![BRK-B vs SPY: Berkshire Hathaway Inc. vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust Stock Comparison [2026]](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1611974789855-9c2a0a7236a3?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=80)
A head-to-head, data-driven comparison of BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) and SPY (State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust) — covering valuation, growth, dividends, risk, and which one fits your portfolio. All metrics pulled from live market data.
If you're choosing between BRK-B and SPY, the answer depends on what kind of investor you are. Both are watched closely in the Financial Services sector, but they look different on almost every metric that matters: P/E, growth rate, dividend, balance-sheet quality, and volatility.
Below we break down the head-to-head numbers, name a winner on each dimension, and give a clear recommendation by investor type. Want to run this comparison live with charts and 50+ metrics? Use the free interactive BRK-B vs SPY comparison tool.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B)
Financial Services · Insurance - Diversified · NYSE
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the insurance, freight rail transportation, and utility businesses worldwide. The company provides property, casualty, life, accident, and health insurance and reinsurance; and operates railroad systems in North America. It also generates, transmits, stores, and distributes electricity from natural gas, coal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear, and geothermal sources; operates natural gas distribution and storage facilities, interstate pipelines, liquefied natural gas facilities, and compressor and meter stations; and holds interes…
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY)
Financial Services · Asset Management · AMEX
The State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Index (the “Index”)The S&P 500 Index is a diversified large cap U.S. index that holds companies across all eleven GICS sectorsLaunched in January 1993, SPY was the very first exchange traded fund listed in the United States…
Quick Verdict
Editor's Take: Buying BRK-B is a bet on Buffett's discipline outlasting the S&P 500's tech concentration.
Berkshire Hathaway B isn't a stock in the conventional sense — it's a portfolio of operating businesses (insurance, BNSF railroad, energy) plus a public equity book heavily weighted to Apple. SPY is the S&P 500 itself. So the real choice is: do you trust Buffett (and Greg Abel post-2026) to allocate capital better than the market-cap-weighted index that's currently ~30% mega-cap tech?
For the last decade, the answer was 'no' — SPY beat BRK-B because tech dominated returns. But the structural argument for BRK is durability: massive cash reserves, no overweight to any single theme, willingness to sit on $300B+ when prices are rich. The honest reading is that BRK underperforms in raging bull markets and outperforms in messy ones. If you believe the next decade looks like 2010-2020 (tech-led, multiple-expansion), buy SPY. If you think it looks more like 2000-2010 (multiple compression, capital discipline rewarded), tilt to BRK.
There's also a tax efficiency point most articles skip: BRK pays no dividend, so all returns compound at the corporate level — meaningful for taxable accounts. SPY's 1.3% yield gets taxed annually. Over 20 years in a taxable account, BRK's tax shield can swing 0.3-0.5%/year. Doesn't matter in an IRA. Matters a lot for high earners holding outside retirement accounts.
How to Read This BRK-B vs SPY Comparison
Stock comparisons can be misleading if you focus on a single metric. A "cheaper" P/E doesn't automatically make a stock a better buy — slower-growing companies should trade at lower multiples. The right framework is to score each name on four independent dimensions and weight them according to your investing goal.
The Four-Dimension Framework
- Growth — How fast is the business expanding? We look at year-over-year revenue and EPS growth. Faster growers earn premium multiples but carry execution risk.
- Value — Are you paying a fair price? P/E, P/B, EV/EBITDA, and free cash flow yield tell you what the market is charging per dollar of business performance.
- Income — Does the stock pay you to wait? Dividend yield, payout ratio, and dividend history matter for retirees, FIRE investors, and anyone funding ongoing expenses.
- Safety — How much can you lose if things go wrong? Low beta, manageable debt-to-equity, and high ROE indicate a more durable business.
No single stock wins on all four. BRK-B and SPY likely each lead on at least one dimension. The "right" answer is the one that matches your portfolio gap — if you already own a basket of high-growth tech, the cheaper, lower-volatility name probably adds more diversification value than another momentum bet.
Side-by-Side Metrics: BRK-B vs SPY
| Metric | BRK-B | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $482.68 | $713.94 |
| Market Cap | — | $727.45B |
| P/E Ratio (lower is cheaper) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| EPS | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Beta (volatility vs market) | 0.62 | 1.00 |
| ROE (higher is better) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Debt/Equity (lower is safer) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| 52-Week High | $0.00 | $714.47 |
| 52-Week Low | $0.00 | $541.52 |
| Sector | Financial Services | Financial Services |
Which Stock Has Better Growth?
BRK-B grew revenue 0.00% and EPS 0.00% year-over-year. SPY grew revenue 0.00% and EPS 0.00%.
