Item 1. Financial Statements
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Item 1. Financial Statements
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in millions)
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Unaudited) | |||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||
| Insurance and Other: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents* | $ | 35,542 | $ | 85,319 | |||
| Short-term investments in U.S. Treasury Bills | 67,145 | 58,535 | |||||
| Investments in fixed maturity securities | 21,718 | 16,434 | |||||
| Investments in equity securities | 390,538 | 350,719 | |||||
| Equity method investments | 17,596 | 17,375 | |||||
| Loans and finance receivables | 21,265 | 20,751 | |||||
| Other receivables | 38,963 | 35,388 | |||||
| Inventories | 22,572 | 20,954 | |||||
| Property, plant and equipment | 20,707 | 20,834 | |||||
| Equipment held for lease | 15,038 | 14,918 | |||||
| Goodwill | 47,064 | 47,117 | |||||
| Other intangible assets | 28,211 | 28,486 | |||||
| Deferred charges - retroactive reinsurance | 10,424 | 10,639 | |||||
| Other | 16,303 | 15,854 | |||||
| 753,086 | 743,323 | ||||||
| Railroad, Utilities and Energy: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents* | 3,571 | 2,865 | |||||
| Receivables | 4,092 | 4,177 | |||||
| Property, plant and equipment | 156,015 | 155,530 | |||||
| Goodwill | 26,758 | 26,758 | |||||
| Regulatory assets | 4,086 | 3,963 | |||||
| Other | 21,898 | 22,168 | |||||
| 216,420 | 215,461 | ||||||
| $ | 969,506 | $ | 958,784 |
| *** | Includes U.S. Treasury Bills with maturities of three months or less when purchased of $7.3 billion at March 31, 2022 and $61.7 billion at December 31, 2021. |
|---|
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in millions)
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Unaudited) | |||||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||||
| Insurance and Other: | |||||||
| Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | $ | 87,667 | $ | 86,664 | |||
| Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses under retroactive reinsurance contracts | 37,702 | 38,256 | |||||
| Unearned premiums | 25,368 | 23,512 | |||||
| Life, annuity and health insurance benefits | 22,673 | 22,452 | |||||
| Other policyholder liabilities | 9,347 | 9,330 | |||||
| Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities | 30,929 | 30,376 | |||||
| Aircraft repurchase liabilities and unearned lease revenues | 5,782 | 5,849 | |||||
| Notes payable and other borrowings | 44,890 | 39,272 | |||||
| 264,358 | 255,711 | ||||||
| Railroad, Utilities and Energy: | |||||||
| Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities | 15,076 | 15,696 | |||||
| Regulatory liabilities | 7,322 | 7,214 | |||||
| Notes payable and other borrowings | 74,771 | 74,990 | |||||
| 97,169 | 97,900 | ||||||
| Income taxes, principally deferred | 91,114 | 90,243 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 452,641 | 443,854 | |||||
| Shareholders’ equity: | |||||||
| Common stock | 8 | 8 | |||||
| Capital in excess of par value | 35,586 | 35,592 | |||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | (4,428 | ) | (4,027 | ) | |||
| Retained earnings | 539,881 | 534,421 | |||||
| Treasury stock, at cost | (62,906 | ) | (59,795 | ) | |||
| Berkshire Hathaway shareholders’ equity | 508,141 | 506,199 | |||||
| Noncontrolling interests | 8,724 | 8,731 | |||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | 516,865 | 514,930 | |||||
| $ | 969,506 | $ | 958,784 |
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(dollars in millions except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| First Quarter | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||
| Insurance and Other: | |||||||||||
| Insurance premiums earned | $ | 17,492 | $ | 16,424 | |||||||
| Sales and service revenues | 37,862 | 33,698 | |||||||||
| Leasing revenues | 1,672 | 1,324 | |||||||||
| Interest, dividend and other investment income | 1,862 | 1,851 | |||||||||
| 58,888 | 53,297 | ||||||||||
| Railroad, Utilities and Energy: | |||||||||||
| Freight rail transportation revenues | 5,944 | 5,378 | |||||||||
| Energy operating revenues | 4,818 | 4,848 | |||||||||
| Service revenues and other income | 1,160 | 1,076 | |||||||||
| 11,922 | 11,302 | ||||||||||
| Total revenues | 70,810 | 64,599 | |||||||||
| Investment and derivative contract gains (losses) | (1,978 | ) | 5,700 | ||||||||
| Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||
| Insurance and Other: | |||||||||||
| Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses | 13,332 | 10,964 | |||||||||
| Life, annuity and health insurance benefits | 1,323 | 1,480 | |||||||||
| Insurance underwriting expenses | 2,767 | 3,014 | |||||||||
| Cost of sales and services | 29,785 | 26,530 | |||||||||
| Cost of leasing | 1,232 | 882 | |||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 4,251 | 3,910 | |||||||||
| Interest expense | 264 | 276 | |||||||||
| 52,954 | 47,056 | ||||||||||
| Railroad, Utilities and Energy: | |||||||||||
| Freight rail transportation expenses | 3,925 | 3,510 | |||||||||
| Utilities and energy cost of sales and other expenses | 3,591 | 3,589 | |||||||||
| Other expenses | 1,156 | 1,093 | |||||||||
| Interest expense | 770 | 774 | |||||||||
| 9,442 | 8,966 | ||||||||||
| Total costs and expenses | 62,396 | 56,022 | |||||||||
| Earnings before income taxes and equity method earnings | 6,436 | 14,277 | |||||||||
| Equity method earnings | 376 | 251 | |||||||||
| Earnings before income taxes | 6,812 | 14,528 | |||||||||
| Income tax expense | 1,227 | 2,688 | |||||||||
| Net earnings | 5,585 | 11,840 | |||||||||
| Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests | 125 | 129 | |||||||||
| Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders | $ | 5,460 | $ | 11,711 | |||||||
| Net earnings per average equivalent Class A share | $ | 3,702 | $ | 7,638 | |||||||
| Net earnings per average equivalent Class B share* | $ | 2.47 | $ | 5.09 | |||||||
| Average equivalent Class A shares outstanding | 1,474,703 | 1,533,284 | |||||||||
| Average equivalent Class B shares outstanding | 2,212,054,009 | 2,299,925,502 |
| *** | Class B shares are economically equivalent to one-fifteen-hundredth of a Class A share. Accordingly, net earnings per average equivalent Class B share outstanding is equal to one-fifteen-hundredth of the equivalent Class A amount. See Note 17. |
|---|
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(dollars in millions)
(Unaudited)
| First Quarter | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 5,585 | $ | 11,840 | ||||||||
| Other comprehensive income: | ||||||||||||
| Unrealized appreciation of investments | (236 | ) | (87 | ) | ||||||||
| Applicable income taxes | 51 | 20 | ||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation | (316 | ) | (285 | ) | ||||||||
| Applicable income taxes | (11 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||||||
| Defined benefit pension plans | 26 | 61 | ||||||||||
| Applicable income taxes | (5 | ) | (20 | ) | ||||||||
| Other, net | 87 | (6 | ) | |||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net | (404 | ) | (320 | ) | ||||||||
| Comprehensive income | 5,181 | 11,520 | ||||||||||
| Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests | 122 | 136 | ||||||||||
| Comprehensive income attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders | $ | 5,059 | $ | 11,384 |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(dollars in millions)
(Unaudited)
| Berkshire Hathaway shareholders’ equity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common stock and capital in excess of par value | Accumulated other comprehensive income | Retained earnings | Treasury stock | Non- controlling interests | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| For the first quarter of 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2021 | $ | 35,600 | $ | (4,027 | ) | $ | 534,421 | $ | (59,795 | ) | $ | 8,731 | $ | 514,930 | ||||||||||
| Net earnings | — | — | 5,460 | — | 125 | 5,585 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net | — | (401 | ) | — | — | (3 | ) | (404 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of common stock | — | — | — | (3,111 | ) | — | (3,111 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Transactions with noncontrolling interests | (6 | ) | — | — | — | (129 | ) | (135 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2022 | $ | 35,594 | $ | (4,428 | ) | $ | 539,881 | $ | (62,906 | ) | $ | 8,724 | $ | 516,865 | ||||||||||
| For the first quarter of 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2020 | $ | 35,634 | $ | (4,243 | ) | $ | 444,626 | $ | (32,853 | ) | $ | 8,172 | $ | 451,336 | ||||||||||
| Net earnings | — | — | 11,711 | — | 129 | 11,840 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net | — | (327 | ) | — | — | 7 | (320 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition of common stock | — | — | — | (6,565 | ) | — | (6,565 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Transactions with noncontrolling interests | 4 | — | — | — | (119 | ) | (115 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2021 | $ | 35,638 | $ | (4,570 | ) | $ | 456,337 | $ | (39,418 | ) | $ | 8,189 | $ | 456,176 |
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in millions)
(Unaudited)
| First Quarter | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 5,585 | $ | 11,840 | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows: | ||||||||
| Investment (gains) losses | 1,735 | (5,211 | ) | |||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,703 | 2,673 | ||||||
| Other | (961 | ) | (225 | ) | ||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | 558 | 961 | ||||||
| Deferred charges - retroactive reinsurance | 215 | 252 | ||||||
| Unearned premiums | 1,912 | 2,390 | ||||||
| Receivables and originated loans | (3,469 | ) | (3,440 | ) | ||||
| Other assets | (2,168 | ) | (397 | ) | ||||
| Other liabilities | (85 | ) | (1,861 | ) | ||||
| Income taxes | 804 | 2,324 | ||||||
| Net cash flows from operating activities | 6,829 | 9,306 | ||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
| Purchases of equity securities | (51,119 | ) | (2,572 | ) | ||||
| Sales of equity securities | 9,724 | 6,451 | ||||||
| Purchases of U.S. Treasury Bills and fixed maturity securities | (58,746 | ) | (32,313 | ) | ||||
| Sales of U.S. Treasury Bills and fixed maturity securities | 37,795 | 4,090 | ||||||
| Redemptions and maturities of U.S. Treasury Bills and fixed maturity securities | 6,571 | 37,559 | ||||||
| Purchases of loans and finance receivables | (12 | ) | (11 | ) | ||||
| Collections of loans and finance receivables | 73 | 109 | ||||||
| Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired | (34 | ) | (47 | ) | ||||
| Purchases of property, plant and equipment and equipment held for lease | (3,090 | ) | (2,519 | ) | ||||
| Other | 272 | 449 | ||||||
| Net cash flows from investing activities | (58,566 | ) | 11,196 | |||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
| Proceeds from borrowings of insurance and other businesses | 6,977 | 1,442 | ||||||
| Repayments of borrowings of insurance and other businesses | (614 | ) | (2,425 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from borrowings of railroad, utilities and energy businesses | 405 | — | ||||||
| Repayments of borrowings of railroad, utilities and energy businesses | (395 | ) | (883 | ) | ||||
| Changes in short term borrowings, net | (183 | ) | 229 | |||||
| Acquisition of treasury stock | (3,180 | ) | (6,580 | ) | ||||
| Other | (367 | ) | (132 | ) | ||||
| Net cash flows from financing activities | 2,643 | (8,349 | ) | |||||
| Effects of foreign currency exchange rate changes | 50 | (61 | ) | |||||
| Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash | (49,044 | ) | 12,092 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year* | 88,706 | 48,396 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of first quarter* | $ | 39,662 | $ | 60,488 | ||||
| *Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash are comprised of: | ||||||||
| Beginning of year— | ||||||||
| Insurance and Other | $ | 85,319 | $ | 44,714 | ||||
| Railroad, Utilities and Energy | 2,865 | 3,276 | ||||||
| Restricted cash included in other assets | 522 | 406 | ||||||
| $ | 88,706 | $ | 48,396 | |||||
| End of first quarter— | ||||||||
| Insurance and Other | $ | 35,542 | $ | 56,826 | ||||
| Railroad, Utilities and Energy | 3,571 | 3,228 | ||||||
| Restricted cash included in other assets | 549 | 434 | ||||||
| $ | 39,662 | $ | 60,488 |
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
and Subsidiaries
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2022
Note 1. General
The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (“Berkshire” or “Company”) consolidated with the accounts of all its subsidiaries and affiliates in which Berkshire holds controlling financial interests as of the financial statement date. In these notes, the terms “us,” “we” or “our” refer to Berkshire and its consolidated subsidiaries. Reference is made to Berkshire’s most recently issued Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”), which includes information necessary or useful to understanding Berkshire’s businesses and financial statement presentations. Our significant accounting policies and practices were presented as Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Annual Report.
