Warren Buffett ahead of the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder’s Meeting in Omaha, NE.<\/p>\n
David A. Grogan | CNBC<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Berkshire Hathaway on Saturday reported a big rise in operating earnings in the fourth quarter, thanks to huge gains in its insurance business, while its cash pile expanded to record levels.<\/p>\n
The Omaha-based conglomerate posted operating earnings \u2014 which refers to profits from businesses across insurance, railroads and utilities \u2014 of $8.481 billion in the quarter ending December. That’s 28% above the $6.625 billion from the year-ago period.<\/p>\n
For the full year 2023, that brought operating earnings up to $37.350 billion, up 17% from $30.853 billion in the prior year.<\/p>\n
Berkshire also held $167.6 billion in cash in the fourth quarter, a record level that surpasses the $157.2 billion the conglomerate held in the prior quarter.<\/p>\n