Of course! Here is a lengthy and detailed guide on how to get Berkshire Hathaway stock, designed to be engaging and informative for a user.
How to Get Berkshire Hathaway Stock: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide
Hello there! Are you ready to potentially own a piece of one of the most iconic and successful companies in the world, the one led by the legendary Warren Buffett? Investing in Berkshire Hathaway isn't just about buying a stock; it's about buying into a philosophy of value investing and long-term growth. While the thought of buying a share of a company with a share price in the hundreds of thousands might seem daunting, there are actually two ways to do it, and one of them is far more accessible than you might think.
Let's dive right in and get you started on this exciting investment journey.
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| How To Get Berkshire Hathaway Stock |
Step 1: Understand the Two Classes of Berkshire Hathaway Stock - A Crucial First Step!
Before you do anything else, you need to understand that Berkshire Hathaway offers two classes of stock: Class A (BRK.A) and Class B (BRK.B). This is the single most important distinction to grasp.
Berkshire Hathaway Class A (BRK.A): This is the original stock, the one that has never split and has a mind-bogglingly high price. As of late June 2025, one share of BRK.A costs over $700,000! This high price is a deliberate choice by Warren Buffett to attract long-term investors who aren't interested in short-term trading. Each Class A share has a significant voting right and is convertible into 1,500 Class B shares.
Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B): This is the "junior" stock, created in 1996 specifically to make ownership accessible to a broader range of investors. As a result of a 50-for-1 stock split in 2010, the price of a Class B share is now a tiny fraction of the Class A share price. As of late June 2025, it trades for a few hundred dollars, making it a much more realistic option for most people. Each Class B share has a much smaller voting right than a Class A share and is not convertible into a Class A share.
So, the big question is: which one is right for you? For the vast majority of retail investors, the answer is undoubtedly BRK.B. It provides you with the same exposure to the underlying businesses and investment portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway at a price that is easily affordable. Unless you have a spare million dollars lying around and a desire to attend the shareholder meeting with voting power, BRK.B is the way to go.
Tip: Take your time with each sentence.
Step 2: Choose and Open a Brokerage Account
You can't just buy a stock like you'd buy something from a store. You need a platform to facilitate the transaction. This platform is called a brokerage account.
Sub-heading: Picking the Right Brokerage
Here in India, you have a couple of options for investing in US stocks like Berkshire Hathaway:
Indian Brokerages with US Stock Access: Many popular Indian stockbrokers now offer the option to open an international trading account to buy US stocks. Platforms like Groww, Angel One, and others have made this process incredibly straightforward. This can be a great option if you prefer to manage all your investments from a single platform.
International Brokerages: You can also open an account with a US-based brokerage firm that accepts international clients. This might involve more paperwork and a slightly more complex process, but it can sometimes offer more advanced trading tools and direct access to the US market.
When choosing a brokerage, consider the following:
Fees and Commissions: Look for brokerages with low or zero commission on US stock trades.
Account Minimums: Some brokerages might have minimum deposit requirements to open an international account.
User Interface: A user-friendly app or website makes the investing process much smoother, especially for beginners.
KYC (Know Your Customer) Process: The process of verifying your identity and address can vary in complexity.
Tip: Bookmark this post to revisit later.
Sub-heading: The Account Opening Process
Start the Application: Visit the website or app of your chosen brokerage and look for the option to open an international or US stocks trading account.
Complete KYC: You will need to provide documents for verification. Typically, this includes your PAN card, Aadhaar card, and a bank statement or other proof of address.
Fill out the Forms: You'll be asked to provide personal details, financial information, and tax information.
Wait for Verification: The brokerage will review your documents and verify your identity. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. Once approved, you'll receive a confirmation.
Step 3: Fund Your Account
Once your brokerage account is active, you need to add money to it so you can buy the stock.
Link Your Bank Account: Connect your Indian bank account to your brokerage account.
Convert INR to USD: This is a crucial step. Since Berkshire Hathaway stock is traded in US Dollars (USD) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), you'll need to convert your Indian Rupees (INR) to USD. Your brokerage will have a process for this, often involving a wire transfer or an online transfer with an integrated currency exchange service. Be mindful of the exchange rates and any associated fees.
Transfer Funds: Transfer the desired amount of money to your brokerage account's USD balance.
Step 4: Place Your Trade
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This is the moment of truth! You're ready to buy your first share of Berkshire Hathaway.
QuickTip: Read step by step, not all at once.
Sub-heading: Searching for the Stock
Log in to your brokerage account: Go to the trading platform.
