Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK-B)vsLive Oak Bancshares, Inc. (LOB)
BRK-B
Berkshire Hathaway Inc
$529.41
+1.46%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $1.12T
LOB
Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.
$42.23
-0.87%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $1.98B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Berkshire Hathaway Inc generates 71216% more annual revenue ($375.39B vs $526.38M). LOB leads profitability with a 26.5% profit margin vs 19.3%. LOB trades at a lower P/E of 15.0x. LOB earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 68/100 (B-).
BRK-B
Buy62
out of 100
Grade: C+
LOB
Strong Buy68
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
Strong operational efficiency at 38.8%
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Keeps 27 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
Earnings expanding 45.1% YoY
Areas to Watch
4.4% revenue growth
Weak financial health signals
Expensive relative to growth rate
Smaller company, higher risk/reward
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 : LOB
The strongest argument for LOB centers on Operating Margin, Debt/Equity, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 26.5% and operating margin at 38.8%.
Bear Case : BRK-B
The primary concerns for BRK-B are Revenue Growth, Piotroski F-Score, PEG Ratio.
Bear Case : LOB
The primary concerns for LOB are Market Cap, Altman Z-Score.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
BRK-B profiles as a value stock while LOB is a mature play — different risk/reward profiles.
LOB carries more volatility with a beta of 1.88 — expect wider price swings.
LOB is growing revenue faster at 8.4% — sustainability is the question.
BRK-B generates stronger free cash flow (5.5B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
LOB scores higher overall (68/100 vs 62/100), backed by strong 26.5% margins. 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 →Live Oak Bancshares, Inc.
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - REGIONAL · USA
Live Oak Bancshares, Inc. is the banking holding company for Live Oak Banking Company offering a variety of commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses and professionals in North Carolina, United States. The company is headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Visit Website →Compare with Other INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED Stocks
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