Falling Stocks, Kraft Heinz Trigger Huge Berkshire Loss
Published on Feb 25 2019 7:00 AM in A-Brands tagged: Warren Buffett / Kraft Heinz / Berkshire Hathaway
Sinking stocks and deteriorating prospects from an investment in Kraft Heinz Co pummelled the bottom line of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc, which has reported a huge quarterly net loss even as operating profit soared.
The fourth-quarter net loss was $25.39 billion, or $15,467 per Class A share, reflecting more than $27.6 billion of investment losses, including from stocks Berkshire still owns.
That compared with a year-earlier profit of $32.55 billion, or $19,790 per Class A share, most of which resulted from a lowering of the U.S. corporate tax rate.
Kraft Heinz Impact
Results included a $3.02 billion writedown for intangible assets that Buffett said was "almost entirely" attributable to Kraft Heinz, in which Berkshire owns a 26.7% stake.
The packaged food company on Thursday shocked investors when it reported its own $15.4 billion writedown for Kraft, Oscar Mayer and other assets, and said U.S. securities regulators were examining its accounting practices.
Buffett also released his annual letter to Berkshire shareholders, which did not discuss Kraft Heinz's recent travails or the day-to-day management of the company by his business partner, the Brazilian firm 3G Capital.
Price Declines
Net results suffered because many of Berkshire's common stock holdings saw double-digit price declines, including a 30% decline in Apple Inc, its largest holding.
Accounting rules require Berkshire to report unrealized stock gains and losses with net income. This causes huge swings in net results, and Buffett has urged investors not to use them as a measure of Berkshire's business performance.
Quarterly operating profit rose 71% to $5.72 billion, or about $3,484 per Class A share, benefiting from improved results in many businesses including the Geico auto insurer and BNSF railroad.
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