Can anyone name a massive holding company beside, "Berkshire & Hathaway"?

Answer 1

Often times such companies are overlooked- I've found GE to be a neat pick domestically. Berkshire and Hathaway is simply an example of a conglomerate. Other conglomerates are available internationally; don't overlook what's available in Asia or other areas...

Answer 2

When you're looking for another conglomerate, be careful it isn't one like some of the Japanese conglomerates that seem to be a random collection of companies assembled according to the ego of the management.

With Berkshire Hathaway, the managers Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger buy subsidiary firms with exceptionally high Return On Capital Employed. If the manager of a subsidiary can't profitably expand his business to employ his excess profits at the same high rate of Return On Capital Employed as he makes now, he passes the money up to the HQ to be invested in another subsidiary with a high Return On Capital Employed. Hence, the profits of the group are kept high.

Some conglomerates just fritter away excess profits on unprofitable acquisitions because the managers want to be seen running a bigger company and get a higher salary. They should return the money to share-holders through dividends if they can't employ the money profitably, so people can invest it in a different stock.

Answer 3

Well....UAL is another famous holding company that was set up to own all the stock in United Airlines. Also, there are lots of bank holding companies...Citigroup, Alliance Bankcorp, Midwest Bank Holdings...I'm sure there are a lot of those.
Also...Russell Simmons' Rush Communications...