Financial information in this Quarterly Report reflects all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of results for the interim periods in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). For a number of reasons, our results for interim periods are not normally indicative of results to be expected for the year. The timing and magnitude of catastrophe losses incurred by insurance subsidiaries and the estimation error inherent to the process of determining liabilities for unpaid losses of insurance subsidiaries can be more significant to results of interim periods than to results for a full year. Given the size of our equity security investment portfolio, changes in market prices and the related changes in unrealized gains and losses on equity securities will produce significant volatility in our interim and annual earnings. In addition, changes in the fair values of certain derivative contract liabilities, gains and losses from the periodic revaluation of certain assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies and the magnitude of asset impairment charges may cause significant variations in periodic net earnings.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect most of our operating businesses. Significant government and private sector actions have been taken since 2020 and likely will continue to be taken intended to control the spread and mitigate the economic effects of the virus. Actions in the latter part of 2021 and early 2022 included temporary business closures or restrictions of business activities in various parts of the world in response to the emergence of variants of the virus. Notwithstanding these efforts, significant disruptions of supply chains and higher costs have persisted in 2022. Further, the development of geopolitical conflicts in 2022 have contributed to disruptions of supply chains, resulting in cost increases for commodities, goods, and services in many parts of the world. The economic effects from these events over longer terms cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. Accordingly, significant estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements, including those associated with evaluations of certain long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment, expected credit losses on amounts owed to us and the estimations of certain losses assumed under insurance and reinsurance contracts, may be subject to significant adjustments in future periods.
Note 2. New accounting pronouncements
In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-12 “Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts” (“ASU 2018-12”). ASU 2018-12 requires reassessment of cash flow assumptions at least annually and revision of discount rate assumptions each reporting period in valuing policyholder liabilities and related deferred acquisition costs of long-duration contracts. The effects from changes in cash flow assumptions are reflected in earnings and the effects from changes in discount rate assumptions are reflected in other comprehensive income. Currently, the cash flow and discount rate assumptions are set at the contract inception date and not subsequently changed, except under limited circumstances. ASU 2018-12 is to be applied retrospectively to the earliest period presented in the financial statements, will require new disclosures and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted.
We currently intend to adopt ASU 2018-12 as of January 1, 2023 using the modified retrospective method, which provides that revised cash flow and discount rate assumptions as of January 1, 2021 (the transition date) be applied to contracts then in-force, with liabilities then remeasured as provided under the standard. The cumulative effects from discount rate assumption changes as of the transition date will be recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and the cumulative effect from cash flow assumption changes will be recorded in retained earnings. While we have not finalized our assessment of the impact of the adoption as of the transition date, we currently believe that the changes in discount rate assumptions will have a greater effect on our recorded liabilities than changes in cash flow assumptions. We also preliminarily estimate that the changes in discount rate assumptions as of the transition date will increase our life, health and annuity benefit liabilities from the amounts previously reported due to the historically low interest rate environment at that time. However, the ultimate impact of adopting ASU 2018-12 will be based on the discount rate and cash flow assumptions determined as of the January 1, 2023 adoption date. We, therefore, continue to evaluate the effect this standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 3. Investments in fixed maturity securities
Investments in fixed maturity securities as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are summarized by type below (in millions).
| Amortized Cost | Unrealized Gains | Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies | $ | 8,793 | $ | 12 | $ | (97 | ) | $ | 8,708 | |||||||
| Foreign governments | 11,116 | 26 | (62 | ) | 11,080 | |||||||||||
| Corporate bonds | 1,268 | 324 | (2 | ) | 1,590 | |||||||||||
| Other | 308 | 34 | (2 | ) | 340 | |||||||||||
| $ | 21,485 | $ | 396 | $ | (163 | ) | $ | 21,718 | ||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies | $ | 3,286 | $ | 22 | $ | (5 | ) | $ | 3,303 | |||||||
| Foreign governments | 10,998 | 29 | (33 | ) | 10,994 | |||||||||||
| Corporate bonds | 1,363 | 412 | (1 | ) | 1,774 | |||||||||||
| Other | 317 | 47 | (1 | ) | 363 | |||||||||||
| $ | 15,964 | $ | 510 | $ | (40 | ) | $ | 16,434 |
Investments in foreign governments include securities issued by national and provincial government entities as well as instruments that are unconditionally guaranteed by such entities. As of March 31, 2022, approximately 94% of our foreign government holdings were rated AA or higher by at least one of the major rating agencies. The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities at March 31, 2022 are summarized below by contractual maturity dates. Amounts are in millions. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities due to prepayment rights held by issuers.
| Due in one year or less | Due after one year through five years | Due after five years through ten years | Due after ten years | Mortgage- backed securities | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amortized cost | $ | 10,272 | $ | 10,456 | $ | 443 | $ | 92 | $ | 222 | $ | 21,485 | ||||||||||||
| Fair value | 10,250 | 10,370 | 734 | 112 | 252 | 21,718 |
Note 4. Investments in equity securities
Investments in equity securities as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are summarized as follows (in millions).
| Cost Basis | Net Unrealized Gains | Fair Value | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2022* | ||||||||||||
| Banks, insurance and finance | $ | 36,472 | $ | 61,657 | $ | 98,129 | ||||||
| Consumer products | 40,932 | 153,536 | 194,468 | |||||||||
| Commercial, industrial and other | 68,132 | 29,809 | 97,941 | |||||||||
| $ | 145,536 | $ | 245,002 | $ | 390,538 |
| *** | Approximately 66% of the aggregate fair value was concentrated in four companies (American Express Company – $28.4 billion; Apple Inc. – $159.1 billion; Bank of America Corporation – $42.6 billion and Chevron Corporation – $25.9 billion). |
|---|
| Cost Basis | Net Unrealized Gains | Fair Value | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2021* | ||||||||||||
| Banks, insurance and finance | $ | 26,822 | $ | 62,236 | $ | 89,058 | ||||||
| Consumer products | 36,076 | 154,945 | 191,021 | |||||||||
| Commercial, industrial and other | 41,707 | 28,933 | 70,640 | |||||||||
| $ | 104,605 | $ | 246,114 | $ | 350,719 |
| *** | Approximately 73% of the aggregate fair value was concentrated in four companies (American Express Company – $24.8 billion; Apple Inc. – $161.2 billion; Bank of America Corporation – $46.0 billion and The Coca-Cola Company – $23.7 billion). |
|---|
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 4. Investments in equity securities (Continued)
Our equity security investments also include Occidental Corporation (“Occidental”) Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock with an aggregate liquidation value of $10 billion and warrants to purchase up to 83.86 million shares of Occidental common stock at an exercise price of $59.62 per share. The preferred stock accrues dividends at 8% per annum and is redeemable at the option of Occidental commencing in 2029 at a redemption price equal to 105% of the liquidation preference, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends and is mandatorily redeemable under specified events. Dividends on the preferred stock are payable in cash or, at Occidental’s option, in shares of Occidental common stock. The warrants are exercisable in whole or in part until one year after the redemption of the preferred stock.
Note 5. Equity method investments
Berkshire and its subsidiaries hold investments in certain businesses that are accounted for pursuant to the equity method. Currently, the most significant of these is our investment in the common stock of The Kraft Heinz Company (“Kraft Heinz”). Kraft Heinz manufactures and markets food and beverage products, including condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee and other grocery products. Berkshire currently owns 26.6% of the outstanding shares of Kraft Heinz common stock.
We recorded equity method earnings from our investment in Kraft Heinz of $206 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $150 million in 2021. We received dividends on the common stock of $130 million in the first quarter of both 2022 and 2021, which were recorded as reductions to the carrying value of our investment.
Shares of Kraft Heinz common stock are publicly-traded and the fair value of our investment was approximately $12.8 billion at March 31, 2022 and $11.7 billion at December 31, 2021. The carrying value of our investment was approximately $13.2 billion at March 31, 2022 and $13.1 billion at December 31, 2021. As of March 31, 2022, the carrying value of our investment exceeded the fair value based on the quoted market price by 3% of the carrying value. We evaluated our investment in Kraft Heinz for impairment. Based on the prevailing facts and circumstances, we concluded recognition of an impairment loss in earnings was not required as of March 31, 2022.
Summarized consolidated financial information of Kraft Heinz follows (in millions).
| March 26, 2022 | December 25, 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assets | $ | 93,864 | $ | 93,394 | |||
| Liabilities | 44,020 | 43,942 |
| First Quarter | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
| Sales | $ | 6,045 | $ | 6,394 | |||
| Net earnings attributable to Kraft Heinz common shareholders | 776 | 563 |
Other investments that we account for pursuant to the equity method include Berkadia Commercial Mortgage LLC (“Berkadia”), Pilot Travel Centers LLC (“Pilot”), Electric Transmission Texas, LLC (“ETT”) and Iroquois Gas Transmission System L.P. (“Iroquois”). The aggregate carrying value of these investments was approximately $4.4 billion as of March 31, 2022 and $4.3 billion as of December 31, 2021. We recorded equity method earnings in the first quarter of $170 million in 2022 and $101 million in 2021, and we received aggregate distributions in the first quarter of $28 million in 2022 and $896 million in 2021. Additional information concerning these investments follows.
We own a 50% interest in Berkadia, with Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (“Jefferies”) owning the other 50% interest. Berkadia provides capital solutions, investment sales advisory and mortgage servicing for multifamily and commercial real estate. A source of funding for Berkadia’s operations is through commercial paper, which was $1.47 billion at March 31, 2022 and is limited to $1.5 billion. Berkadia’s commercial paper is supported by a surety policy issued by a Berkshire insurance subsidiary. Jefferies is obligated to indemnify us for one-half of any losses incurred under the policy. Berkshire Hathaway Energy (“BHE”) subsidiaries own a 50% noncontrolling interest in ETT, an owner and operator of electric transmission assets in Texas and a 50% noncontrolling interest in Iroquois, which owns and operates a natural gas pipeline located in New York and Connecticut.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 5. Equity method investments (Continued)
We own a 38.6% interest in Pilot, headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. Pilot operates travel centers in North America through more than 800 retail locations across 44 U.S. states and six Canadian provinces and through wholesale distribution. The Haslam family currently owns a 50.1% interest in Pilot and a third party owns the remaining 11.3% interest. We have an agreement to acquire an additional 41.4% interest in Pilot in 2023, with the Haslam family retaining a 20% interest. As a result, Berkshire will become the majority owner of Pilot in 2023.
