Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRK.A): Today's Featured Insurance Winner

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) pushed the Insurance industry higher today making it today's featured insurance winner. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.2%. By the end of trading, Berkshire Hathaway rose $3169 (2.4%) to $134000 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 3,327 shares of Berkshire Hathaway exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 500 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $131100-$135009.61 after having opened the day at $131100 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $130831. Other companies within the Insurance industry that increased today were: MGIC Investment Corporation (MTG), up 7.7%, United Insurance Holdings (UIHC), up 4.1%, Universal Insurance Holdings (UVE), up 4.1%, and Tower Group (TWGP), up 3.1%.

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Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. Through its subsidiaries, the firm primarily engages in the insurance and reinsurance of property and casualty risks business. Berkshire Hathaway was founded in 1889 and is based in Omaha, Nebraska. Berkshire Hathaway has a market cap of $120.23 billion and is part of the financial sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 1952.1, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 14% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.

TheStreet Ratings rates Berkshire Hathaway as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, good cash flow from operations, increase in stock price during the past year, growth in earnings per share and compelling growth in net income. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company is trading at a premium valuation based on our review of its current price compared to such things as earnings and book value.

• You can view the full Berkshire Hathaway Ratings Report.

On the negative front, CNinsure (CISG), down 4.9%, Donegal Group (DGICA), down 4.3%, Citizens (CIA), down 3.4%, and Infinity Property and Casualty Corporation (IPCC), down 3.3%, were all laggards within the insurance industry with American International Group (AIG) being today's insurance industry laggard.

• Use our insurance section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the insurance industry could consider KBW Insurance ETF (KIE) while those bearish on the insurance industry could consider Proshares Short Financials (SEF).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

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