Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway profits increase 45% despite near-record cash pile

Lack of 'exciting' investment opportunities

Lauren Mason
clock • 2 min read

‘Sage of Omaha’ Warren Buffett’s $173bn Berkshire Hathaway saw operating profits of $7.3bn during the final three months of 2021, despite sitting on an historically high cash pile of $146.7bn.

The results, which were driven by strong returns from Buffett's utility holdings and BNSF Railway, mark a 45% uptick compared to the same time period during the previous year, although Buffett by his own admission has found "little that excites us" in terms of where to allocate the rest of his capital. In a letter to shareholders published on Saturday (26 February), Buffett said: "Alas, there was little action… in 2021. We did, though, make reasonable progress in increasing the intrinsic value of your shares. That task has been my primary duty for 57 years. And it will continue to be." ...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Investment

Wealth Club launches UK's first private markets SIPP

Wealth Club launches UK's first private markets SIPP

45% income tax relief

Patrick Brusnahan
clock 24 March 2026 • 1 min read
Rebalancing act: Sometimes doing very little in portfolio management is the hardest thing to do

Rebalancing act: Sometimes doing very little in portfolio management is the hardest thing to do

'More often, it's the quieter disciplines that matter most'

Phillip Young
clock 23 March 2026 • 3 min read
Crypto investors receive 40 times more HMRC tax warnings than stock traders

Crypto investors receive 40 times more HMRC tax warnings than stock traders

Data shows enforcement activity shift

clock 19 March 2026 • 2 min read