Note 6. Investment and derivative contract gains/losses
Investment and derivative contract gains/losses in the first quarter of 2022 and 2021 are summarized as follows (in millions).
| First Quarter | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Investment gains (losses): | ||||||||
| Equity securities: | ||||||||
| Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) during the period on securities held at the end of the period | $ | (1,775 | ) | $ | 4,630 | |||
| Investment gains (losses) on securities sold during the period | 89 | 430 | ||||||
| (1,686 | ) | 5,060 | ||||||
| Fixed maturity securities: | ||||||||
| Gross realized gains | 6 | 20 | ||||||
| Gross realized losses | (49 | ) | (1 | ) | ||||
| Other | (6 | ) | 132 | |||||
| Investment gains (losses) | (1,735 | ) | 5,211 | |||||
| Derivative contract gains (losses) | (243 | ) | 489 | |||||
| $ | (1,978 | ) | $ | 5,700 |
Equity securities gains and losses include unrealized gains and losses from changes in fair values during the period on equity securities we still own, as well as gains and losses on securities we sold during the period. As reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, we received proceeds from sales of equity securities of approximately $9.7 billion in the first three months of 2022 and $6.5 billion in the first three months of 2021. In the preceding table, investment gains and losses on equity securities sold during the period represent the difference between the sales proceeds and the fair value of the equity securities sold at the beginning of the applicable period or, if later, the purchase date. Our taxable gains/losses on equity securities sold are generally the difference between the proceeds from sales and original cost. Taxable losses in the first quarter of 2022 were $739 million and taxable gains in 2021 were $1.8 billion.
Our derivative contract gains and losses derive from equity index put option contracts written prior to March 2008 on four major equity indexes. As of March 31, 2022, we had six open contracts, which had an aggregate fair value liability of $121 million and an aggregate notional value of $2.6 billion.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 7. Loans and finance receivables
Loans and finance receivables are summarized as follows (in millions).
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loans and finance receivables before allowances and discounts | $ | 22,596 | $ | 22,065 | |||
| Allowances for credit losses | (781 | ) | (765 | ) | |||
| Unamortized acquisition discounts and points | (550 | ) | (549 | ) | |||
| $ | 21,265 | $ | 20,751 |
Loans and finance receivables are principally manufactured home loans, and to a lesser extent, commercial loans and site-built home loans. Reconciliations of the allowance for credit losses on loans and finance receivables for the first quarter of 2022 and 2021 follow (in millions).
| First Quarter | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
| Balance at beginning of year | $ | 765 | $ | 712 | |||
| Provision for credit losses | 22 | 27 | |||||
| Charge-offs, net of recoveries | (6 | ) | (14 | ) | |||
| Balance at March 31 | $ | 781 | $ | 725 |
As of March 31, 2022, approximately 99% of home loan balances were evaluated collectively for impairment. As of March 31, 2022, we considered approximately 98% of the loan balances to be current as to payment status. A summary of performing and non-performing home loans before discounts and allowances by year of loan origination as of March 31, 2022 follows (in millions).
| Origination Year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | Prior | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Performing | $ | 2,038 | $ | 3,918 | $ | 3,065 | $ | 2,169 | $ | 1,642 | $ | 7,789 | $ | 20,621 | |||||||||||||
| Non-performing | 2 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 46 | 73 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 2,040 | $ | 3,921 | $ | 3,073 | $ | 2,177 | $ | 1,648 | $ | 7,835 | $ | 20,694 |
We are also party to commercial loan agreements with Seritage Growth Properties (“Seritage”) and Lee Enterprises, Inc, (“Lee”), in which loan balances aggregated $1.9 billion at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The Seritage loan is pursuant to a $2.0 billion term loan facility and the outstanding loan is secured by mortgages on its real estate properties. The loan agreement with Seritage, as amended, allows optional loan prepayments without penalty and further provides Seritage with the option to extend the maturity of the loan to July 31, 2025, if the outstanding principal has been reduced to $800 million by the original expiration date of July 31, 2023. The loan to Lee matures in 2045. The Lee loan agreement provides for mandatory principal prepayments under certain conditions and optional prepayments at par. We are the sole lender to each of these entities and each of these loans is current as to payment status.
Note 8. Other receivables
Other receivables are comprised of the following (in millions).
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance and other: | |||||||
| Insurance premiums receivable | $ | 16,305 | $ | 15,050 | |||
| Reinsurance recoverables | 4,880 | 4,900 | |||||
| Trade receivables | 14,333 | 12,971 | |||||
| Other | 4,122 | 3,146 | |||||
| Allowances for credit losses | (677 | ) | (679 | ) | |||
| $ | 38,963 | $ | 35,388 | ||||
| Railroad, utilities and energy: | |||||||
| Trade receivables | $ | 3,645 | $ | 3,678 | |||
| Other | 596 | 650 | |||||
| Allowances for credit losses | (149 | ) | (151 | ) | |||
| $ | 4,092 | $ | 4,177 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 8. Other receivables (Continued)
Provisions for credit losses in the first three months with respect to receivables summarized above were $92 million in 2022 and $18 million in 2021. Charge-offs, net of recoveries, in the first three months were $95 million in 2022 and $28 million in 2021.
Note 9. Inventories
Inventories are comprised of the following (in millions).
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw materials | $ | 6,180 | $ | 5,743 | |||
| Work in process and other | 3,537 | 3,192 | |||||
| Finished manufactured goods | 5,031 | 4,530 | |||||
| Goods acquired for resale | 7,824 | 7,489 | |||||
| $ | 22,572 | $ | 20,954 |
Note 10. Property, plant and equipment
A summary of property, plant and equipment of our insurance and other businesses follows (in millions).
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land, buildings and improvements | $ | 14,049 | $ | 14,070 | ||||
| Machinery and equipment | 26,166 | 26,063 | ||||||
| Furniture, fixtures and other | 4,772 | 4,640 | ||||||
| 44,987 | 44,773 | |||||||
| Accumulated depreciation | (24,280 | ) | (23,939 | ) | ||||
| $ | 20,707 | $ | 20,834 |
A summary of property, plant and equipment of railroad and utilities and energy businesses follows (in millions). The utility generation, transmission and distribution systems and interstate natural gas pipeline assets are owned by regulated public utility and natural gas pipeline subsidiaries.
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Railroad: | ||||||||
| Land, track structure and other roadway | $ | 65,256 | $ | 65,843 | ||||
| Locomotives, freight cars and other equipment | 15,910 | 13,822 | ||||||
| Construction in progress | 1,101 | 1,027 | ||||||
| 82,267 | 80,692 | |||||||
| Accumulated depreciation | (16,535 | ) | (14,978 | ) | ||||
| 65,732 | 65,714 | |||||||
| Utilities and energy: | ||||||||
| Utility generation, transmission and distribution systems | 90,560 | 90,223 | ||||||
| Interstate natural gas pipeline assets | 17,526 | 17,423 | ||||||
| Independent power plants and other assets | 13,986 | 13,695 | ||||||
| Construction in progress | 4,605 | 4,196 | ||||||
| 126,677 | 125,537 | |||||||
| Accumulated depreciation | (36,394 | ) | (35,721 | ) | ||||
| 90,283 | 89,816 | |||||||
| $ | 156,015 | $ | 155,530 |
Depreciation expense for the first quarter of 2022 and 2021 is summarized below (in millions).
| First Quarter | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Insurance and other | $ | 564 | $ | 576 | ||||
| Railroad, utilities and energy | 1,542 | 1,496 | ||||||
| $ | 2,106 | $ | 2,072 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 11. Equipment held for lease
Equipment held for lease includes railcars, aircraft, over-the-road trailers, intermodal tank containers, cranes, storage units and furniture. Equipment held for lease is summarized below (in millions).
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Railcars | $ | 9,532 | $ | 9,448 | |||
| Aircraft | 9,439 | 9,234 | |||||
| Other | 5,196 | 5,053 | |||||
| 24,167 | 23,735 | ||||||
| Accumulated depreciation | (9,129 | ) | (8,817 | ) | |||
| $ | 15,038 | $ | 14,918 |
Depreciation expense for equipment held for lease in the first quarter was $294 million in 2022 and $282 million in 2021. Fixed and variable operating lease revenues for the first quarter of 2022 and 2021 are summarized below (in millions).
| First Quarter | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Fixed lease revenue | $ | 1,188 | $ | 1,062 | |||||||
| Variable lease revenue | 484 | 262 | |||||||||
| $ | 1,672 | $ | 1,324 |
Note 12. Goodwill and other intangible assets
Reconciliations of the changes in the carrying value of goodwill for the first quarter of 2022 and for the year ended December 31, 2021 follow (in millions).
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at beginning of year | $ | 73,875 | $ | 73,734 | ||||
| Business acquisitions | 5 | 353 | ||||||
| Other, including foreign currency translation | (58 | ) | (212 | ) | ||||
| Balance at end of period* | $ | 73,822 | $ | 73,875 |
| *** | Net of accumulated goodwill impairments of $11.0 billion as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021. |
|---|
The gross carrying amounts and related accumulated amortization of other intangible assets are summarized as follows (in millions).
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross carrying amount | Accumulated amortization | Net carrying value | Gross carrying amount | Accumulated amortization | Net carrying value | |||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance and other: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer relationships | $ | 27,323 | $ | 6,616 | $ | 20,707 | $ | 27,335 | $ | 6,450 | $ | 20,885 | ||||||||||||
| Trademarks and trade names | 5,171 | 807 | 4,364 | 5,176 | 802 | 4,374 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Patents and technology | 4,818 | 3,547 | 1,271 | 4,763 | 3,484 | 1,279 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other | 3,326 | 1,457 | 1,869 | 3,390 | 1,442 | 1,948 | ||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 40,638 | $ | 12,427 | $ | 28,211 | $ | 40,664 | $ | 12,178 | $ | 28,486 | |||||||||||||
| Railroad, utilities and energy: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer relationships | $ | 678 | $ | 404 | $ | 274 | $ | 678 | $ | 396 | $ | 282 | ||||||||||||
| Trademarks, trade names and other | 1,015 | 157 | 858 | 1,015 | 146 | 869 | ||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 1,693 | $ | 561 | $ | 1,132 | $ | 1,693 | $ | 542 | $ | 1,151 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 12. Goodwill and other intangible assets (Continued)
Intangible asset amortization expense in the first quarter was $303 million in 2022 and $319 million in 2021. Intangible assets with indefinite lives were $18.5 billion as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and primarily related to certain customer relationships and trademarks and trade names.
Note 13. Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses
Our liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses (also referred to as “claim liabilities”) under property and casualty insurance and reinsurance contracts are based upon estimates of the ultimate claim costs associated with claim occurrences as of the balance sheet date and include estimates for incurred-but-not-reported (“IBNR”) claims. A reconciliation of the changes in claim liabilities, excluding liabilities under retroactive reinsurance contracts (see Note 14), for each of the three-month periods ending March 31, 2022 and 2021 follows (in millions).
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balances at beginning of year: | |||||||
| Gross liabilities | $ | 86,664 | $ | 79,854 | |||
| Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | (2,960 | ) | (2,912 | ) | |||
| Net liabilities | 83,704 | 76,942 | |||||
| Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses: | |||||||
| Current accident year | 13,375 | 11,363 | |||||
| Prior accident years | (251 | ) | (646 | ) | |||
| Total | 13,124 | 10,717 | |||||
| Paid losses and loss adjustment expenses: | |||||||
| Current accident year | (3,908 | ) | (3,214 | ) | |||
| Prior accident years | (8,091 | ) | (6,454 | ) | |||
| Total | (11,999 | ) | (9,668 | ) | |||
| Foreign currency effect | (106 | ) | (94 | ) | |||
| Balances at March 31: | |||||||
| Net liabilities | 84,723 | 77,897 | |||||
| Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses | 2,944 | 3,064 | |||||
| Gross liabilities | $ | 87,667 | $ | 80,961 |
Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses shown in the preceding table were recorded in earnings and related to insured events occurring in the current year (“current accident year”) and events occurring in all prior years (“prior accident years”). Incurred and paid losses and loss adjustment expenses are net of reinsurance recoveries. We recorded net reductions of estimated ultimate liabilities for prior accident years of $251 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $646 million in 2021, which produced corresponding reductions in incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses in those periods. These reductions, as percentages of the net liabilities at the beginning of each year, were 0.3% in 2022 and 0.8% in 2021.