Search for the ticker symbol: The ticker symbol is a unique code used to identify a stock. For Berkshire Hathaway Class B, the ticker is BRK.B. For Class A, it's BRK.A. Be absolutely sure you are searching for the correct ticker!
View the stock details: You'll see the current price, charts, and other relevant information.
Sub-heading: Placing an Order
Select 'Buy': Click on the "Buy" button for BRK.B.
Choose your Order Type:
Market Order: This is the simplest type of order. You tell the brokerage to buy the stock at the best available current price. This is good for quick execution but the price might fluctuate slightly.
Limit Order: This allows you to set a maximum price you are willing to pay per share. Your order will only be executed if the stock price drops to or below your specified limit. This gives you more control over the price you pay.
Enter the Quantity:
Full Shares: If you want to buy a whole number of shares, enter the quantity (e.g., 1, 2, 5).
Fractional Shares: This is a game-changer! Many brokerages, especially newer ones, allow you to buy fractional shares. This means you can invest a specific amount of money (e.g., $10, $50, $100) and buy a corresponding fraction of a share. This is an excellent way to start investing in high-priced stocks without having to buy a full share.
Review and Confirm: Double-check all the details of your order (ticker, quantity, order type, etc.).
Submit the Order: Click "Submit" or "Place Order."
Step 5: Monitor Your Investment and Stay Informed
Congratulations! You are now a shareholder of Berkshire Hathaway. But the journey doesn't end there.
Monitor your portfolio: Keep an eye on the value of your investment through your brokerage account.
Read Warren Buffett's Annual Letter: One of the best ways to understand Berkshire Hathaway is to read Warren Buffett's famous annual letter to shareholders. It's a masterclass in business and investing.
Attend the Annual Meeting (Virtually): The Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder Meeting is an event of global significance. You can often watch the live stream on CNBC to hear Warren Buffett and his team answer questions.
Think Long-Term: Remember Buffett's philosophy: investing is a marathon, not a sprint. The real returns come from holding quality assets for a long time.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Tip: The middle often holds the main point.
Here are some quick answers to common questions about buying Berkshire Hathaway stock.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway Class A stock? To buy Berkshire Hathaway Class A (BRK.A) stock, you must have a brokerage account that allows international trading and enough capital to purchase a single share, which costs over $700,000. It is a highly illiquid and expensive option for most investors.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock in India? You can buy Berkshire Hathaway stock (specifically the Class B shares, BRK.B) in India by opening an international trading account with an Indian brokerage firm like Groww or Angel One, or by using a global brokerage that accepts Indian clients. You'll need to complete KYC and transfer USD to your trading account.
How to buy fractional shares of Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock? To buy fractional shares of BRK.B, you need to use a brokerage that offers this feature. Instead of entering the number of shares, you enter the dollar amount you want to invest (e.g., $50), and the brokerage will automatically purchase the corresponding fraction of a share for you.
How to invest in Berkshire Hathaway without buying the stock directly? You can invest in Berkshire Hathaway indirectly by buying an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) or a Mutual Fund that holds Berkshire Hathaway in its portfolio. Many index funds that track the S&P 500 will have BRK.B as a top holding, as it is a major component of the index.
How to find the ticker symbol for Berkshire Hathaway stock? The ticker symbol for Berkshire Hathaway Class A is BRK.A, and the ticker symbol for Berkshire Hathaway Class B is BRK.B. You must use these exact symbols when searching on your brokerage platform.
How to check the current price of Berkshire Hathaway stock? You can check the live price of BRK.B or BRK.A on any major financial news website (like Google Finance, Yahoo Finance, or CNBC), your brokerage platform, or by simply searching for "BRK.B stock price" on Google.
How to know if Berkshire Hathaway pays dividends? Berkshire Hathaway, under Warren Buffett's leadership, has not paid a dividend for decades. The company's philosophy is to reinvest all earnings back into the business to grow its portfolio of holdings, which has historically generated a much higher return for shareholders than a dividend would.
How to attend the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder meeting? While attending in person requires a ticket, shareholders and the public can watch a live stream of the annual shareholder meeting's Q&A session on CNBC.com every year.
How to understand the difference between BRK.A and BRK.B? The key difference is price and voting rights. BRK.A is incredibly expensive with high voting power, while BRK.B is affordable and has limited voting rights. Both represent the same underlying business, but the accessibility of BRK.B makes it the choice for most retail investors.
How to get started with investing for the long term? Start by educating yourself. Read books on investing, understand the concept of compounding, and begin with small, consistent investments in quality companies or broad-market index funds. The key is to start early and stay consistent.
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