Greetings, future shareholder! Are you ready to dive into the world of Warren Buffett's legendary company, Berkshire Hathaway? It's a fascinating journey, and a key part of understanding the company is knowing about its outstanding shares. This isn't just a number; it's a reflection of the company's structure, its value, and its unique approach to business.
Let's embark on this detailed, step-by-step guide to unravel the mystery of Berkshire Hathaway's outstanding shares.
Step 1: Get to Know the Two Types of Shares
Before we get to the numbers, let's understand the shares themselves. Berkshire Hathaway is famously known for having two distinct classes of stock: Class A (BRK.A) and Class B (BRK.B).
Wait, two types of shares? Yes, and it's a crucial distinction.
Class A (BRK.A): These are the original shares. They are famously expensive, with a single share priced in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. This high price is intentional, as Warren Buffett believes it attracts long-term, value-oriented investors who are not interested in short-term trading. Each Class A share has a high voting power, reflecting its significant stake in the company.
Class B (BRK.B): These shares were created in 1996 to make Berkshire Hathaway accessible to a wider range of investors. They are priced at a much more affordable level, typically a fraction of the cost of a Class A share. The key trade-off is that they have significantly less voting power per share.
So, when we talk about outstanding shares, we need to consider both classes. It's not just one number, but a combination that gives you the full picture.
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| How Many Outstanding Shares Does Berkshire Hathaway Have |
Step 2: Understand "Outstanding Shares" and Why It Matters
Now, let's define what "outstanding shares" means. These are the shares of a company's stock that are currently held by all its shareholders, including institutional investors, company insiders, and the public.
Why is this number so important?
Market Capitalization: The total market value of a company is calculated by multiplying the outstanding shares by the current share price. A change in outstanding shares directly impacts the market cap.
Earnings Per Share (EPS): This is a key metric for investors. It's calculated by dividing a company's net income by the number of outstanding shares. A lower share count can lead to a higher EPS, making the company appear more profitable on a per-share basis.
Dilution: When a company issues more shares, it can dilute the value of existing shares. This is why investors closely watch the share count.
For Berkshire Hathaway, the number of outstanding shares is particularly interesting because of a long-standing practice: share buybacks.
Step 3: Finding the Current Number of Outstanding Shares
QuickTip: Use the post as a quick reference later.
So, how do we find the exact number of outstanding shares for Berkshire Hathaway?
Sub-heading: Where to Look for Reliable Data
You need to rely on official and reputable financial sources. The best places to find this information are:
Berkshire Hathaway's Official SEC Filings: The company's quarterly and annual reports (10-Q and 10-K filings) are the most accurate source. These filings are available on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website.
Reputable Financial Data Providers: Websites like Macrotrends, Morningstar, and TradingView provide up-to-date and historical data on outstanding shares, often with easy-to-read charts and tables.
Sub-heading: The Latest Figures (as of mid-2025)
Based on the latest available data, here is the approximate number of outstanding shares for Berkshire Hathaway:
Total Outstanding Shares: As of the quarter ending March 31, 2025, the total number of outstanding shares for Berkshire Hathaway was approximately 2.159 billion.
Class A Outstanding Shares: This number is much smaller and can be found in the company's filings. It's in the hundreds of thousands. As of June 2025, the number of Class A shares is around 1.44 million.
Class B Outstanding Shares: The vast majority of outstanding shares are Class B shares. This is why the total is in the billions. The total Class B shares are approximately 2.158 billion.
It's crucial to remember that these numbers can change. Berkshire Hathaway is known for its share buyback program, which reduces the number of outstanding shares over time.
Step 4: Decoding the Impact of Share Buybacks
This is where the story gets even more interesting. Unlike many companies that issue new shares to raise capital, Berkshire Hathaway, under Warren Buffett's guidance, has a history of buying back its own shares.
Sub-heading: Why Berkshire Buys Back Shares
Tip: Slow down when you hit important details.
Creating Value: Buffett and his team believe that buying back shares is a powerful way to increase the value for remaining shareholders, as it increases each share's ownership in the company's future earnings.
Efficient Capital Allocation: When the company's stock is trading at a price below its intrinsic value, buying back shares is considered a more efficient use of capital than other investments.
This buyback program is a key reason why the number of outstanding shares has been steadily declining over the years. For example, the shares outstanding for the quarter ending March 31, 2025, were a 0.08% decline year-over-year.
Step 5: Analyzing the Trends Over Time
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To truly understand the outstanding shares, let's look at the historical trend. Here's a brief look at the decline in outstanding shares over the last few years, according to data from reputable financial sources:
2024: 2.158 billion
2023: 2.175 billion
2022: 2.205 billion
2021: 2.267 billion
As you can see, the number is consistently decreasing. This is a deliberate and strategic move by the company. It shows a commitment to delivering value to shareholders by increasing their stake in the company without issuing more shares.
Step 6: Understanding the Voting Power
Finally, let's touch upon the voting power. While the outstanding shares are in the billions, the voting power is heavily concentrated in the Class A shares. The Class B shares have 1/10,000th of the voting power of Class A shares. This means that while you can own a piece of the company through Class B shares, your influence on corporate decisions is minimal. This structure ensures that management and long-term shareholders maintain control.
10 Related FAQs
How to find the latest outstanding shares for Berkshire Hathaway?
You can find the latest figures in Berkshire Hathaway's quarterly and annual reports (10-Q and 10-K filings) on the SEC website, or on financial data platforms like Macrotrends and Morningstar.
Tip: Reading carefully reduces re-reading.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock?
You can buy Berkshire Hathaway stock (BRK.B) through a brokerage account. Simply open and fund the account, and then search for the ticker "BRK.B" on the platform.
How to calculate a company's market cap using outstanding shares?
Market capitalization is calculated by multiplying the number of outstanding shares by the current market price per share.
How to understand the difference between Class A and Class B shares?
Class A shares are expensive with high voting power, while Class B shares are affordable with minimal voting power. They represent the same underlying business, but are designed for different types of investors.
How to know if a company is buying back its shares?
You can check a company's financial statements, specifically the cash flow statement, for "repurchase of common stock" or a similar line item. The outstanding share count on financial data websites will also show a decline over time.
QuickTip: Take a pause every few paragraphs.
How to interpret a declining outstanding share count?
A declining share count is often a positive sign for investors, as it indicates that the company is returning capital to shareholders and increasing their proportional ownership.
How to get access to Berkshire Hathaway's shareholder meeting?
You need to be a shareholder to attend the annual meeting. Owning even a single Class B share will grant you a credential to attend.
How to determine the value of a company using outstanding shares?
Outstanding shares are a key component in calculating per-share metrics like Earnings Per Share (EPS) and Book Value Per Share, which are used to assess a company's value.
How to research Berkshire Hathaway's business holdings?
Berkshire Hathaway's annual letters to shareholders and SEC filings provide a detailed breakdown of its diverse portfolio of wholly-owned businesses and publicly-traded stock holdings.
How to know if Berkshire Hathaway is a good investment for me?
This depends on your personal financial goals and risk tolerance. It's recommended to do your own research or consult a financial advisor to see if Berkshire Hathaway's long-term, value-oriented approach aligns with your investment strategy.
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