Berkshire reports H&R Block, Torchmark stakes

**shemp** Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:39 pm

Berkshire reports H&R Block, Torchmark stakes
UPDATE 1-Berkshire reports H&R Block, Torchmark stakes
Tue Jan 17, 2006 05:32 PM ET
(New throughout, adds second dateline)

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRKa.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (BRKb.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , the holding company run by billionaire Warren Buffett, on Tuesday said it held 18.76 million shares of H&R Block Inc. (HRB.N: Quote, Profile, Research) at the end of September and may have reduced its stake in the largest U.S. tax preparer.

Berkshire also said it held 2.64 million shares of life and health insurer Torchmark Corp. (TMK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) .

The company disclosed its stakes in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Many investors try to copy the investing style and sometimes the actual investments, of Buffett, the world's second richest person, according to Forbes magazine.

Berkshire said it held 10.92 million H&R Block shares as of June 30, but that was before a 2-for-1 stock split completed in August.

If the split is taken into account, then Berkshire may have reduced its H&R Block stake by 14 percent between June and September, and by 31 percent between March and September, regulatory filings show.

The 18.76 million shares would be worth $476.9 million based on H&R Block's Tuesday closing price of $25.42.

Berkshire's stake in Torchmark appears to have increased 11 percent from June, when it totaled about 2.38 million shares. These shares would be worth $144.9 million based on Tuesday's closing price of $54.98.