Benchmark research · Berkshire Hathaway
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.), we screened BRK-B against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 8 different time windows from 1 month to 10 years, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Compare the entire market against BRK-B live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top BRK-B: The screen covered over 10,000 stocks and ETFs, but only 43 of 958 eligible ETFs (4.5%) and 198 of 1,501 eligible stocks (13%) outperformed in a majority of both short-term and long-term timeframes. Just 4 ETFs and 59 stocks met the all-weather rule, so Berkshire Hathaway was difficult to top consistently.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: AAPL and MSFT cleared the bar, with AAPL outperforming in 3 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term periods, and MSFT in 3 of 5 and 2 of 3. QQQ fell short despite outperforming in 3 of 3 long-term periods, because it did so in only 2 of 5 short-term periods. JPM and GS also fell short, each outperforming in 3 of 3 long-term periods but just 1 of 5 short-term periods. No same-index funds were excluded.
- Top ETFs: Technology led the top ETF table, with 8 of the top 15 ETFs in that category. Commodities and energy also appeared among the leaders. BNO, EWT, UGA, and CRAK each outperformed in all 3 long-term periods, and each met the all-weather rule.
- Top stocks: 198 stocks made the cut, with healthcare, energy, consumer staples, and consumer discretionary names among the standout sectors. NTRA and LLY represent healthcare, while CVI and MPC come from energy. Each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: Over 5 years, the top ETFs and stocks were all more volatile than BRK-B. The top ETFs had median volatility of 26.5%, compared with 17.1% for the benchmark, and none of the top 15 was less volatile. Four of the 15 had a higher Sharpe ratio than the benchmark's 0.82. The top stocks were bumpier still, with median volatility of 42.4%; 5 of the 10 had a higher Sharpe ratio.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against BRK-B, sorted by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (benchmark) | — | +7.5% | +9.9% | +14.3% | +8.6% | +9.3% | +60.7% | +87.8% | +274% | 17.1% | 0.82 |
| AAPL Made the listApple Inc. | 3/5 short3/3 long | +0.2% | +4.0% | +24.6% | +25.6% | +29.9% | +99.0% | +133% | +1,168% | 28.0%1.6× BRK-B | 0.75 |
| QQQ Fell shortInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 2/5 short3/3 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0%1.3× BRK-B | 0.71 |
| JPM Fell shortJPMorgan Chase & Co. | 1/5 short3/3 long | −4.3% | −0.6% | +6.8% | +5.0% | +13.0% | +150% | +122% | +537% | 24.3%1.4× BRK-B | 0.78 |
| GS Fell shortThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | 1/5 short3/3 long | −7.8% | −15.7% | −5.2% | −1.8% | +18.2% | +215% | +145% | +521% | 28.6%1.7× BRK-B | 0.77 |
| MSFT Made the listMicrosoft Corporation | 3/5 short2/3 long | +6.0% | +32.5% | +27.7% | +13.2% | +3.8% | +66.6% | +80.3% | +946% | 28.2%1.6× BRK-B | 0.56 |
| VUG Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Growth ETF | 2/5 short2/3 long | −2.5% | +4.0% | +8.2% | +9.8% | +10.2% | +100% | +78.6% | +419% | 22.5%1.3× BRK-B | 0.63 |
| VOO Fell shortVanguard S&P 500 ETF | 2/5 short2/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 16.9%1.0× BRK-B | 0.80 |
| SPY Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 2/5 short2/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1%1.0× BRK-B | 0.79 |
| VTI Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | 2/5 short2/3 long | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5%1.0× BRK-B | 0.71 |
| SCHD Fell shortSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | 2/5 short1/3 long | +3.7% | +6.8% | +13.6% | +28.2% | +33.0% | +67.5% | +59.1% | +252% | 14.3%0.8× BRK-B | 0.72 |
| RSP Fell shortInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF | 2/5 short1/3 long | +1.5% | +2.0% | +6.7% | +13.3% | +15.5% | +65.4% | +48.6% | +211% | 16.1%0.9× BRK-B | 0.57 |
| IWM Fell shortiShares Russell 2000 ETF | 2/5 short1/3 long | −3.4% | −5.4% | −0.1% | +11.6% | +12.3% | +71.3% | +29.0% | +158% | 22.4%1.3× BRK-B | 0.34 |
| KRE Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF | 2/5 short1/3 long | −1.9% | −6.4% | +1.1% | +10.1% | +19.4% | +95.8% | +11.7% | +111% | 29.4%1.7× BRK-B | 0.22 |
| XLF Fell shortState Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0/5 short1/3 long | −0.3% | −0.2% | +6.6% | +2.7% | +7.2% | +81.3% | +50.9% | +241% | 18.3%1.1× BRK-B | 0.54 |
| MKL Fell shortMarkel Corporation | 0/5 short0/3 long | +6.2% | −4.8% | −4.1% | −11.6% | −1.2% | +29.8% | +42.3% | +110% | 22.4%1.3× BRK-B | 0.43 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed BRK-B
Top 15 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Green cells outperformed BRK-B in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (benchmark) | — | +7.5% | +9.9% | +14.3% | +8.6% | +9.3% | +60.7% | +87.8% | +274% | 17.1% | 0.82 | ||
| 1 | BNO CommoditiesUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1%2.2× BRK-B | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| 2 | EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −7.2% | +11.9% | +28.4% | +65.7% | +69.7% | +195% | +153% | +468% | 24.2%1.4× BRK-B | 0.89 | 0.59% | $12B |
