BlackRock, Inc. (BLK)
BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, overseeing index funds, active strategies, and the iShares ETF lineup. Its Aladdin platform also provides risk-management technology to other institutions.
Financials stock comparison
BLK vs BRK-B: which business are you actually underwriting?
Compare BlackRock, Inc. with Berkshire Hathaway Inc. using their business models, SEC classifications, fiscal calendars, current primary filings, and the research questions that matter. This is a thesis framework—not a price target or automatic winner.
- Sector
- Financials
- Industry
- Different SIC
- Shared themes
- 1
- Updated
- 2026-03-02
BLK vs BRK-B: quick comparison
| Company fact | BLK | BRK-B |
|---|---|---|
| Company | BlackRock, Inc. | Berkshire Hathaway Inc. |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Headquarters | New York, New York | Omaha, Nebraska |
| Founded | 1988 | 1839 |
| SEC industry | Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies | Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance |
| Fiscal year-end | December 31 | December 31 |
| Latest annual filing | 10-K · 2026-02-25 | 10-K · 2026-03-02 |
BLK vs BRK-B: audited financials
BRK-B reported about 15.3× the revenue of BLK in the latest audited fiscal year. On profitability, BLK converted a larger share of revenue into net income (22.9% versus 18.0%). Scale and margin are starting facts for the thesis, not the verdict.
| Metric | BLK | BRK-B |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $24.2B | $371.4B |
| Net income | $5.6B | $67.0B |
| Operating cash flow | $3.9B | $46.0B |
| Diluted EPS | $35.31 | — |
| Net margin | 22.9% | 18.0% |
BLK: FY ending 2025-12-31 · BRK-B: FY ending 2025-12-31. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.
How the businesses differ
Why this pair belongs in the comparison set
BLK and BRK-B have different SEC industry classifications, but both map to the maintained Economic trends research theme inside the Financials sector. A shared classification or theme makes the pair useful for a defined research question; it does not mean the companies have identical products, economics, or risks.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B)
Berkshire Hathaway is a diversified holding company with insurance, railroad, energy, and manufacturing operations, plus a large equity portfolio. Built by Warren Buffett, it is renowned for disciplined capital allocation.
The useful starting point is not which ticker has performed better. It is whether the two companies convert the same economic forces into revenue and cash flow in the same way. BLK is classified by the SEC as Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies, while BRK-B is classified as Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance. The different industry codes are a warning against treating sector membership as proof of identical economics.
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The thesis, the numbers behind it, and what would break it. Full access is $15 a month.
Read the full researchWhich thesis does each company fit?
Use the distinction below to decide which filing deserves deeper work. It is a research routing rule, not a recommendation or prediction.
Study BLK when…
- The shape of the yield curve and net interest margins
- Credit quality and loan-loss provisions
- Regulation and capital requirements
- Deal activity and market volatility
Study BRK-B when…
- Insurance underwriting results and the cost of float across GEICO, primary, and reinsurance
- Investment income on cash, Treasury bills, and the concentrated equity portfolio
- BNSF volumes and Berkshire Hathaway Energy regulatory outcomes, including PacifiCorp wildfire litigation
- Capital allocation under Greg Abel, including share repurchases and acquisitions
Shared research themes
Economic trends
SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence
Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable.BLK's fiscal year ends December 31, while BRK-B's ends December 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.
The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 36matched transaction rows for BLKand 0 for BRK-B. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.
BLK primary filings
BRK-B primary filings
What this comparison cannot tell you
This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.
A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.
More comparisons involving BLK or BRK-B
BLK vs BRK-B FAQs
Are BLK and BRK-B direct competitors?
BlackRock, Inc. and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. sit in the same Financials sector but have different SEC industry classifications. The comparison is most useful for portfolio role and sector exposure, not as a claim that every product competes directly.
Which is better, BLK or BRK-B?
There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.
Does this BLK vs BRK-B comparison include live prices?
No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers BlackRock, Inc. and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.
Where does the company information come from?
Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-09-25. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.
Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-09-25. Independent educational research; not investment advice.
A comparison is the setup. The thesis is the call.
BLK vs BRK-B shows how the businesses differ. Membership is the monthly sourced view of who could benefit, what could break, and what evidence matters next. $15/month or $150/year.
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