Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK-B)vsNorthern Trust Corporation (NTRS)
BRK-B
Berkshire Hathaway Inc
$542.02
+0.31%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $1.14T
NTRS
Northern Trust Corporation
$171.90
+0.91%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $31.17B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Berkshire Hathaway Inc generates 4022% more annual revenue ($384.69B vs $9.33B). NTRS leads profitability with a 26.0% profit margin vs 22.3%. NTRS appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.94. NTRS earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 82/100 (A-).
BRK-B
Strong Buy74
out of 100
Grade: B
NTRS
Exceptional Buy82
out of 100
Grade: A-
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
Strong operational efficiency at 34.8%
Keeps 26 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Growing faster than its price suggests
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
Earnings expanding 48.5% YoY
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
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 : NTRS
The strongest argument for NTRS centers on Operating Margin, Profit Margin, PEG Ratio. Profitability is solid with margins at 26.0% and operating margin at 34.8%. Revenue growth of 12.1% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : BRK-B
The primary concerns for BRK-B are PEG Ratio.
Bear Case : NTRS
The primary concerns for NTRS are Debt/Equity, Piotroski F-Score, Free Cash Flow.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
NTRS carries more volatility with a beta of 1.25 — expect wider price swings.
NTRS is growing revenue faster at 12.1% — sustainability is the question.
BRK-B generates stronger free cash flow (5.6B), providing more financial flexibility.
Monitor INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.
Bottom Line
NTRS scores higher overall (82/100 vs 74/100), backed by strong 26.0% margins and 12.1% revenue growth. Both earn "Exceptional 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 →Northern Trust Corporation
FINANCIAL SERVICES · ASSET MANAGEMENT · USA
Northern Trust Corporation is a financial services company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois that caters to corporations, institutional investors, and ultra high net worth individuals.
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