Quarterly data

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Quarterly data

(24) Quarterly data

A summary of revenues and earnings by quarter for each of the last two years is presented in the following table. This information is unaudited. Dollars are in millions, except per share amounts.

	1st Quarter		2nd Quarter		3rd Quarter		4th Quarter
2015
Revenues	$	48,644	$	51,368	$	58,989	$	51,820
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire shareholders *		5,164		4,013		9,428		5,478
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire shareholders per equivalent Class A common share		3,143		2,442		5,737		3,333
2014
Revenues	$	45,453	$	49,762	$	51,199	$	48,259
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire shareholders *		4,705		6,395		4,617		4,155
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire shareholders per equivalent Class A common share		2,862		3,889		2,811		2,529

* Includes investment gains/losses, other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments and derivative gains/losses. Derivative gains/losses include significant amounts related to non-cash changes in the fair value of long-term contracts arising from short-term changes in equity prices, interest rates and foreign currency rates, among other factors. After-tax investment and derivative gains/losses for the periods presented above are as follows (in millions):

	1st Quarter		2nd Quarter		3rd Quarter			4th Quarter
Investment and derivative gains/losses – 2015	$	920	$	123	$	4,877		$	805
Investment and derivative gains/losses – 2014		1,172		2,064		(107	)		192