Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK-B)vsColumbia Banking System Inc (COLB)
BRK-B
Berkshire Hathaway Inc
$488.13
+1.98%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $1.02T
COLB
Columbia Banking System Inc
$29.66
+0.54%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $9.06B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Berkshire Hathaway Inc generates 15970% more annual revenue ($375.39B vs $2.34B). COLB leads profitability with a 28.0% profit margin vs 19.3%. COLB appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.26. COLB earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 79/100 (B+).
BRK-B
Buy62
out of 100
Grade: C+
COLB
Strong Buy79
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
Earnings expanding 119.6% YoY
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Generating 5.5B in free cash flow
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 50.7%
Revenue surging 39.9% year-over-year
Earnings expanding 61.0% YoY
Keeps 28 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Areas to Watch
4.4% revenue growth
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Expensive relative to growth rate
Weak financial health signals
Distress zone — elevated risk
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : BRK-B
The strongest argument for BRK-B centers on Market Cap, Price/Book, EPS Growth. Profitability is solid with margins at 19.3% and operating margin at 14.3%.
Bull Case : COLB
The strongest argument for COLB centers on Price/Book, Operating Margin, Revenue Growth. Profitability is solid with margins at 28.0% and operating margin at 50.7%. Revenue growth of 39.9% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : BRK-B
The primary concerns for BRK-B are Revenue Growth, Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio.
Bear Case : COLB
The primary concerns for COLB are PEG Ratio, Piotroski F-Score, Altman Z-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
BRK-B profiles as a value stock while COLB is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
COLB carries more volatility with a beta of 0.68 — expect wider price swings.
COLB is growing revenue faster at 39.9% — sustainability is the question.
BRK-B generates stronger free cash flow (5.5B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
COLB scores higher overall (79/100 vs 62/100), backed by strong 28.0% margins and 39.9% revenue growth. 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 →Columbia Banking System Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - REGIONAL · USA
Columbia Banking System, Inc. is the banking holding company for Columbia State Bank providing a range of banking services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and individuals in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The company is headquartered in Tacoma, Washington.
Compare with Other INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?