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The week's question
In March 2025, in the thread "Re: OT, out", Umm asked the members: "Do you think it is because America is made up of magical soil that makes businesses based in America magically profitable?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Stocks A to Z / Stocks B / Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)
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Author: rnam ✭☼  😊 😞
Number: of 22351 
Subject: Re: “Big Short” bet against BRK
Date: 06/25/26 8:55 AM
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I have a large position in Brookfield and I had the same question. I took the lazy approach and asked Google AI. No idea how accurate it's answer is. Do your own due diligence.

The new NAIC look-through requirements shift Risk-Based Capital (RBC) from a flat 6.8% charge to a risk-weighted scale. This will increase Brookfield's overall capital requirements for its insurance vehicles. However, because Brookfield (BN) relies on diversified asset-backed portfolios and fee-related earnings, the impact on distributable earnings will likely be modest and manageable.

Capital Requirements: Insurers will be forced to hold more capital against riskier underlying collaterals. A flat 6.8% charge does not accurately represent higher-risk exposure (like residual equity or fund investments, which could attract much higher RBC factors up to 45%). The look-through rule will drive up the total capital required to support Brookfield's portfolio.

Asset Repositioning: To maintain optimal capital efficiency, Brookfield may need to shift some assets. By adjusting underlying portfolios toward higher-rated, investment-grade credit, they can mitigate spikes in required capital.

Distributable Earnings Impact: Distributable earnings are highly dependent on Fee-Related Earnings (FRE) rather than just net statutory margins. As Brookfield grows its insurance base, any required capital increases would generally be funded by raising third-party capital or utilizing excess balance sheet capacity. This helps protect FRE from significant volatility.

Brookfield's Structural Advantage Brookfield’s diversified strategy in private credit—focusing heavily on asset-backed finance, real estate, and infrastructure—provides strong underlying collateral quality. By avoiding heavy reliance on generic, opaque "collateral loans", they are generally well-positioned to classify underlying exposures favorably and minimize capital bloat.
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This community has written 21,861 posts about Berkshire Hathaway. The article-length ones it recommended most:
BRK: Why Not XOM? · 62 recs · 2024
Second quarter comments · 60 recs · 2023
Berkshire's Profit Contributors · 58 recs · 2023
Summary of 2Q 2026 · 55 recs · 2026
3Q Summary · 53 recs · 2024
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