Roughly tied — growth profiles are roughly comparable.
Which Stock Is Cheaper on Valuation?
BRK-B trades at a P/E of 0.00, while SPY trades at 0.00. ROE for BRK-B is 0.00% versus 0.00% for SPY.
Roughly tied — both trade at similar earnings multiples.
Which Stock Pays More Income?
BRK-B yields 0.00%; SPY yields 0.00%.
Roughly tied — neither pays a meaningful dividend.
Which Stock Is the Safer Bet?
BRK-B has a beta of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.00. SPY sits at beta 1.00 and D/E 0.00.
BRK-B wins — beta 0.62 and D/E 0.00 make it the more defensive name.
Where BRK-B and SPY Sit in Their 52-Week Range
Price action over the last 12 months gives important context. A stock near its 52-week high has momentum on its side but limited room before profit-taking; one near its low may be a value opportunity or a structural problem.
- SPY currently trades at $713.94, near the upper end of its 52-week range — momentum is strong but the easy gains may be behind it (52-week range: $541.52–$714.47).
Key Risks for BRK-B and SPY
Every stock has tail risks that the headline numbers don't capture. Here's what stands out from the available metrics:
- BRK-B: no obvious red flags in the headline metrics, but always read the most recent 10-K and earnings call before sizing a position.
- SPY: no obvious red flags in the headline metrics, but always read the most recent 10-K and earnings call before sizing a position.
This is a quick heuristic risk scan, not a full risk assessment. Always read the "Risk Factors" section of each company's most recent 10-K filing before investing.
BRK-B vs SPY — Best Pick by Investor Type
- Long-term holder (10+ years): Lean toward BRK-B; durability and balance-sheet strength matter more than the next-quarter print.
- Income / dividend-focused: either name works — higher yield, but always check payout sustainability before chasing.
- Aggressive growth: either name works — faster top-line and EPS expansion at the cost of richer multiples.
- Value-oriented: either name works — paying less per dollar of earnings, with the trade-off of slower growth.
The Bottom Line: BRK-B vs SPY
On balance, BRK-B wins on 1 of 4 dimensions, making it the slightly better all-around pick for a generalist investor.
If you're the kind of investor who hates picking, the easiest answer is to own both names in equal weight inside a sector basket and rebalance once a year. That way, you capture the winner without having to predict it, and you pay the lowest possible behavioral cost (no second-guessing, no FOMO).
If you must pick one, anchor on the dimension that fixes your biggest portfolio gap — not the one with the most exciting headline. Tilting toward defensive names when you already own three growth winners adds more risk-adjusted return than another momentum bet.
Metrics Glossary — What Each Number Means
If you're new to fundamental analysis, here's a plain-English reference for every metric in the table above:
- P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings): Share price divided by earnings per share. Tells you how many years of current earnings the stock costs. Lower = cheaper, but slow growers should have lower P/Es.
- EPS (Earnings Per Share): Net income divided by shares outstanding. The per-share slice of company profits.
- Market Cap: Share price × shares outstanding. The market's total valuation of the company's equity.
- Dividend Yield: Annual dividend per share ÷ current price, expressed as a percent. A 3% yield means you receive $3 per year for every $100 invested at today's price.
- Beta: Volatility relative to the broader market (S&P 500 = 1.0). Beta of 1.5 means the stock historically moves 1.5× the market, both up and down.
- ROE (Return on Equity): Net income ÷ shareholder equity. How efficiently the company turns equity capital into profit. Above 15% is generally considered high quality.
- Debt-to-Equity: Total debt ÷ shareholder equity. Lower ratios mean less leverage and lower interest-rate risk.
- Revenue Growth (YoY): Percentage change in revenue versus the year-ago period. The single best top-line health check.
- EPS Growth (YoY): Same comparison but for earnings per share — captures both revenue growth and operating leverage.
- 52-Week High / Low: The trailing 12-month price range. Useful for context on current price (e.g. a stock near its 52-week high is in an uptrend; near the low is in a downtrend or value zone).
Run a Live BRK-B vs SPY Comparison
The numbers above reflect the latest available data, but markets move every minute. For a real-time, interactive head-to-head with price charts (1D to YTD), all 50+ metrics, and AI-powered insights, use our free tool — it's free, no signup required, and shareable:
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Frequently Asked Questions: Is BRK-B
Disclaimer: This comparison is generated from live market data for informational purposes only. It is not investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell any security, or a substitute for the analysis of a licensed financial advisor. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Always read the most recent 10-K and consult a qualified professional before making investment decisions. StockSignal24 is not responsible for losses incurred from trading decisions made based on this content.