Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway boosts operating profit, lower stock gains hurt net results

Berkshire also said it repurchased $7.6 billion of its own stock in the third quarter, reflecting its need to put some cash to work as stock prices regularly set new highs and purchases of whole companies appear too expensive. Quarterly operating profit rose 18% to $6.47 billion compared with $5.48 billion in the year-earlier period.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc said on Saturday it has extended its rebound from the early stages of the pandemic, with improved results in many businesses offsetting a greater loss from insurance underwriting. Berkshire also said it repurchased $7.6 billion of its own stock in the third quarter, reflecting its need to put some cash to work as stock prices regularly set new highs and purchases of whole companies appear too expensive.

Quarterly operating profit rose 18% to $6.47 billion compared with $5.48 billion in the year-earlier period. Net income declined 66% to $10.3 billion, or $6,882 per Class A share, from $30.1 billion, reflecting lower unrealized gains on Berkshire's common stock holdings including Apple Inc and Bank of America Corp.