Estimated ultimate liabilities for prior accident years from primary insurance were reduced by $114 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $699 million in 2021. The reductions in 2022 derived primarily from private passenger automobile, medical professional liability and workers’ compensation claims, partly offset by increases in ultimate liabilities for other casualty claims. The decrease in incurred losses for prior accident years in 2021 was primarily due to reductions in private passenger automobile estimates, and to a lesser extent in medical professional liability and workers’ compensation estimates. Estimated ultimate liabilities for prior years related to property and casualty reinsurance decreased $137 million in the first quarter of 2022 and increased $53 million in 2021.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 14. Retroactive reinsurance contracts
Retroactive reinsurance policies provide indemnification of losses and loss adjustment expenses of short-duration insurance contracts with respect to underlying loss events that occurred prior to the contract inception date. Claims payments may commence immediately after the contract date or, when applicable, after a contractual retention amount has been reached. Reconciliations of the changes in estimated liabilities for retroactive reinsurance unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses (“claim liabilities”) and related deferred charges for each of the three-month periods ending March 31, 2022 and 2021 follow (in millions).
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | Deferred charges - retroactive reinsurance | Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | Deferred charges - retroactive reinsurance | ||||||||||||
| Balances at beginning of year | $ | 38,256 | $ | (10,639 | ) | $ | 40,966 | $ | (12,441 | ) | |||||
| Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses: | |||||||||||||||
| Current year contracts | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||
| Prior years’ contracts | (7 | ) | 215 | (5 | ) | 252 | |||||||||
| Total | (7 | ) | 215 | (5 | ) | 252 | |||||||||
| Paid losses and loss adjustment expenses | (547 | ) | — | (276 | ) | — | |||||||||
| Balances at March 31 | $ | 37,702 | $ | (10,424 | ) | $ | 40,685 | $ | (12,189 | ) | |||||
| Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses, net of deferred charges | $ | 208 | $ | 247 |
In the preceding table, classifications of incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses are based on the inception dates of the contracts, which reflect when our exposure to losses began. Incurred losses and loss adjustment expenses in the first quarter for prior years’ contracts were $208 million in 2022 and $247 million in 2021 and included recurring amortization of deferred charges and the effect of changes in the timing and amount of expected future loss payments. Currently, our largest retroactive reinsurance contract is between our subsidiary, National Indemnity Company, and certain subsidiaries of American International Group, Inc. (collectively, “AIG”). Our estimated claim liabilities with regard to the AIG contract were approximately $15.4 billion at March 31, 2022 and $15.8 billion at December 31, 2021. Deferred charges related to the AIG contract were $4.34 billion at March 31, 2022 and $4.45 billion at December 31, 2021.
Note 15. Notes payable and other borrowings
Notes payable and other borrowings are summarized below (in millions). The weighted average interest rates and maturity date ranges shown in the following tables are based on borrowings as of March 31, 2022.
| Weighted Average Interest Rate | March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance and other: | ||||||||||||
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (“Berkshire”): | ||||||||||||
| U.S. Dollar denominated due 2023-2047 | 3.3 | % | $ | 6,222 | $ | 6,820 | ||||||
| Euro denominated due 2023-2041 | 1.0 | % | 7,586 | 7,792 | ||||||||
| Japanese Yen denominated due 2023-2060 | 0.6 | % | 7,479 | 6,797 | ||||||||
| Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation (“BHFC”): | ||||||||||||
| U.S. Dollar denominated due 2022-2052 | 3.6 | % | 15,235 | 10,758 | ||||||||
| Great Britain Pound denominated due 2039-2059 | 2.5 | % | 2,258 | 2,325 | ||||||||
| Euro denominated due 2030-2034 | 1.8 | % | 1,378 | — | ||||||||
| Other subsidiary borrowings due 2022-2045 | 4.1 | % | 4,426 | 4,438 | ||||||||
| Subsidiary short-term borrowings | 3.2 | % | 306 | 342 | ||||||||
| $ | 44,890 | $ | 39,272 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 15. Notes payable and other borrowings (Continued)
In January 2022, Berkshire repaid $600 million of maturing senior notes and issued ¥128.5 billion (approximately $1.1 billion) of senior notes with maturity dates ranging from 2027 to 2052 and a weighted average interest rate of 0.5%. Borrowings of BHFC, a wholly owned finance subsidiary of Berkshire, consist of senior unsecured notes used to fund manufactured housing loans originated or acquired and equipment held for lease of certain subsidiaries. BHFC borrowings are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Berkshire. In March 2022, BHFC issued $4.5 billion of senior notes with maturity dates ranging from 2027 to 2052 with a weighted average interest rate of 3.4% and €1.25 billion (approximately $1.4 billion) of senior notes maturing in 2030 and 2034 with a weighted average interest rate of 1.8%.
The carrying values of Berkshire and BHFC non-U.S. Dollar denominated senior notes (€8.15 billion, £1.75 billion and ¥914 billion par at March 31, 2022) reflect the applicable exchange rates as of each balance sheet date. The effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates during the period are recorded in earnings as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses. Changes in the exchange rates resulted in pre-tax gains of $716 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $720 million in the first quarter of 2021.
Berkshire also guarantees debt of other subsidiaries, aggregating approximately $3.8 billion at March 31, 2022. Generally, Berkshire’s guarantee of a subsidiary’s debt obligation is an absolute, unconditional and irrevocable guarantee for the full and prompt payment when due of all payment obligations.
| Weighted Average Interest Rate | March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Railroad, utilities and energy: | |||||||||||||
| Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company (“BHE”) and subsidiaries: | |||||||||||||
| BHE senior unsecured debt due 2023-2051 | 4.3 | % | $ | 13,003 | $ | 13,003 | |||||||
| Subsidiary and other debt due 2022-2064 | 4.1 | % | 36,901 | 36,759 | |||||||||
| Short-term borrowings | 1.6 | % | 1,849 | 2,009 | |||||||||
| Burlington Northern Santa Fe ("BNSF") and subsidiaries due 2022-2097 | 4.5 | % | 23,018 | 23,219 | |||||||||
| $ | 74,771 | $ | 74,990 |
BHE subsidiary debt represents amounts issued pursuant to separate financing agreements. Substantially all of the assets of certain BHE subsidiaries are, or may be, pledged or encumbered to support or otherwise secure such debt. These borrowing arrangements generally contain various covenants, which pertain to leverage ratios, interest coverage ratios and/or debt service coverage ratios. In April 2022, BHE issued $1.0 billion of 4.6% senior notes due in 2053 and a subsidiary issued £350 million of 3.25% bonds due in 2052.
BNSF’s borrowings are primarily senior unsecured debentures. As of March 31, 2022, BNSF, BHE and their subsidiaries were in compliance with all applicable debt covenants. Berkshire does not guarantee any debt, borrowings or lines of credit of BNSF, BHE or their subsidiaries.
Our subsidiaries have unused lines of credit and commercial paper capacity to support short-term borrowing programs and provide additional liquidity. Unused lines of credit were approximately $10.4 billion at March 31, 2022, which included approximately $8.8 billion related to BHE and its subsidiaries.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 16. Fair value measurements
Our financial assets and liabilities are summarized below as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, with fair values shown according to the fair value hierarchy (in millions). The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, U.S. Treasury Bills, other receivables and accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities are considered to be reasonable estimates of their fair values.
| Carrying Value | Fair Value | Quoted Prices (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Investments in fixed maturity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies | $ | 8,708 | $ | 8,708 | $ | 8,669 | $ | 39 | $ | — | ||||||||||
| Foreign governments | 11,080 | 11,080 | 10,543 | 537 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Corporate bonds | 1,590 | 1,590 | — | 1,590 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Other | 340 | 340 | — | 340 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Investments in equity securities | 390,538 | 390,538 | 378,190 | 7 | 12,341 | |||||||||||||||
| Investment in Kraft Heinz common stock | 13,191 | 12,819 | 12,819 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Loans and finance receivables | 21,265 | 22,584 | — | 2,135 | 20,449 | |||||||||||||||
| Derivative contract assets (1) | 636 | 636 | 24 | 528 | 84 | |||||||||||||||
| Derivative contract liabilities (1) | 454 | 454 | 1 | 143 | 310 | |||||||||||||||
| Notes payable and other borrowings: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance and other | 44,890 | 45,145 | — | 45,101 | 44 | |||||||||||||||
| Railroad, utilities and energy | 74,771 | 79,234 | — | 79,234 | — | |||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Investments in fixed maturity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies | $ | 3,303 | $ | 3,303 | $ | 3,261 | $ | 42 | $ | — | ||||||||||
| Foreign governments | 10,994 | 10,994 | 10,286 | 708 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Corporate bonds | 1,774 | 1,774 | — | 1,774 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Other | 363 | 363 | — | 363 | — | |||||||||||||||
| Investments in equity securities | 350,719 | 350,719 | 339,225 | 8 | 11,486 | |||||||||||||||
| Investment in Kraft Heinz common stock | 13,112 | 11,683 | 11,683 | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Loans and finance receivables | 20,751 | 22,174 | — | 2,178 | 19,996 | |||||||||||||||
| Derivative contract assets (1) | 329 | 329 | 6 | 230 | 93 | |||||||||||||||
| Derivative contract liabilities (1) | 376 | 376 | 2 | 150 | 224 | |||||||||||||||
| Notes payable and other borrowings: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Insurance and other | 39,272 | 42,339 | — | 42,292 | 47 | |||||||||||||||
| Railroad, utilities and energy | 74,990 | 87,065 | — | 87,065 | — |
| (1) | Assets are included in other assets and liabilities are included in accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities. |
|---|
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 16. Fair value measurements (Continued)
The fair values of substantially all of our financial instruments were measured using market or income approaches. The hierarchy for measuring fair value consists of Levels 1 through 3, which are described below.
Level 1 – Inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities exchanged in active markets.
Level 2 – Inputs include directly or indirectly observable inputs (other than Level 1 inputs) such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities exchanged in active or inactive markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities exchanged in inactive markets; other inputs that may be considered in fair value determinations of the assets or liabilities, such as interest rates and yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates; and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. Pricing evaluations generally reflect discounted expected future cash flows, which incorporate yield curves for instruments with similar characteristics, such as credit ratings, estimated durations and yields for other instruments of the issuer or entities in the same industry sector.
Level 3 – Inputs include unobservable inputs used in the measurement of assets and liabilities. Management is required to use its own assumptions regarding unobservable inputs because there is little, if any, market activity in the assets or liabilities and it may be unable to corroborate the related observable inputs. Unobservable inputs require management to make certain projections and assumptions about the information that would be used by market participants in valuing assets or liabilities.
