2017 cats hit Berkshire Hathaway profits but Buffett contends it is well placed for mega-cat

Catastrophe losses stemming mainly from the three the hurricanes and wildfires that hit the US last year cost Berkshire Hathaway some $3 billion and led to heavy underwriting losses in its re/insurance units. But Warren Buffett, the company’s chairman, was quick to stress that such years are rare and prior to 2017 the company had recorded 14 consecutive years of underwriting profits.