Here is a comprehensive post on understanding the price of Berkshire Hathaway stock.
How Much is Berkshire Hathaway Stock? A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding the Price of BRK.A and BRK.B
Have you ever wondered what it takes to own a piece of Warren Buffett's legendary company, Berkshire Hathaway? Maybe you've seen the news about its astronomical stock price and thought, "Is that even real?" You've come to the right place! We're going to break down the answer to "how much is Berkshire Hathaway stock?" and guide you through the process of understanding and even buying a share.
Let's dive in!
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| How Much Is Berkshire Hathaway Stock |
Step 1: Realize There Are Two Berkshire Hathaway Stocks
Before we even get to the price, the very first and most important thing you need to understand is that there are two classes of Berkshire Hathaway stock:
Berkshire Hathaway Class A (BRK.A): This is the original, notoriously expensive stock.
Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B): This is the more affordable, accessible version.
So, when you ask "how much is Berkshire Hathaway stock?", the answer depends entirely on which class you're talking about!
Step 2: Check the Current Market Price (The "What's It Cost Right Now?" Phase)
The stock market is constantly moving, so the price of any stock, including Berkshire Hathaway, changes every trading day. To get the most accurate, up-to-the-minute price, you need to check a live stock quote from a reliable financial platform.
As of Friday, June 27, 2025, after market close:
Berkshire Hathaway Class A (BRK.A): The closing price was approximately $730,939.90. Yes, you read that right. A single share is worth over seven hundred thousand US dollars!
Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B): The closing price was around $485.68. This is a much more manageable price for the average investor.
You can easily find these live prices on financial news websites, brokerage platforms, and even a quick Google search for the ticker symbols, BRK.A and BRK.B.
Step 3: Understand the Key Differences Between BRK.A and BRK.B
Why is there such a massive price difference? It's not just about the numbers. The two classes of stock have crucial distinctions.
Tip: Reflect on what you just read.
Sub-heading: The Price and Accessibility
BRK.A: Designed for long-term investors, its high price is intentional. Warren Buffett famously said he never wants to split the stock, believing it attracts like-minded investors who are focused on long-term value, not short-term trading.
BRK.B: Created in 1996 and later split 50-for-1 in 2010, the Class B shares were introduced to make Berkshire Hathaway accessible to a wider range of investors, including those who couldn't afford a single Class A share.
Sub-heading: The Voting Rights
BRK.A: Each Class A share has one full vote in company matters.
BRK.B: Each Class B share has a significantly reduced voting right, equal to 1/10,000th of a Class A share's voting power. This means that even if you own many Class B shares, you will have very little influence on company decisions compared to a Class A shareholder.
Sub-heading: The Convertibility
BRK.A to BRK.B: Class A shares are convertible into Class B shares. In fact, one BRK.A share can be converted into 1,500 BRK.B shares. This gives Class A shareholders flexibility if they want to sell a portion of their holdings without selling their entire, extremely valuable single share.
BRK.B to BRK.A: It is important to note that Class B shares cannot be converted back into Class A shares.
Step 4: Analyze the Historical Performance
Understanding the current price is one thing, but a good investor always looks at the past. Berkshire Hathaway's stock has a legendary history of growth under the leadership of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger.
Over the past year, the Class B stock price has seen a return of over 19%.
Over the last 5 years, the Class B stock has provided a return of over 170%.
The value of the stock has grown significantly over decades, making it a cornerstone of many long-term investment portfolios. Its all-time high for BRK.B was around $542.07, and for BRK.A it was over $812,000.
Step 5: Learn How to Actually Buy Berkshire Hathaway Stock
Ready to become a shareholder? Here's the practical, step-by-step process.
Sub-heading: Choose Your Class and Brokerage
QuickTip: Absorb ideas one at a time.
First, decide whether you want to buy BRK.A or BRK.B. For the vast majority of retail investors, BRK.B is the only realistic option due to its price.
Next, you need a brokerage account. If you don't have one, you'll need to open an account with a platform that allows you to buy US stocks (like Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Zerodha, or INDmoney in India, for example).
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Sub-heading: Fund Your Account and Place Your Order
Once your brokerage account is open, you need to deposit money into it.
Then, you can search for the stock using its ticker symbol: BRK.A or BRK.B.
When placing your order, you have a few options:
Market Order: This buys the stock at the best available price at that moment.
Limit Order: This allows you to set a maximum price you're willing to pay. The order will only execute if the stock falls to or below that price.
Sub-heading: Consider Fractional Shares
If you want to own BRK.B but don't have the full amount for a single share, many modern brokerages offer fractional shares. This means you can invest a specific dollar amount (e.g., $50) and buy a fraction of a share, giving you partial ownership. This is an excellent way to start investing in high-priced stocks without a large capital outlay.
Step 6: Understand the Investment Philosophy (The "Why" Behind the Price)
Investing in Berkshire Hathaway isn't just about buying a stock; it's about investing in the diversified holding company and the philosophy of its leader, Warren Buffett. The company holds a vast portfolio of wholly-owned businesses like GEICO and BNSF Railway, as well as a significant portfolio of publicly traded stocks, including Apple, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, and American Express. The price of the stock reflects the combined value of all these assets and the company's strong, long-term performance.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Tip: Keep your attention on the main thread.
How to understand the ticker symbols BRK.A and BRK.B?
BRK.A is the ticker symbol for Berkshire Hathaway's Class A stock, and BRK.B is for its Class B stock. When searching for the stock on a brokerage platform, you must use the correct ticker to find the desired class.
How to buy a fractional share of Berkshire Hathaway?
To buy a fractional share, you need to use a brokerage platform that supports this feature. Instead of entering the number of shares you want, you enter the dollar amount you wish to invest. The brokerage will then purchase a corresponding fraction of a share for you.
How to find the live price of Berkshire Hathaway stock?
You can find the live price on major financial news websites like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Yahoo Finance. You can also get a live quote directly from your brokerage's trading platform.
How to calculate the market capitalization of Berkshire Hathaway?
The market capitalization is calculated by multiplying the share price by the number of shares outstanding. As of late June 2025, the market cap for BRK.B was around $1.0T, making it one of the largest companies in the world.
How to know if Berkshire Hathaway pays a dividend?
Berkshire Hathaway has a unique policy: it has never paid a dividend and is unlikely to do so in the near future. Warren Buffett prefers to reinvest all profits back into the company to generate more value for shareholders, a strategy he believes is more beneficial for long-term growth.
Tip: Write down what you learned.
How to convert BRK.A to BRK.B?
You can convert a BRK.A share into 1,500 BRK.B shares through your brokerage. This is a one-way conversion, and BRK.B shares cannot be converted back to BRK.A.
How to research Berkshire Hathaway's financial reports?
You can find Berkshire Hathaway's annual and interim reports on its official investor relations website, as well as on the SEC's EDGAR database. These reports provide in-depth information on the company's performance and holdings.
How to compare BRK.A and BRK.B performance?
While their prices are drastically different, the performance of both stocks is closely tied to the underlying value of the company. On a percentage basis, their returns are very similar, with minor differences due to market supply and demand.
How to know if the BRK.A stock will ever split?
Warren Buffett has stated on multiple occasions that he has no intention of splitting the Class A stock. The high price is a feature, not a bug, and is a way to filter for long-term investors.
How to decide between investing in BRK.B and a S&P 500 index fund?
BRK.B offers exposure to a diversified holding company with a unique investment philosophy. An S&P 500 index fund, on the other hand, provides broad market exposure to 500 of the largest US companies. Your choice depends on your risk tolerance and whether you want to bet on one company's strategy or the overall market's performance.
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