Reconciliations of significant assets and liabilities measured and carried at fair value on a recurring basis with the use of significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 follow (in millions).
| Balance at beginning of year | Gains included in earnings | Acquisitions, dispositions and settlements | Transfers out of Level 3 | Balance at March 31 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investments in equity securities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | $ | 11,480 | $ | 855 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 12,335 | ||||||||||
| 2021 | 8,978 | 823 | 600 | — | 10,401 | |||||||||||||||
| Equity index put option contract liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | (1,065 | ) | 489 | (1 | ) | — | (577 | ) |
Quantitative information as of March 31, 2022 with respect to significant assets and liabilities measured and carried at fair value on a recurring basis with the use of significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) follows (dollars in millions).
| Fair Value | Principal Valuation Techniques | Unobservable Inputs | Weighted Average | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investments in equity securities: | ||||||||||||
| Preferred stock | $ | 10,497 | Discounted cash flow | Expected duration | 7 years | |||||||
| Discount for transferability restrictions and subordination | 372 bps | |||||||||||
| Common stock warrants | 1,838 | Warrant pricing model | Expected duration | 7 years | ||||||||
| Volatility | 38% |
Investments in equity securities in the preceding table include our investments in certain preferred stocks and common stock warrants that do not have readily determinable market values as defined under GAAP. These investments are subject to contractual restrictions on transferability and may contain provisions that prevent us from economically hedging our investments. We applied discounted cash flow techniques in valuing the preferred stock and we made assumptions regarding the expected duration of the investment and the effects of subordination in liquidation. In valuing the common stock warrants, we used a warrant valuation model. While most of the inputs to the model are observable, we made assumptions regarding the expected duration and volatility of the warrants.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 17. Common stock
Changes in Berkshire’s issued, treasury and outstanding common stock during the first quarter of 2022 are shown in the table below. In addition to our common stock, 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock are authorized, but none are issued.
| Class A, $5 Par Value (1,650,000 shares authorized) | Class B, $0.0033 Par Value (3,225,000,000 shares authorized) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issued | Treasury | Outstanding | Issued | Treasury | Outstanding | ||||||||||||||||||
| Balances at December 31, 2021 | 665,901 | (48,788 | ) | 617,113 | 1,488,292,852 | (197,818,349 | ) | 1,290,474,503 | |||||||||||||||
| Conversions of Class A common stock to Class B common stock | (1,148 | ) | — | (1,148 | ) | 1,722,000 | — | 1,722,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Treasury stock acquired | — | (2,005 | ) | (2,005 | ) | — | (6,824,671 | ) | (6,824,671 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Balances at March 31, 2022 | 664,753 | (50,793 | ) | 613,960 | 1,490,014,852 | (204,643,020 | ) | 1,285,371,832 |
Each Class A common share is entitled to one vote per share. Class B common stock possesses dividend and distribution rights equal to one-fifteen-hundredth (1/1,500) of such rights of Class A common stock. Each Class B common share possesses voting rights equal to one-ten-thousandth (1/10,000) of the voting rights of a Class A share. Unless otherwise required under Delaware General Corporation Law, Class A and Class B common shares vote as a single class. Each share of Class A common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into 1,500 shares of Class B common stock. Class B common stock is not convertible into Class A common stock. On an equivalent Class A common stock basis, there were 1,470,875 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2022 and 1,477,429 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2021.
Since we have two classes of common stock, we provide earnings per share data on the Consolidated Statements of Earnings for average equivalent Class A shares outstanding and average equivalent Class B shares outstanding. Class B shares are economically equivalent to one-fifteen-hundredth (1/1,500) of a Class A share. Average equivalent Class A shares outstanding represents average Class A shares outstanding plus one-fifteen-hundredth (1/1,500) of the average Class B shares outstanding. Average equivalent Class B shares outstanding represents average Class B shares outstanding plus 1,500 times the average Class A shares outstanding.
Berkshire’s common stock repurchase program permits Berkshire to repurchase its Class A and Class B shares any time that Warren Buffett, Berkshire’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and Charlie Munger, Vice Chairman of the Board, believe that the repurchase price is below Berkshire’s intrinsic value, conservatively determined. The program continues to allow share repurchases in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions and does not specify a maximum number of shares to be repurchased. However, repurchases will not be made if they would reduce the total value of Berkshire’s consolidated cash, cash equivalents and U.S. Treasury Bills holdings below $30 billion. The repurchase program does not obligate Berkshire to repurchase any specific dollar amount or number of Class A or Class B shares and there is no expiration date to the program.
Note 18. Income taxes
Our consolidated effective income tax rates were 18.0% in the first quarter 2022 and 18.5% in the first quarter of 2021. Our effective income tax rate normally reflects recurring benefits from dividends-received deductions applicable to investments in equity securities and production tax credits related to wind-powered electricity generation placed in service in the U.S. Our periodic effective income tax rate will also vary due to the changes in mix of pre-tax earnings, the magnitude of gains or losses with respect to our investments in equity securities, the amount of non-deductible goodwill impairment charges and other expenses and the underlying income tax rates applicable in the various taxing jurisdictions.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 19. Accumulated other comprehensive income
A summary of the net changes in after-tax accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders for the three months ending March 31, 2022 and 2021 follows (in millions).
| Unrealized appreciation of fixed maturity securities, net | Foreign currency translation | Defined benefit pension plans | Other | Accumulated other comprehensive income | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First quarter of 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of year | $ | 369 | $ | (4,092 | ) | $ | (347 | ) | $ | 43 | $ | (4,027 | ) | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net | (186 | ) | (315 | ) | 20 | 80 | (401 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | 183 | $ | (4,407 | ) | $ | (327 | ) | $ | 123 | $ | (4,428 | ) | |||||||
| First quarter of 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of year | $ | 536 | $ | (3,082 | ) | $ | (1,645 | ) | $ | (52 | ) | $ | (4,243 | ) | ||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net | (67 | ) | (297 | ) | 40 | (3 | ) | (327 | ) | |||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | 469 | $ | (3,379 | ) | $ | (1,605 | ) | $ | (55 | ) | $ | (4,570 | ) |
Note 20. Supplemental cash flow information
A summary of supplemental cash flow information is presented in the following table (in millions).
| First Quarter | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
| Cash paid during the period for: | ||||||||
| Income taxes | $ | 336 | $ | 256 | ||||
| Interest: | ||||||||
| Insurance and other | 365 | 400 | ||||||
| Railroad, utilities and energy | 708 | 740 |
Note 21. Contingencies and commitments
We are parties in a variety of legal actions that routinely arise out of the normal course of business, including legal actions seeking to establish liability directly through insurance contracts or indirectly through reinsurance contracts issued by Berkshire subsidiaries. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. We do not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Berkshire and certain of its subsidiaries are also involved in other kinds of legal actions, some of which assert or may assert claims or seek to impose fines and penalties. We believe that any liability that may arise as a result of other pending legal actions will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
On March 21, 2022, Berkshire and Alleghany Corporation (“Alleghany”) entered into an agreement whereby Berkshire will acquire all of Alleghany’s outstanding common stock for cash of approximately $11.6 billion. The acquisition of Alleghany is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022 and is subject to approval by Alleghany shareholders and the receipt of various regulatory approvals. Alleghany owns property and casualty reinsurance and insurance businesses as well as a diverse portfolio of non-financial businesses.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 22. Revenues from contracts with customers
We recognize revenue when a good or service is transferred to a customer. A good or service is transferred when or as the customer obtains control of that good or service. Revenues are based on the consideration we expect to receive in connection with our promises to deliver goods and services to our customers. The following tables summarize customer contract revenues disaggregated by reportable segment and the source of the revenue for the first quarter of 2022 and 2021 (in millions). Other revenues, which are not considered to be revenues from contracts with customers under GAAP, are primarily insurance premiums earned, interest, dividend and other investment income and leasing revenues.
| Manufacturing | McLane | Service and Retailing | BNSF | Berkshire Hathaway Energy | Insurance, Corporate and other | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three months ending March 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufactured products: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Industrial and commercial products | $ | 5,932 | $ | — | $ | 49 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 5,981 | ||||||||||||||
| Building products | 5,419 | — | — | — | — | — | 5,419 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Consumer products | 5,093 | — | — | — | — | — | 5,093 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Grocery and convenience store distribution | — | 7,706 | — | — | — | — | 7,706 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Food and beverage distribution | — | 4,562 | — | — | — | — | 4,562 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Auto sales | — | — | 2,527 | — | — | — | 2,527 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other retail and wholesale distribution | 722 | — | 4,175 | — | — | — | 4,897 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | 264 | 214 | 1,006 | 5,931 | 1,112 | — | 8,527 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Electricity and natural gas | — | — | — | — | 4,714 | — | 4,714 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 17,430 | 12,482 | 7,757 | 5,931 | 5,826 | — | 49,426 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other revenues | 955 | 32 | 1,334 | 13 | 152 | 18,898 | 21,384 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 18,385 | $ | 12,514 | $ | 9,091 | $ | 5,944 | $ | 5,978 | $ | 18,898 | $ | 70,810 | |||||||||||||||
| Three months ending March 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufactured products: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Industrial and commercial products | $ | 5,363 | $ | — | $ | 50 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 5,413 | ||||||||||||||
| Building products | 4,399 | — | — | — | — | — | 4,399 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Consumer products | 4,163 | — | — | — | — | — | 4,163 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Grocery and convenience store distribution | — | 7,442 | — | — | — | — | 7,442 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Food and beverage distribution | — | 4,004 | — | — | — | — | 4,004 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Auto sales | — | — | 2,312 | — | — | — | 2,312 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other retail and wholesale distribution | 703 | — | 3,656 | — | — | — | 4,359 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | 329 | 151 | 934 | 5,365 | 1,040 | — | 7,819 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Electricity and natural gas | — | — | — | — | 4,712 | — | 4,712 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 14,957 | 11,597 | 6,952 | 5,365 | 5,752 | — | 44,623 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Other revenues | 923 | 25 | 991 | 13 | 172 | 17,852 | 19,976 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 15,880 | $ | 11,622 | $ | 7,943 | $ | 5,378 | $ | 5,924 | $ | 17,852 | $ | 64,599 |
A summary of the transaction price allocated to the significant unsatisfied remaining performance obligations relating to contracts with expected durations in excess of one year as of March 31, 2022 and the timing of when the performance obligations are expected to be satisfied follows (in millions).
| Less than 12 months | Greater than 12 months | Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity and natural gas | $ | 2,878 | $ | 22,103 | $ | 24,981 | ||||||
| Other sales and service contracts | 1,494 | 2,423 | 3,917 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
Note 23. Business segment data
Our operating businesses include a large and diverse group of insurance, manufacturing, service and retailing businesses. We organize our reportable business segments in a manner that reflects how management views those business activities. Certain businesses are grouped together for segment reporting based upon similar products or product lines and marketing, selling and distribution characteristics, even though those business units are operated under separate local management. Revenues and earnings before income taxes by segment for the first quarter of 2022 and 2021 were as follows (in millions).
