Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK-B)vsFirst Merchants Corporation (FRME)
BRK-B
Berkshire Hathaway Inc
$509.16
-0.63%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $1.06T
FRME
First Merchants Corporation
$43.26
-0.37%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $2.81B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Berkshire Hathaway Inc generates 58757% more annual revenue ($375.39B vs $637.81M). FRME leads profitability with a 31.2% profit margin vs 19.3%. FRME appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 1.40. BRK-B earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 62/100 (C+).
BRK-B
Buy62
out of 100
Grade: C+
FRME
Buy57
out of 100
Grade: C
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
Keeps 31 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Strong operational efficiency at 22.6%
Areas to Watch
4.4% revenue growth
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
ROE of 7.4% — below average capital efficiency
Revenue declined 2.5%
Earnings declined 52.1%
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 : FRME
The strongest argument for FRME centers on Price/Book, Profit Margin, P/E Ratio. Profitability is solid with margins at 31.2% and operating margin at 22.6%. PEG of 1.40 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : BRK-B
The primary concerns for BRK-B are Revenue Growth, Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio.
Bear Case : FRME
The primary concerns for FRME are Return on Equity, Revenue Growth, EPS Growth.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
BRK-B profiles as a value stock while FRME is a declining play — different risk/reward profiles.
FRME carries more volatility with a beta of 0.85 — expect wider price swings.
BRK-B is growing revenue faster at 4.4% — sustainability is the question.
BRK-B generates stronger free cash flow (5.5B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
BRK-B scores higher overall (62/100 vs 57/100), backed by strong 19.3% margins. Both earn "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 →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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