| 3 | UGA CommoditiesUnited States Gasoline Fund, LP | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | +111% | +221% | +399% | 35.1%2.0× BRK-B | 0.84 | 1.08% | $167M |
| 4 | CRAK EnergyVanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | +121% | +146% | +336% | 20.9%1.2× BRK-B | 0.97 | 0.61% | $810M |
| 5 | SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −8.3% | −2.2% | +17.8% | +46.4% | +57.8% | +290% | +323% | +1,665% | 36.9%2.2× BRK-B | 0.97 | 0.35% | $66B |
| 6 | SOXX Broad MarketiShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −10.6% | −4.5% | +19.9% | +59.7% | +71.2% | +234% | +237% | +1,392% | 38.9%2.3× BRK-B | 0.82 | 0.33% | $39B |
| 7 | FTXL TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −9.6% | −1.9% | +18.2% | +64.8% | +85.1% | +249% | +235% | +1,077% | 38.8%2.3× BRK-B | 0.82 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| 8 | IYW Broad MarketiShares U.S. Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −4.2% | +5.6% | +20.4% | +26.8% | +27.0% | +143% | +138% | +805% | 26.6%1.6× BRK-B | 0.79 | 0.37% | $24B |
| 9 | VGT TechnologyVanguard Information Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0%1.5× BRK-B | 0.78 | 0.09% | $178B |
| 10 | XLK TechnologyState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0%1.5× BRK-B | 0.82 | 0.08% | $125B |
| 11 | FTEC TechnologyFidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1%1.5× BRK-B | 0.79 | 0.08% | $22B |
| 12 | XNTK TechnologyState Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.7% | +3.7% | +18.9% | +27.2% | +26.2% | +168% | +119% | +728% | 29.3%1.7× BRK-B | 0.68 | 0.35% | $2.0B |
| 13 | IXN InternationaliShares Global Tech ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.2% | +4.4% | +19.3% | +31.2% | +32.0% | +145% | +141% | +720% | 26.2%1.5× BRK-B | 0.81 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| 14 | IGM Broad MarketiShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −5.1% | +4.5% | +16.2% | +24.4% | +24.3% | +156% | +130% | +720% | 26.5%1.5× BRK-B | 0.76 | 0.37% | $11B |
| 15 | RSPT TechnologyInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −2.8% | +8.4% | +24.4% | +41.0% | +42.9% | +141% | +119% | +572% | 25.1%1.5× BRK-B | 0.75 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
Stocks that consistently outperformed BRK-B
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Company | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (benchmark) | — | +7.5% | +9.9% | +14.3% | +8.6% | +9.3% | +60.7% | +87.8% | +274% | 17.1% | 0.82 | |
| 1 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6%3.4× BRK-B | 0.74 | $59B |
| 2 | LLY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralEli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8%1.9× BRK-B | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| 3 | COKE Beverages - Non-AlcoholicCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0%2.2× BRK-B | 1.10 | $14B |
| 4 | CVI Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingCVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3%3.1× BRK-B | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| 5 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4%1.9× BRK-B | 1.41 | $133B |
| 6 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4%2.6× BRK-B | 0.71 | $30B |
| 7 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4%2.4× BRK-B | 0.79 | $14B |
| 8 | ANF Apparel - RetailAbercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9%3.7× BRK-B | 0.77 | $6.9B |
| 9 | VLO Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingValero Energy Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +38.9% | +93.2% | +166% | +176% | +259% | +524% | +1,061% | 36.9%2.2× BRK-B | 1.18 | $125B |
| 10 | P Computer HardwareEverpure, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.3% | +80.9% | +86.0% | +83.3% | +39.0% | +282% | +388% | +899% | 55.0%3.2× BRK-B | 0.85 | $42B |
What stands out
The ETF leaders point to strong results from technology, including semiconductor funds such as SMH, alongside commodity and energy exposure in BNO, UGA, and CRAK. The stock leaders were more varied: healthcare names NTRA and LLY joined energy companies CVI and MPC, as well as consumer businesses. These results were not limited to recent periods, since the listed standouts kept ahead across all 3 long-term periods as well as most or all short-term periods.
The winners came with a bumpier ride than BRK-B. Over 5 years, median volatility among the top ETFs was 26.5%, and among the top stocks it was 42.4%, compared with 17.1% for the benchmark. The Sharpe ratios show that stronger returns did not always compensate for that extra movement: just 4 of the top 15 ETFs and 5 of the top 10 stocks had higher Sharpe ratios than BRK-B.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. Long-term periods: 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than BRK-B's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of BRK-B's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- Consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods, so a recent hot streak alone is not enough. All-weather means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Rankings use long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then the 10Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.