v3.25.2
Equity method investments
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2025
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
Equity method investments

Note 5. Equity method investments

Berkshire and its subsidiaries hold investments that are accounted for pursuant to the equity method. The most significant of these are our investments in the common stock of The Kraft Heinz Company (“Kraft Heinz”) and Occidental. As of June 30, 2025, we owned 27.4% of the outstanding Kraft Heinz common stock and 28.1% of the outstanding Occidental common stock, which excludes the potential effect of the exercise of Occidental’s outstanding common stock warrants. 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. Occidental is an international energy company, whose activities include oil and natural gas exploration, development and production, and chemicals manufacturing businesses.

We also own a 50% interest in Berkadia Commercial Mortgage LLC (“Berkadia”). Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (“Jefferies”) owns the other 50% interest. Berkadia engages in mortgage banking, investment sales and servicing commercial/multi-family real estate loans. Berkadia’s commercial paper borrowing capacity (limited to $1.5 billion) 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.

Our investments in Kraft Heinz, Occidental and Berkadia are summarized as follows (in millions).

 

Carrying Value

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

June 30,
2025

 

 

December 31,
2024

 

 

June 30,
2025

 

 

December 31,
2024

 

Kraft Heinz

$

8,408

 

 

$

13,395

 

 

$

8,408

 

 

$

9,994

 

Occidental

 

16,458

 

 

 

17,287

 

 

 

11,130

 

 

 

13,053

 

Berkadia

 

457

 

 

 

452

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

25,323

 

 

$

31,134

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 5. Equity method investments

Our equity in earnings and distributions received from equity method investments are as follows (in millions).

 

Equity in Earnings

 

 

Distributions Received

 

 

Second Quarter

 

 

First Six Months

 

 

Second Quarter

 

 

First Six Months

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Kraft Heinz*

$

(4,991

)

 

$

27

 

 

$

(4,796

)

 

$

242

 

 

$

130

 

 

$

130

 

 

$

260

 

 

$

260

 

Occidental*

 

216

 

 

 

200

 

 

 

134

 

 

 

463

 

 

 

64

 

 

 

55

 

 

 

120

 

 

 

96

 

Berkadia

 

30

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

43

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

29

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

38

 

 

 

18

 

 

$

(4,745

)

 

$

252

 

 

$

(4,619

)

 

$

745

 

 

$

223

 

 

$

199

 

 

$

418

 

 

$

374

 

——————

* We report our equity earnings in Occidental’s earnings on a one-quarter lag and, as indicated below, in the second quarter of 2025 we began reporting our equity earnings in Kraft Heinz’s earnings on a one-quarter lag.

Kraft Heinz common stock is publicly traded and its fair values shown on the preceding page were based upon quoted market prices. In evaluating our investment in Kraft Heinz for other-than-temporary impairment in the second quarter of 2025, we considered our ability and intent to hold the investment until the fair value exceeds carrying value, the magnitude and duration of the decline in fair value, and the operating results and financial condition of the company. We also considered certain changes in circumstances that occurred in the second quarter of 2025. Berkshire’s representatives on the Kraft Heinz Board of Directors stepped down on May 19, 2025, and the timing and extent of financial information Berkshire receives is now limited to the information that Kraft Heinz makes available to the public. On May 20, 2025, Kraft Heinz announced that it was evaluating potential strategic transactions to enhance shareholder value, although Kraft Heinz indicated there was no assurance that its process will result in a transaction or assurance to its outcome or timing. Given these factors, as well as prevailing economic and other uncertainties, we concluded that the unrealized loss, represented by the difference between the carrying value of our investment and its fair value, was other-than-temporary. Accordingly, in the second quarter we recorded a pre-tax impairment loss of approximately $5.0 billion as a component of our equity in the earnings of Kraft Heinz, which reduced the carrying value of our investment in Kraft Heinz to fair value.

As the timing and extent of financial information we receive from Kraft Heinz is now limited to the information Kraft Heinz makes publicly available, we believe that such information will no longer be available in time for concurrent inclusion in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Therefore, beginning with our second quarter of 2025, we are recognizing the equity method effects attributable to our investment in Kraft Heinz on a one-quarter lag. The carrying value of our investment in Kraft Heinz at June 30, 2025 was less than our proportionate share of Kraft Heinz shareholders’ equity.

Summarized financial information of Kraft Heinz follows (in millions).

 

March 29,
2025

 

 

December 28,
2024

 

Assets

$

90,274

 

 

$

88,287

 

Liabilities

 

40,669

 

 

 

38,962

 

 

 

Quarter Ended March 29, 2025

 

 

Quarter Ended June 29, 2024

 

 

Six Months Ended June 29, 2024

 

Sales

$

5,999

 

 

$

6,476

 

 

$

12,887

 

Net earnings attributable to common shareholders

 

712

 

 

 

102

 

 

 

903

 

Occidental common stock is also publicly traded and its fair values shown on the preceding page were based upon quoted market prices. As of June 30, 2025, the excess of the carrying value over the fair value of our investment in Occidental common stock was $5.3 billion (or 32% of our carrying value). In evaluating the investment in Occidental for other-than-temporary impairment as of June 30, 2025, we considered our ability and intent to hold the investment until the fair value exceeds carrying value, the magnitude and duration of the decline in fair value, and the operating results and financial condition of the company, as well as our current expectations and other factors. Based on the prevailing facts and circumstances, we concluded the recognition of an impairment charge in earnings for Occidental was not required as of June 30, 2025. However, our current expectations and intentions concerning this investment may change in the future, which may result in the recognition of an impairment loss at that time. Our carrying value in Occidental common stock as of June 30, 2025 exceeded our share of Occidental common shareholders’ equity as of March 31, 2025 by approximately $9.0 billion.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 5. Equity method investments

Summarized financial information of Occidental follows (in millions).

 

March 31,
2025

 

 

September 30,
2024

 

Assets

$

84,967

 

 

$

85,803

 

Liabilities

 

49,862

 

 

 

50,869

 

 

 

Quarter Ended March 31,

 

 

Six Months Ended March 31,

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

Total revenues and other income

$

6,843

 

 

$

6,010

 

 

$

13,680

 

 

$

13,539

 

Net earnings attributable to common shareholders

 

766

 

 

 

718

 

 

 

469

 

 

 

1,747