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Buffett’s Peak Quarter Brings New Records on Profit and Cash

Berkshire’s 2019 net income is highest of any public company
Cash pile also hit a record even with $10 billion investment

Warren Buffett — Warren BuffettPhotographer: Christopher Goodney/Bloomberg

By

Katherine Chiglinsky

November 2, 2019, 9:13 PM UTCUpdated onNovember 3, 2019, 3:54 PM UTC

Warren Buffett’s third quarter in many ways marked a new peak.

To start, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s operating profit topped its best levels. That was lifted by record earnings from BNSF railroad, his biggest-ever acquisition. Gains on his stock bets pushed the conglomerate’s 2019 net income to a staggering $52 billion, making Berkshire the most profitable public company in the world.