$750,000 per share! "Stock God" Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A.US) stock price hits all-time high

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A.US) stock price rose to a record high on Monday after the conglomerate, led by Warren Buffett, announced its highest quarterly profit ever, driven primarily by improvements in its insurance business. The Class A shares of the group rose 4% to $747,485.49, reaching as high as $755,968. This level even surpassed the previous record of $741,971 set on June 3, 2021. The more widely held Class B shares of Berkshire rose 4.1% to $498.42, pushing the market value of the Omaha-based conglomerate to $1.08 trillion. Several analysts have raised their target stock prices and earnings expectations. Buffett's personal wealth has increased to $155.5 billion, making him the sixth richest person in the world. Berkshire Hathaway announced on Saturday that the fourth-quarter profit of its 189 operating businesses increased by 71% to $14.53 billion, with a total profit of $13.38 billion excluding currency gains, exceeding analysts' expectations. Operating profit for the full year increased by 27% to $47.44 billion, also setting a new record. In addition, income from the $334.2 billion cash and equivalents primarily invested in U.S. Treasury securities has also increased. As Berkshire has reduced its stake in Apple Inc. (AAPL.US), its cash has doubled by 2024. Apple Inc. remains Berkshire's largest holding. The net profit, including stock gains and losses, totaled $89 billion. Berkshire's businesses also include railroads, energy, industrial, retail, and service operations. In his annual letter to shareholders, Buffett stated that Berkshire's performance has exceeded his expectations, specifically mentioning Geico, the chief executive officer of Berkshire's insurance business, Todd Combs, who improved the company's underwriting operations while cutting costs. Despite cutting 7,700 jobs at Geico in 2023, underwriting profits more than doubled in 2024. UBS Group AG analyst Brian Meredith and KBW analyst Meyer Shields have raised their expectations for Berkshire in 2025. Meredith said Geico "appears to have completely turned things around." Edward Jones analyst James Shanahan noted that Buffett previously stated Berkshire paid $26.8 billion in federal taxes last year, equivalent to over $300 million per hour, making the cash position worth monitoring. Buffett warns Washington to use this money "wisely." Buffett, now 94 years old, has led Berkshire since 1965. He wrote, "I am 94 years old, and soon Greg Abel will take over as CEO and write the annual shareholder letter." Abel, 62, is Berkshire's vice chairman.