Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) P/E Ratio
As of May 23, 2026
TL;DR — BRK-B P/E ratio is 15.5x
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) currently trades at a trailing P/E of 15.5x (market-like). Forward P/E is estimated at 14.3x. The implied earnings yield is 6.46%. In line with the S&P 500 historical range. Fair-priced for an average-quality business; needs a margin of safety to be attractive.
Trailing P/E vs Forward P/E
Trailing P/E (TTM)
15.5x
Based on last 12 months of reported EPS
Forward P/E (est)
14.3x
Estimated next 12 months
PEG
N/A
P/E divided by EPS growth — under 1 = cheap
Trailing P/E uses the last 12 months of actual reported earnings — it is the most reliable number because the inputs have already happened. Forward P/E uses consensus analyst estimates for the next 12 months — useful for fast-growing companies whose past earnings understate their future, but vulnerable to estimate revisions. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth) is the bridge: a PEG below 1.0 traditionally signals you're paying less per share than the business is growing per share.
10-Year Historical P/E
Over the past decade, BRK-B has traded at a median P/E of roughly 15.5x. Today's reading of 15.5x is roughly in line with its own historical median. This is a useful relative anchor: paying less than the long-run average implies either a buying opportunity or a structural worry that the market has correctly priced in.
Series illustrated from current P/E. Full 10-year monthly history ships in the upcoming valuation-data ingest.
Industry Comparison
The Financial Services sector median P/E is roughly 12x. BRK-B at 15.5x is currently ~29% above the sector — a premium that needs to be justified by superior return on capital, higher growth, or wider moat..
Compare BRK-B against every other Financial Services stock in the full sector list.
Interpreting BRK-B's P/E
What "Market-like" means here: In line with the S&P 500 historical range. Fair-priced for an average-quality business; needs a margin of safety to be attractive.
Decision rule: a low P/E by itself is not a buy signal. Always check the cash flow statement, the Quality Triple Check (Piotroski / Beneish / Altman) from the fundamentals page, and the intrinsic value (DCF margin of safety) before acting on a multiple alone.
Common pitfalls: trailing P/E can be flattered by one-off tax benefits, share buybacks, or asset sales. Forward P/E can be overstated by overly optimistic analyst estimates. Read at least two of the most recent quarterly earnings calls before treating either as truth.
Related BRK-B analyses
Frequently asked about BRK-B P/E
What is BRK-B's current P/E ratio?↓
BRK-B's trailing P/E ratio is 15.5x as of May 23, 2026, which we classify as "Market-like". In line with the S&P 500 historical range. Fair-priced for an average-quality business; needs a margin of safety to be attractive.
Is BRK-B's P/E ratio cheap or expensive?↓
Against the Financial Services sector median of ~12x, BRK-B's 15.5x is materially above the sector — a premium of about 29%, which needs to be justified by superior growth, returns on capital, or moat width.
What is the difference between trailing and forward P/E?↓
Trailing P/E (TTM) uses the last 12 months of actual earnings — backward-looking but reliable. Forward P/E uses consensus analyst estimates for the next 12 months — more useful for growth stories but vulnerable to estimate revisions. Most value investors anchor on trailing P/E and use forward P/E as a sanity check.
How is P/E related to earnings yield?↓
Earnings yield = 1 / P/E. For BRK-B at 15.5x P/E, earnings yield is roughly 6.46%. This is comparable to a bond yield: it tells you the "earnings return" you'd get if you bought the whole company at this price.
When is P/E the wrong metric to use?↓
P/E breaks down for companies with negative earnings, heavy non-cash items, one-off events (restructuring, write-downs, tax benefits), banks (where book value and P/B are more appropriate), and high-CapEx commodity businesses (where EV/EBITDA is more comparable). Always cross-check P/E with at least one other valuation lens.