Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK-B)vsFirst Merchants Corporation (FRME)
BRK-B
Berkshire Hathaway Inc
$542.02
+0.31%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $1.14T
FRME
First Merchants Corporation
$40.66
-0.66%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.55B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Berkshire Hathaway Inc generates 56796% more annual revenue ($384.69B vs $676.12M). FRME leads profitability with a 29.2% profit margin vs 22.3%. FRME appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.40. FRME earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 78/100 (B+).
BRK-B
Strong Buy74
out of 100
Grade: B
FRME
Strong Buy78
out of 100
Grade: B+
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 45.0%
Keeps 29 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Revenue surging 21.0% year-over-year
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
ROE of 7.4% — below average capital efficiency
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 29.2% and operating margin at 45.0%. Revenue growth of 21.0% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : BRK-B
The primary concerns for BRK-B are PEG Ratio.
Bear Case : FRME
The primary concerns for FRME are Return on Equity, Altman Z-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
BRK-B profiles as a mature stock while FRME is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
FRME carries more volatility with a beta of 0.88 — expect wider price swings.
FRME is growing revenue faster at 21.0% — sustainability is the question.
BRK-B generates stronger free cash flow (5.6B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
FRME scores higher overall (78/100 vs 74/100), backed by strong 29.2% margins and 21.0% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Strong 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.
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