Berkshire Profit Hits a Record as Buffett’s Cash Pile Grows

finance.yahoo.com/news/berkshire-profit-climbs-record-buffett-120912867.html

(Bloomberg) — Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s operating profit jumped 14% to a record as Warren Buffett’s conglomerate saw gains from its railroad and got some long-awaited earnings from Kraft Heinz Co.

Operating earnings climbed to $7.86 billion in the third quarter as investment income rose and Berkshire’s reinsurance group had the first underwriting profit in more than a year despite losses from a Japanese typhoon. Revenue climbed 2.4% on increases from the company’s insurers and manufacturing businesses.

The results pushed Buffett’s cash pile to a record $128 billion, even as he completed a $10 billion investment in Occidental Petroleum Corp., his chunkiest purchase in more than year. Aside from that deal, Buffett was a net seller of stocks in the quarter and bought back less of Berkshire’s own shares than some analysts expected, raising more questions over how long the legendary investor will wait to use his dry powder.