| First Quarter | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Revenues of Operating Businesses | |||||||||||
| Insurance: | |||||||||||
| Underwriting: | |||||||||||
| GEICO | $ | 9,554 | $ | 8,923 | |||||||
| Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group | 3,118 | 2,654 | |||||||||
| Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group | 4,820 | 4,847 | |||||||||
| Investment income | 1,364 | 1,414 | |||||||||
| Total insurance | 18,856 | 17,838 | |||||||||
| BNSF | 5,968 | 5,401 | |||||||||
| BHE | 5,983 | 5,924 | |||||||||
| Manufacturing | 18,421 | 15,913 | |||||||||
| McLane | 12,515 | 11,622 | |||||||||
| Service and retailing | 9,115 | 7,958 | |||||||||
| 70,858 | 64,656 | ||||||||||
| Reconciliation of segments to consolidated amount | |||||||||||
| Corporate, eliminations and other | (48 | ) | (57 | ) | |||||||
| $ | 70,810 | $ | 64,599 |
| First Quarter | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Earnings Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses | |||||||||||
| Insurance: | |||||||||||
| Underwriting: | |||||||||||
| GEICO | $ | (178 | ) | $ | 1,023 | ||||||
| Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group | 92 | 206 | |||||||||
| Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group | 156 | (263 | ) | ||||||||
| Investment income | 1,361 | 1,412 | |||||||||
| Total insurance | 1,431 | 2,378 | |||||||||
| BNSF | 1,809 | 1,659 | |||||||||
| BHE | 676 | 683 | |||||||||
| Manufacturing | 2,824 | 2,436 | |||||||||
| McLane | 82 | 103 | |||||||||
| Service and retailing | 1,135 | 938 | |||||||||
| 7,957 | 8,197 | ||||||||||
| Reconciliation of segments to consolidated amount | |||||||||||
| Investment and derivative gains (losses) | (1,978 | ) | 5,700 | ||||||||
| Interest expense, not allocated to segments | (104 | ) | (114 | ) | |||||||
| Equity method investments | 376 | 251 | |||||||||
| Corporate, eliminations and other | 561 | 494 | |||||||||
| $ | 6,812 | $ | 14,528 |
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Results of Operations
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders are disaggregated in the table that follows. Amounts are after deducting income taxes and exclude earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests (in millions).
| First Quarter | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||
| Insurance – underwriting | $ | 47 | $ | 764 | ||||||||
| Insurance – investment income | 1,170 | 1,208 | ||||||||||
| Railroad | 1,371 | 1,251 | ||||||||||
| Utilities and energy | 750 | 703 | ||||||||||
| Manufacturing, service and retailing | 3,025 | 2,619 | ||||||||||
| Investment and derivative contract gains (losses) | (1,580 | ) | 4,693 | |||||||||
| Other | 677 | 473 | ||||||||||
| Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders | $ | 5,460 | $ | 11,711 |
Through our subsidiaries, we engage in numerous diverse business activities. We manage our operating businesses on an unusually decentralized basis. There are few centralized or integrated business functions. Our senior corporate management team participates in and is ultimately responsible for significant capital allocation decisions, investment activities and the selection of the Chief Executive to head each of the operating businesses. The business segment data (Note 23 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements) should be read in conjunction with this discussion.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect most of our operating businesses. Significant government and private sector actions have been taken since 2020 and likely will continue to be taken to control the spread and mitigate the economic effects of the virus. Actions in the latter part of 2021 and early 2022 included periodic temporary business closures or restrictions of business activities in various parts of the world in response to the emergence of variants of the virus. Notwithstanding these efforts, significant disruptions of supply chains and higher costs have persisted. Further, the development of geopolitical conflicts in 2022 have contributed to the disruptions of supply chains, resulting in cost increases for goods and services in many parts of the world. We cannot reliably predict future economic effects of these events on our businesses or when our operations will normalize. Nor can we reliably predict how these events will alter the future consumption patterns of consumers and businesses we serve.
Insurance underwriting produced after-tax earnings of $47 million in the first quarter of 2022 versus $764 million in 2021. Underwriting earnings in the first quarter of 2022 were negatively impacted by ongoing increases in claims severities at GEICO. Underwriting earnings in 2021 reflected the effects of the premium reductions from the GEICO Giveback program and the favorable impact of lower claims frequencies for private passenger automobile coverages, which were partially offset by higher claims severities. After-tax earnings from insurance investment income decreased 3.1% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021, attributable to lower dividend income.
After-tax earnings of our railroad business increased 9.6% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. The increase reflected higher revenue per car/unit, partly offset by lower overall freight volumes and higher average fuel costs. After-tax earnings of our utilities and energy business increased 6.7% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. The increase reflected higher earnings from the regulated utilities businesses, including increased production tax credits for renewable energy, and from higher earnings from tax equity investments, partly offset by lower earnings from the natural gas pipelines and real estate brokerage businesses. After-tax earnings from our manufacturing, service and retailing businesses increased 15.5% in the first quarter of 2022 versus 2021. While customer demand for products and services was relatively good in the first quarter of 2022, we continue to experience the effects of higher materials, freight, labor and other input costs attributable to ongoing disruptions in global supply chains.
Investment and derivative contract gains and losses in 2022 and 2021 predominantly derived from our investments in equity securities and includes unrealized gains and losses from market price changes. We believe that investment and derivative gains/losses, whether realized from dispositions or unrealized from changes in market prices of equity securities, are generally meaningless in understanding our reported quarterly or annual results or evaluating the economic performance of our businesses. These gains and losses have caused and will continue to cause significant volatility in our periodic earnings.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Insurance—Underwriting
Our management views our insurance businesses as possessing two distinct activities – underwriting and investing. Underwriting decisions are the responsibility of the unit managers, while investing decisions are the responsibility of Berkshire’s Chairman and CEO, Warren E. Buffett, and Berkshire’s corporate investment managers. Accordingly, we evaluate performance of underwriting operations without any allocation of investment income or investment gains and losses. We consider investment income as an integral component of our aggregate insurance operating results. However, we consider investment gains and losses, whether realized or unrealized, as non-operating. We believe that such gains and losses are not meaningful in understanding the quarterly or annual operating results of our insurance businesses.
The timing and magnitude of catastrophe losses can produce significant volatility in our periodic underwriting results, particularly with respect to our reinsurance businesses. Generally, we consider incurred losses exceeding $100 million from a current year catastrophic event to be significant. Significant catastrophe events in the first quarters included floods in Australia in 2022 and Winter Storm Uri in 2021.
Changes in estimates for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, including amounts established for occurrences in prior years, can also significantly affect our periodic underwriting results. Unpaid loss estimates, including estimates under retroactive reinsurance contracts, were approximately $125 billion as of March 31, 2022. Our periodic underwriting results may also include significant foreign currency transaction gains and losses arising from the changes in the valuation of non-U.S. Dollar denominated liabilities of our U.S. based insurance subsidiaries due to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
Underwriting results of certain of our commercial insurance and reinsurance businesses have been affected by estimated losses and costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including incremental provisions for claims. The effects of the pandemic on future periods may be affected by judicial rulings and regulatory and legislative actions pertaining to insurance coverage and claims and by its effects on general economic activity, which we cannot reasonably estimate at this time.
We provide primary insurance and reinsurance products covering property and casualty risks, as well as life and health risks. Our insurance and reinsurance businesses are GEICO, Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group and Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group. Underwriting results of our insurance businesses are summarized below (dollars in millions).
| First Quarter | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Pre-tax underwriting earnings (loss): | |||||||||||
| GEICO | $ | (178 | ) | $ | 1,023 | ||||||
| Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group | 92 | 206 | |||||||||
| Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group | 156 | (263 | ) | ||||||||
| Pre-tax underwriting earnings | 70 | 966 | |||||||||
| Income taxes and noncontrolling interests | 23 | 202 | |||||||||
| Net underwriting earnings | $ | 47 | $ | 764 | |||||||
| Effective income tax rate | 34.4 | % | 20.9 | % |
GEICO
GEICO writes private passenger automobile insurance, offering coverages to insureds in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. GEICO markets its policies mainly by direct response methods where most customers apply for coverage directly to the company via the Internet or over the telephone. A summary of GEICO’s underwriting results follows (dollars in millions).
| First Quarter | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount | % | Amount | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums written | $ | 10,265 | $ | 10,006 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums earned | $ | 9,554 | 100.0 | $ | 8,923 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 8,544 | 89.4 | 6,463 | 72.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting expenses | 1,188 | 12.5 | 1,437 | 16.1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total losses and expenses | 9,732 | 101.9 | 7,900 | 88.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pre-tax underwriting earnings (loss) | $ | (178 | ) | $ | 1,023 |
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Insurance—Underwriting (Continued)
GEICO (Continued)
GEICO’s pre-tax underwriting loss in the first quarter of 2022 reflected increased claims severity, primarily due to significant cost inflation in automobile markets, which accelerated in the second half of 2021. Increases in used car prices are producing increased claims severities on total losses and shortages of car parts are contributing to increased claims severity on partial losses. In addition, injury claims severities continue to trend higher than general inflation rates.
Premiums written in the first quarter of 2022 increased $259 million (2.6%) compared to 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in average premiums per auto policy due to rate increases, as average policies in-force were relatively unchanged. Premiums earned in the first quarter of 2022 increased $631 million (7.1%) compared to 2021. Premiums earned in 2021 included a reduction of approximately $400 million attributable to the remaining impact of the GEICO Giveback program that provided a 15% premium credit to new and renewing voluntary auto and motorcycle policies written between April 8, 2020 and October 7, 2020.
Losses and loss adjustment expenses in the first quarter of 2022 increased $2.1 billion (32.2%) compared to 2021. GEICO’s ratio of losses and loss adjustment expenses to premiums earned in the first quarter of 2022 was 89.4%, an increase of 17.0 percentage points compared to 2021, which reflected increases in claims frequencies and severities.
Claims frequencies in the first quarter of 2022 were higher for all coverages, including property damage (ten to eleven percent range), collision (fifteen to sixteen percent range), bodily injury (twelve to thirteen percent range) and personal injury (fourteen to fifteen percent range). Average claims severities in the first quarter of 2022 were higher for property damage coverage (six to seven percent range), collision coverage (twenty to twenty-two percent range) and bodily injury coverage (nine to eleven percent range). GEICO’s losses and loss adjustment expenses in the first quarter included reductions in the ultimate claim loss estimates for prior years’ loss events of $92 million in 2022 and $521 million in 2021. The reduction in estimates for prior years’ events in 2022 reflected decreases for bodily and personal injury coverages and increases for collision and property damage coverages.
Underwriting expenses in the first quarter of 2022 were $1.2 billion, a decrease of $249 million (17.3%) compared to 2021, reflecting lower employee-related and advertising expenses. GEICO’s expense ratio (underwriting expense to premiums earned) in the first quarter of 2022 was 12.5% compared to 16.1% in 2021, attributable to both the decrease in expenses as well as the increase in earned premiums.
Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group
The Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group (“BH Primary”) provides a variety of commercial insurance solutions, including healthcare professional liability, workers’ compensation, automobile, general liability, property and specialty coverages for small, medium and large clients. BH Primary’s larger insurers include Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (“BH Specialty”), Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies (“BHHC”), MedPro Group, Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies (“GUARD”), National Indemnity Company (“NICO Primary”) and U.S. Liability Insurance Company (“USLI”). A summary of BH Primary underwriting results follows (dollars in millions).
| First Quarter | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount | % | Amount | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums written | $ | 3,392 | $ | 2,908 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums earned | $ | 3,118 | 100.0 | $ | 2,654 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 2,274 | 72.9 | 1,849 | 69.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting expenses | 752 | 24.1 | 599 | 22.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total losses and expenses | 3,026 | 97.0 | 2,448 | 92.2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pre-tax underwriting earnings | $ | 92 | $ | 206 |
Premiums written increased $484 million (16.6%) in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021, reflecting increases at nearly all of our larger insurance units, including BH Specialty (28%), BHHC (12%) and USLI (17%). The increases were across multiple coverages and occurred in several markets.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Insurance—Underwriting (Continued)
Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group (Continued)
BH Primary’s loss ratio was 72.9% in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 3.2 percentage points compared to 2021. Losses and loss adjustment expenses attributable to significant catastrophe events were $75 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $150 million in 2021. Losses and loss adjustment expenses were reduced $22 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $178 million in 2021 for net reductions in estimated ultimate liabilities for prior years’ loss events. BH Primary insurers also write significant levels of workers’ compensation, commercial and professional liability insurance and the related claim costs may be subject to high severity and long claim-tails. We could experience significant increases in claims liabilities in the future attributable to higher-than-expected claim settlements, adverse litigation outcomes or judicial rulings and other factors not currently anticipated.
