for downturns.
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. growth strategy: United is investing in premium seating, larger aircraft, international routes, operational reliability, MileagePlus, airport clubs, digital service, Starlink connectivity, and network depth at core hubs.
Financial Picture: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
A closer look at the financial trajectory of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. rounds out the comparison.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: For FY2025, Berkshire reported $371.444B in revenue and $66.968B in net income attributable to shareholders. Its filing reported about 387,800 employees worldwide at year-end. The updated net income replaces the prior-year comparison figure previously used in this profile.
United Airlines Holdings, Inc.: United's 2025 total operating revenue was USD 59.1 billion, up 3.5%. Operating income was USD 4.7 billion. Passenger revenue rose 3.1% as passengers increased 4.3% and capacity increased 6.1%, while other operating revenue grew 10.4% helped by loyalty and club revenue.
Company-Specific SWOT Notes
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Berkshire's advantage is permanent capital, insurance float, a conservative balance sheet, reputation with sellers, and a decentralized culture that attracts owner-minded managers.
Berkshire's size makes high-return capital deployment harder, and results can swing with insurance losses and investment-market changes.
Large cash and Treasury holdings give Berkshire optionality if markets dislocate or attractive private businesses become available.
Berkshire Hathaway's biggest risk is the challenge of deploying very large amounts of capital at attractive returns while managing insurance catastrophe exposure, equity-market volatility, and succession execution.
United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
United's advantage is its hub network, international route breadth, Star Alliance connectivity, premium-cabin expansion, MileagePlus loyalty base, corporate account strength, and major positions at airports such as Chicago O'Hare, Newark, Denver, Houston, San Francisco, Washington Dulles, and Los Angeles.
United wins when its hubs, international routes, loyalty program, and premium seats make it the most convenient and valuable airline for high-frequency travelers.
The biggest risk is cost pressure from fuel, labor, aircraft delays, or disruption that outpaces fare and loyalty revenue growth.
United is investing in premium seating, larger aircraft, international routes, operational reliability, MileagePlus, airport clubs, digital service, Starlink connectivity, and network depth at core hubs.
Head-to-Head Scorecard
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Scale | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reports the larger revenue base ($371.4B), which serves as a core operational scale signal. |
| Profitability Potential | Comparable | Both organizations prioritize market penetration or are at equivalent reporting tiers. |
| Company Age | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | Founded in 1839 vs 1926. The earlier pioneer typically commands longer historical institutional legacy. |
| Innovation Moat | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | Higher aggregate count of major acquisitions and key R&D releases indicates a more active technology absorption velocity. |
| Scale (Employees) | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | A significantly larger reported workforce supports enhanced global distribution capability. |
| Market Cap | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | Higher public valuation denotes greater forward-looking investor conviction in earnings potential. |
| Future Outlook | Tied | Strategic auditing assesses that both maintain defensive leadership vectors within their core market clusters. |
Who Wins Each Category?
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reports the larger revenue base ($371.4B), which serves as a core operational scale signal.
Both organizations prioritize market penetration or are at equivalent reporting tiers.
Founded in 1839 vs 1926. The earlier pioneer typically commands longer historical institutional legacy.
Higher aggregate count of major acquisitions and key R&D releases indicates a more active technology absorption velocity.
A significantly larger reported workforce supports enhanced global distribution capability.
Who Wins: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya, May 2026 - Author Profile
Our analysts compile business strategy profiles from public financial filings, press releases, and analyst reports. Each profile is reviewed for accuracy before publication by our editorial desk and updated on a rolling basis.
Frequently Asked Questions: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.
Is Berkshire Hathaway Inc. better than United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Verdict: Between Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and United Airlines Holdings, Inc., Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is the stronger overall option based on higher annual revenue. The decision still depends on which factors matter most for your needs, but on the weight of the evidence above, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. comes out ahead in this Berkshire Hathaway Inc. vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc. comparison.
Who earns more — Berkshire Hathaway Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. earns more with $371.4B in annual revenue versus United Airlines Holdings, Inc.'s $59.1B. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. leads on total revenue based on latest verified figures.
Which company has higher revenue — Berkshire Hathaway Inc. or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. reported $371.4B, while United Airlines Holdings, Inc. reported $59.1B. The revenue leader is Berkshire Hathaway Inc. based on latest verified figures.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. revenue vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc. revenue — which is higher?
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. revenue: $371.4B. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. revenue: $59.1B. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has the larger revenue base of the two companies.
Sources & References
- SEC EDGAR: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Annual Filings (10-K, 8-K)
- Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Corporate Website
- Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Annual Report 2025 - Revenue and Financial Data
- berkshirehathaway.com
- sec.gov
- data.sec.gov
- berkshirehathaway.com
- SEC EDGAR: United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Annual Filings (10-K, 8-K)
- United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Corporate Website
- United Airlines Holdings, Inc. Annual Report 2025 - Revenue and Financial Data
- sec.gov
- united.com
- ir.united.com