Business segment data

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Business segment data

Note 23. Business segment data

Our operating businesses include a large and diverse group of insurance, manufacturing, service and retailing businesses. We organize our reportable business segments in a manner that reflects how management views those business activities. Certain businesses are grouped together for segment reporting based upon similar products or product lines, marketing, selling and distribution characteristics, even though those business units are operated under separate local management. Revenues and earnings before income taxes by segment for the first quarter of 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in millions).

	First Quarter
	2021			2020
Revenues of Operating Businesses
Insurance:
Underwriting:
GEICO	$	8,923		$	9,109
Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group		2,654			2,369
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group		4,847			4,270
Investment income		1,414			1,648
Total insurance		17,838			17,396
BNSF		5,401			5,417
Berkshire Hathaway Energy		5,924			4,507
Manufacturing		15,913			15,035
McLane Company		11,622			11,821
Service and retailing		7,958			6,956
		64,656			61,132
Reconciliation of segments to consolidated amount
Corporate, eliminations and other		(57	)		133
	$	64,599		$	61,265

	First Quarter
	2021			2020
Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes of Operating Businesses
Insurance:
Underwriting:
GEICO	$	1,023		$	984
Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group		206			(33	)
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group		(263	)		(489	)
Investment income		1,412			1,647
Total insurance		2,378			2,109
BNSF		1,659			1,584
Berkshire Hathaway Energy		683			419
Manufacturing		2,436			2,111
McLane Company		103			65
Service and retailing		938			558
		8,197			6,846
Reconciliation of segments to consolidated amount
Investment and derivative gains/losses		5,700			(70,275	)
Interest expense, not allocated to segments		(114	)		(136	)
Equity method investments		251			300
Corporate, eliminations and other		494			216
	$	14,528		$	(63,049	)