Underwriting expenses in the first quarter of 2022 increased $153 million (25.5%) compared to 2021. Our expense ratio also increased 1.6 percentage points compared to 2021. These increases reflected costs associated with new business development and changes in business mix.
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group
The Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (“BHRG”) offers excess-of-loss and quota-share reinsurance coverages on property and casualty risks to insurers and reinsurers worldwide through several subsidiaries, led by National Indemnity Company (“NICO”), General Reinsurance Corporation and General Reinsurance AG. We also write life and health reinsurance coverages through General Re Life Corporation, General Reinsurance AG and Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska (“BHLN”). We periodically assume property and casualty risks under retroactive reinsurance contracts written through NICO. In addition, we write periodic payment annuity contracts through BHLN.
Generally, we strive to generate underwriting profits. However, time-value-of-money concepts are important elements in establishing prices for retroactive reinsurance and periodic payment annuity businesses due to the expected long durations of the claim liabilities. We expect to incur pre-tax underwriting losses from such businesses, primarily through deferred charge amortization and discount accretion charges. We receive premiums at the inception of these contracts, which are then available for investment. A summary of BHRG’s premiums and pre-tax underwriting results follows (dollars in millions).
| First Quarter | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiums earned | Pre-tax underwriting earnings (loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Property/casualty | $ | 3,399 | $ | 3,394 | $ | 405 | $ | 166 | |||||||||||||||
| Life/health | 1,248 | 1,305 | (12 | ) | (172 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Retroactive reinsurance | — | — | (190 | ) | (242 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Periodic payment annuity | 169 | 144 | (103 | ) | (136 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
| Variable annuity | 4 | 4 | 56 | 121 | |||||||||||||||||||
| $ | 4,820 | $ | 4,847 | $ | 156 | $ | (263 | ) |
Property/casualty
A summary of property/casualty reinsurance underwriting results follows (dollars in millions).
| First Quarter | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount | % | Amount | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums written | $ | 4,386 | $ | 4,383 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums earned | $ | 3,399 | 100.0 | $ | 3,394 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Losses and loss adjustment expenses | 2,307 | 67.9 | 2,407 | 70.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting expenses | 687 | 20.2 | 821 | 24.2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total losses and expenses | 2,994 | 88.1 | 3,228 | 95.1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pre-tax underwriting earnings | $ | 405 | $ | 166 |
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Insurance—Underwriting (Continued)
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (Continued)
Property/casualty (Continued)
Premiums written in the first quarter of 2022 were relatively unchanged from 2021, reflecting a modest net increase from volumes and rates, offset by unfavorable foreign currency translation effects. Losses and loss adjustment expenses decreased $100 million (4.2%) and the loss ratio declined 3.0 percentage points in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. Losses incurred arising from significant catastrophe events in the first quarter of 2022 were $315 million, which were partially offset by reductions in estimated ultimate liabilities for losses occurring in prior years of $137 million. Losses incurred in the first quarter of 2021 included $310 million from significant catastrophe events and an increase in estimated ultimate liabilities for losses occurring in prior years of $53 million. Underwriting expenses are primarily commissions and brokerage costs. The expense ratio decreased 4.0 percentage points in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021, attributable to changes in business mix and foreign currency effects.
Life/health
A summary of our life/health reinsurance underwriting results follows (dollars in millions).
| First Quarter | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amount | % | Amount | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums written | $ | 1,243 | $ | 1,301 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Premiums earned | $ | 1,248 | 100.0 | $ | 1,305 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Life and health insurance benefits | 1,051 | 84.2 | 1,251 | 95.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Underwriting expenses | 209 | 16.8 | 226 | 17.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total benefits and expenses | 1,260 | 101.0 | 1,477 | 113.2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pre-tax underwriting earnings (loss) | $ | (12 | ) | $ | (172 | ) |
Life/health premiums written decreased $58 million (4.5%) in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to lower volumes in the Asia Pacific and North America regions and from unfavorable foreign currency translation effects. Life and health benefits in the first quarter of 2022 declined $200 million (16.0%) compared to 2021, attributable to lower mortality. Underwriting results in 2021 were affected by significant, pandemic-related increases in mortality in the U.S., South Africa and Latin America, which were partially offset by lower underwriting expenses, due mainly to lower average commission rates in the international life business.
Retroactive reinsurance
Pre-tax underwriting losses in each period derived from the amortization of deferred charges and changes in the estimated timing and amounts of future claim payments. Underwriting results also include foreign currency exchange gains and losses from the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on non-U.S. Dollar denominated liabilities of our U.S. subsidiaries. Foreign currency exchange gains and losses in the first quarter of 2022 and 2021 were insignificant. Pre-tax underwriting losses in the first quarter before foreign currency exchange effects were $195 million in 2022 and $243 million in 2021.
Unpaid losses assumed under retroactive reinsurance contracts were $37.7 billion at March 31, 2022, declining $554 million since December 31, 2021, primarily due to loss payments. Unamortized deferred charges related to retroactive reinsurance contracts were $10.4 billion at March 31, 2022, a decline of $215 million since December 31, 2021, primarily attributable to periodic amortization. Deferred charge amortization will be included in underwriting earnings over the expected remaining claims settlement periods.
Periodic payment annuity
Periodic payment annuity premiums earned increased $25 million (17.4%) in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. Periodic payment annuity business is both price and demand sensitive and the supply of available business is affected by the timing of underlying legal claim settlements. Our volumes written may change rapidly due to changes in prices, which are affected by prevailing interest rates, the perceived risks and durations associated with the expected annuity payments, as well as the level of competition.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Insurance—Underwriting (Continued)
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (Continued)
Periodic payment annuity (Continued)
Periodic payment annuity contracts normally produce pre-tax underwriting losses deriving from the recurring discount accretion of annuity liabilities. Underwriting results also include gains or losses from the effects of changes in mortality and interest rates and from foreign currency exchange rate changes on non-U.S. Dollar denominated liabilities of our U.S. subsidiaries. Pre-tax underwriting results in the first quarter included foreign currency gains of $44 million in 2022 and losses of $10 million in 2021.
Excluding foreign currency exchange gains/losses, pre-tax underwriting losses in the first quarter were $147 million in 2022 compared to $126 million in 2021. The increase in pre-tax losses reflected the effects of new business and lower mortality. Discounted annuity liabilities were $15.3 billion at March 31, 2022 and had a weighted average discount rate of approximately 3.9%.
Variable annuity
Variable annuity guarantee reinsurance contracts produced pre-tax earnings in the first quarter of $56 million in 2022 and $121 million in 2021. The results from these contracts are affected by changes in securities markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, which can be volatile, and from the periodic amortization of expected profit margins. Underwriting earnings in each period were primarily attributable to the net effects of interest rate changes and in 2022 were partly offset by unfavorable changes in securities markets.
Insurance—Investment Income
A summary of net investment income attributable to our insurance operations follows (dollars in millions).
| First Quarter | Percentage | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | |||||||||||||
| Interest and other investment income | $ | 164 | $ | 159 | 3.1 | % | |||||||||
| Dividend income | 1,197 | 1,253 | (4.5 | ) | |||||||||||
| Pre-tax net investment income | 1,361 | 1,412 | (3.6 | ) | |||||||||||
| Income taxes and noncontrolling interests | 191 | 204 | |||||||||||||
| Net investment income | $ | 1,170 | $ | 1,208 | |||||||||||
| Effective income tax rate | 14.1 | % | 14.4 | % |
Interest and other investment income increased 3.1% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. We continue to hold substantial balances of cash, cash equivalents and short-term U.S. Treasury Bills. While exceptionally low interest rates prevailed in recent years, rates began to increase in the first quarter of 2022. The effects of such increases are expected to be reflected in our earnings as maturing investments are replaced by new investments. We continue to believe that maintaining ample liquidity is paramount and we insist on safety over yield with respect to short-term investments.
Dividend income in the first quarter of 2022 decreased 4.5% compared to 2021. Dividend income may vary from period to period due to changes in the investment portfolio and the frequency and timing of dividends from certain investees. Dividend income in the first quarter included $16 million in 2022 and $38 million in 2021 from investments in preferred stock of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. Such amounts are deducted from earnings of the utilities and energy segment.
Invested assets of our insurance businesses derive from shareholder capital and from net liabilities under insurance and reinsurance contracts or “float.” The major components of float are unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, including liabilities under retroactive reinsurance contracts, life, annuity and health benefit liabilities, unearned premiums and other liabilities due to policyholders, which are reduced by insurance premiums receivable, reinsurance receivables, deferred charges assumed under retroactive reinsurance contracts and deferred policy acquisition costs. Float approximated $148 billion at March 31, 2022 and $147 billion at December 31, 2021. Our combined insurance operations generated pre-tax underwriting earnings in the first quarter of 2022 and 2021, and consequently, the average cost of float for each period was negative.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Insurance—Investment Income (Continued)
A summary of cash and investments held in our insurance businesses as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 follows (in millions).
| March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash, cash equivalents and U.S. Treasury Bills | $ | 57,427 | $ | 90,688 | ||||
| Equity securities | 376,501 | 334,907 | ||||||
| Fixed maturity securities | 21,672 | 16,386 | ||||||
| Other | 4,227 | 4,296 | ||||||
| $ | 459,827 | $ | 446,277 |
Fixed maturity securities as of March 31, 2022 were as follows (in millions).
| Amortized Cost | Unrealized Gains (Losses) | Carrying Value | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies | $ | 8,785 | $ | (85 | ) | $ | 8,700 | |||||
| Foreign governments | 11,115 | (36 | ) | 11,079 | ||||||||
| Corporate bonds | 1,256 | 322 | 1,578 | |||||||||
| Other | 282 | 33 | 315 | |||||||||
| $ | 21,438 | $ | 234 | $ | 21,672 |
U.S. government obligations are rated AA+ or Aaa by the major rating agencies. Approximately 94% of all foreign government obligations were rated AA or higher by at least one of the major rating agencies. Foreign government securities include obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by national or provincial government entities.
Railroad
Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC (“BNSF”) operates one of the largest railroad systems in North America, with over 32,500 route miles of track in 28 states. BNSF also operates in three Canadian provinces. BNSF classifies its major business groups by type of product shipped including consumer products, industrial products, agricultural products and coal. A summary of BNSF’s earnings follows (dollars in millions).
| First Quarter | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||
| Railroad operating revenues | $ | 5,777 | $ | 5,221 | ||||||||
| Railroad operating expenses: | ||||||||||||
| Compensation and benefits | 1,224 | 1,164 | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 861 | 550 | ||||||||||
| Purchased services | 499 | 505 | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 624 | 616 | ||||||||||
| Equipment rents, materials and other | 526 | 491 | ||||||||||
| Total | 3,734 | 3,326 | ||||||||||
| Railroad operating earnings | 2,043 | 1,895 | ||||||||||
| Other revenues (expenses): | ||||||||||||
| Other revenues | 191 | 180 | ||||||||||
| Other expenses, net | (170 | ) | (158 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest expense | (255 | ) | (258 | ) | ||||||||
| Pre-tax earnings | 1,809 | 1,659 | ||||||||||
| Income taxes | 438 | 408 | ||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 1,371 | $ | 1,251 | ||||||||
| Effective income tax rate | 24.2 | % | 24.6 | % |
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Railroad (Continued)
The following table summarizes BNSF’s railroad freight volumes by business group (cars/units in thousands).
| Cars/Units | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Quarter | Percentage | |||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||||||
| Consumer products | 1,275 | 1,393 | (8.5 | )% | ||||||||||||
| Industrial products | 404 | 399 | 1.3 | |||||||||||||
| Agricultural products | 305 | 318 | (4.1 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Coal | 385 | 339 | 13.6 | |||||||||||||
| 2,369 | 2,449 | (3.3 | ) |
Railroad operating revenues increased 10.6% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021 primarily due to a 13.8% increase in average revenue per car/unit resulting from higher fuel surcharge revenue driven by higher fuel prices, along with increased rates per car/unit, partially offset by a 3.3% decrease in unit volume. Pre-tax earnings were $1.8 billion in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 9.0% compared to 2021.
