Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK-B)vsFirst Merchants Corporation (FRME)
BRK-B
Berkshire Hathaway Inc
$510.37
+0.66%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $1.09T
FRME
First Merchants Corporation
$41.11
+0.02%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.59B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Berkshire Hathaway Inc generates 59802% more annual revenue ($384.69B vs $642.19M). FRME leads profitability with a 29.0% profit margin vs 22.3%. FRME appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.40. BRK-B earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 74/100 (B).
BRK-B
Strong Buy74
out of 100
Grade: B
FRME
Buy63
out of 100
Grade: C+
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 32.6%
Earnings expanding 107.8% YoY
Keeps 22 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 34.3%
Keeps 29 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Areas to Watch
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
2.8% revenue growth
ROE of 7.4% — below average capital efficiency
Earnings declined 28.7%
Distress zone — elevated risk
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : BRK-B
The strongest argument for BRK-B centers on Market Cap, Price/Book, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 22.3% and operating margin at 32.6%.
Bull Case : FRME
The strongest argument for FRME centers on Price/Book, Operating Margin, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 29.0% and operating margin at 34.3%. PEG of 1.40 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : BRK-B
The primary concerns for BRK-B are Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio.
Bear Case : FRME
The primary concerns for FRME are Revenue Growth, Return on Equity, EPS Growth.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
BRK-B profiles as a mature stock while FRME is a value play — different risk/reward profiles.
FRME carries more volatility with a beta of 0.85 — expect wider price swings.
BRK-B is growing revenue faster at 10.0% — sustainability is the question.
BRK-B generates stronger free cash flow (5.6B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
BRK-B scores higher overall (74/100 vs 63/100), backed by strong 22.3% margins. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Berkshire Hathaway Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED · USA
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate holding company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. The company wholly owns GEICO, Duracell, Dairy Queen, BNSF, Lubrizol, Fruit of the Loom, Helzberg Diamonds, Long & Foster, FlightSafety International, Pampered Chef, Forest River, and NetJets, and also owns 38.6% of Pilot Flying J; and significant minority holdings in public companies Kraft Heinz Company (26.7%), American Express (18.8%), The Coca-Cola Company (9.32%), Bank of America (11.9%), and Apple (6.3%).
Visit Website →First Merchants Corporation
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - REGIONAL · USA
First Merchants Corporation is the financial holding company for First Merchants Bank providing community banking services. The company is headquartered in Muncie, Indiana.
Compare with Other INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?