Operating revenues from consumer products were $2.1 billion in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 10.3% from 2021. The increase reflected higher average revenue per car/unit, partially offset by lower volumes of 8.5%. The volume decrease was mainly from lower international intermodal shipments resulting from supply chain challenges and lower automotive shipments due to production impacts from a global microchip shortage, partially offset by an increase in domestic intermodal volumes.
Operating revenues from industrial products were $1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 5.8% from 2021. Volumes increased 1.3% in the first quarter along with higher average revenue per car/unit. The volume increase was primarily due to improvement in the U.S. industrial economy.
Operating revenues from agricultural products were $1.4 billion in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 3.7% compared to 2021, reflecting higher average revenue per car/unit, partially offset by decreased volumes of 4.1%. The volume decrease was primarily due to lower grain exports, partially offset by higher volumes of ethanol and related commodities.
Operating revenues from coal were $889 million in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 29.6% from 2021, attributable to higher volumes of 13.6%, as well as from higher average revenue per car/unit. The volume increase in 2022 derived from increased electricity generation, higher natural gas prices and improved export demand.
Railroad operating expenses were $3.7 billion in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of $408 million (12.3%) compared to 2021, primarily due to increased compensation and benefits and fuel expenses. Our ratio of railroad operating expenses to railroad operating revenues in the first quarter of 2022 increased 0.9 percentage points to 64.6% versus 2021.
Compensation and benefits expenses increased $60 million (5.2%) in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to wage inflation, health and welfare costs and lower productivity. Fuel expenses increased $311 million (56.5%) in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to higher average fuel prices. Equipment rents, materials and other expenses increased $35 million (7.1%) in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to increased general inflation and higher casualty costs.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Utilities and Energy
We currently own 91.1% ownership interest in Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company (“BHE”), which operates a global energy business. BHE’s domestic regulated utility interests include PacifiCorp, MidAmerican Energy Company (“MEC”) and NV Energy. BHE subsidiaries also operate two regulated electricity distribution businesses referred to as Northern Powergrid in Great Britain. BHE’s natural gas pipelines consist of five domestic regulated interstate natural gas pipeline systems and a 25% interest in a liquefied natural gas export, import and storage facility (“LNG interest”), which BHE operates and consolidates for financial reporting purposes. Other energy businesses include a regulated electricity transmission-only business in Alberta, Canada (“AltaLink, L.P.”) and a diversified portfolio of mostly renewable independent power projects and investments. BHE also operates a residential real estate brokerage business and a large network of residential real estate brokerage franchises in the United States.
The rates our regulated businesses charge customers for energy and services are largely based on the costs of business operations, including income taxes and a return on capital, and are subject to regulatory approval. To the extent such costs are not allowed in the approved rates, operating results will be adversely affected. A summary of BHE’s net earnings follows (dollars in millions).
| First Quarter | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | |||||||||||
| Revenues: | ||||||||||||
| Energy operating revenue | $ | 4,823 | $ | 4,849 | ||||||||
| Real estate operating revenue | 1,207 | 1,232 | ||||||||||
| Other income (loss) | (47 | ) | (157 | ) | ||||||||
| Total revenue | 5,983 | 5,924 | ||||||||||
| Costs and expense: | ||||||||||||
| Energy cost of sales | 1,460 | 1,569 | ||||||||||
| Energy operating expense | 2,153 | 2,036 | ||||||||||
| Real estate operating costs and expense | 1,179 | 1,120 | ||||||||||
| Interest expense | 515 | 516 | ||||||||||
| Total costs and expense | 5,307 | 5,241 | ||||||||||
| Pre-tax earnings | 676 | 683 | ||||||||||
| Income tax expense (benefit)* | (283 | ) | (232 | ) | ||||||||
| Net earnings after income taxes | 959 | 915 | ||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests of BHE subsidiaries | 109 | 106 | ||||||||||
| Net earnings attributable to BHE | 850 | 809 | ||||||||||
| Noncontrolling interests and preferred stock dividends | 100 | 106 | ||||||||||
| Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders | $ | 750 | $ | 703 | ||||||||
| Effective income tax rate | (41.9 | )% | (34.0 | )% |
| * | Includes significant production tax credits from wind-powered electricity generation. |
|---|
The discussion of BHE’s operating results that follows is based on after-tax earnings, reflecting how the energy businesses are managed and evaluated. A summary of net earnings attributable to BHE follows (dollars in millions).
| First Quarter | Percentage | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | ||||||||||||||
| PacifiCorp | $ | 130 | $ | 169 | (23.1 | )% | ||||||||||
| MidAmerican Energy Company | 241 | 144 | 67.4 | |||||||||||||
| NV Energy | 29 | 34 | (14.7 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Northern Powergrid | 111 | 104 | 6.7 | |||||||||||||
| Natural gas pipelines | 309 | 383 | (19.3 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Other energy businesses | 173 | 62 | 179.0 | |||||||||||||
| Real estate brokerage | 21 | 84 | (75.0 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Corporate interest and other | (164 | ) | (171 | ) | (4.1 | ) | ||||||||||
| $ | 850 | $ | 809 | 5.1 |
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Utilities and Energy (Continued)
PacifiCorp operates a regulated electric utility in portions of several Western states, including Utah, Oregon and Wyoming. After-tax earnings decreased $39 million in the first quarter of 2022 as compared to 2021. The decrease reflected higher operating expenses, partially offset by higher utility margin (operating revenue less cost of sales). The increase in operating expenses reflected incremental costs from additional assets placed in-service as well as higher thermal plant maintenance costs.
PacifiCorp’s utility margin was $832 million in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of $14 million from 2021. The increase reflected higher retail revenue from increases in customer volumes and favorable price impacts, and higher wholesale and other revenue, partially offset by higher purchased power and thermal generation costs. Retail customer volumes increased 1.9% in the first quarter of 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to an increase in the average number of customers, the favorable impact of weather and higher customer usage.
MEC operates a regulated electric and natural gas utility primarily in Iowa and Illinois. After-tax earnings increased $97 million in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. The increase reflected higher electric utility margin and increased income tax benefits, partly offset by higher operating expenses. The increase in operating expenses included incremental costs associated with additional wind-powered generating facilities placed in-service. The income tax benefit increase was mainly due to higher production tax credits recognized on new wind-powered generating facilities placed in-service and the impacts of ratemaking.
MEC’s electric utility margin was $483 million in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 23% versus 2021. The increase was attributable to higher operating revenue from favorable retail and wholesale customer volumes and lower purchased power costs. Electric retail customer volumes increased 5.6% in the first quarter of 2022 as compared to 2021, primarily due to an increase in the average number of customers, higher customer usage and the favorable impact of weather.
NV Energy operates regulated electric and natural gas utilities in Nevada. After-tax earnings decreased $5 million in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. The decrease reflected higher operating expenses from increased plant operations and maintenance expenses and a higher comparative accrual for earnings sharing.
NV Energy’s electric utility margin was $306 million in the first quarter of 2022, relatively unchanged compared to 2021. Electric retail customer volumes increased 4.0% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021, primarily due to an increase in the average number of customers and higher customer usage, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of weather.
Northern Powergrid’s after-tax earnings increased $7 million in the first quarter of 2022 as compared to 2021. The increase reflected the impacts of higher distribution revenue, mainly from increased tariff rates, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate movements in 2022.
Natural gas pipelines’ after-tax earnings decreased $74 million in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. The decrease was largely due to higher margins on natural gas sales and higher transportation revenue in the first quarter of 2021 due to an increase in demand as a result of the February 2021 winter storms.
Other energy businesses’ after-tax earnings increased $111 million in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. The increase in earnings was primarily due to improved wind tax equity investment earnings of $118 million. The increase in wind tax equity investment earnings was primarily due to losses on pre-existing tax equity investments in the first quarter of 2021 due to the February 2021 winter storms, as well as from increased income tax benefits from projects reaching commercial operation over the past twelve months.
Real estate brokerage after-tax earnings decreased $63 million in the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021. The decrease in earnings was primarily attributable to lower earnings from mortgage services due to a decrease in funded volume and in refinancing activity, and to a lesser extent lower earnings from brokerage and settlement services from a decrease in closed units at existing companies.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Manufacturing, Service and Retailing
A summary of revenues and earnings of our manufacturing, service and retailing businesses follows (dollars in millions).
| First Quarter | Percentage | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | Change | |||||||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||||||
| Manufacturing | $ | 18,421 | $ | 15,913 | 15.8 | % | |||||||||
| Service and retailing | 21,630 | 19,580 | 10.5 | ||||||||||||
| $ | 40,051 | $ | 35,493 | ||||||||||||
| Pre-tax earnings | |||||||||||||||
| Manufacturing | $ | 2,824 | $ | 2,436 | 15.9 | % | |||||||||
| Service and retailing | 1,217 | 1,041 | 16.9 | ||||||||||||
| 4,041 | 3,477 | ||||||||||||||
| Income taxes and noncontrolling interests | 1,016 | 858 | |||||||||||||
| Net earnings* | $ | 3,025 | $ | 2,619 | |||||||||||
| Effective income tax rate | 24.6 | % | 24.2 | % | |||||||||||
| Pre-tax earnings as a percentage of revenues | 10.1 | % | 9.8 | % |
| *** | Excludes certain acquisition accounting expenses, which primarily related to the amortization of identifiable intangible assets recorded in connection with our business acquisitions. The after-tax acquisition accounting expenses excluded from earnings were $161 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $180 million in the first quarter of 2021. These expenses are included in “Other” in the summary of earnings on page 23 and in the “Other” earnings section on page 38. |
|---|
Manufacturing
Our manufacturing group includes a variety of industrial, building and consumer products businesses. A summary of revenues and pre-tax earnings of these operations follows (dollars in millions).
| First Quarter | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||
| Industrial products | $ | 7,475 | $ | 6,672 | |||||||
| Building products | 6,712 | 5,628 | |||||||||
| Consumer products | 4,234 | 3,613 | |||||||||
| $ | 18,421 | $ | 15,913 | ||||||||
| Pre-tax earnings | |||||||||||
| Industrial products | $ | 1,216 | $ | 1,142 | |||||||
| Building products | 1,144 | 770 | |||||||||
| Consumer products | 464 | 524 | |||||||||
| $ | 2,824 | $ | 2,436 | ||||||||
| Pre-tax earnings as a percentage of revenues | |||||||||||
| Industrial products | 16.3 | % | 17.1 | % | |||||||
| Building products | 17.0 | % | 13.7 | % | |||||||
| Consumer products | 11.0 | % | 14.5 | % |
Industrial products
The industrial products group includes metal products for aerospace, power and general industrial markets (Precision Castparts Corp. (“PCC”)), specialty chemicals (The Lubrizol Corporation (“Lubrizol”)), metal cutting tools/systems (IMC International Metalworking Companies (“IMC”)) and Marmon, which consists of more than 100 autonomous manufacturing and service businesses, internally aggregated into eleven groups, and includes leasing for the rail, intermodal tank container and mobile crane industries. The industrial products group also includes equipment and systems for the livestock and agricultural industries (CTB International) and a variety of industrial products for diverse markets (Scott Fetzer and LiquidPower Specialty Products).
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