Ready to Invest? A Step-by-Step Guide to Buying Berkshire Hathaway Stock
Hello, future investor! Ever wondered how to own a piece of the company led by the legendary Warren Buffett? You've come to the right place. Investing in Berkshire Hathaway can seem daunting, but it's a process that is more accessible than you might think. Let's break it down, step by step, and get you on the path to becoming a shareholder in this diversified powerhouse.
 |
| How Much Of Berkshire Hathaway |
Step 1: Understand What You're Buying
Before you even think about placing a trade, it is essential to understand what Berkshire Hathaway is and the different ways you can invest.
Sub-heading: What is Berkshire Hathaway?
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a holding company with a vast portfolio of subsidiaries and investments. It's involved in various business activities, including insurance, utilities, energy, freight rail transportation, manufacturing, services, and retailing. Some of its key segments include GEICO (insurance), BNSF (freight rail), and Berkshire Hathaway Energy. The company also holds significant minority shares in other well-known companies like Apple, Bank of America, and Coca-Cola.
Sub-heading: Two Classes of Shares: A vs. B
This is a crucial distinction. Berkshire Hathaway has two classes of common stock:
Class A shares (BRK.A): These are the original shares and are famous for their extremely high price per share. As of June 28, 2025, the price for one share of Class A stock was around $729,000. They have full voting rights, with each share counting as one vote.
Class B shares (BRK.B): These were created to make the stock more accessible to a broader range of investors. They are significantly more affordable, with a price around $485 as of June 28, 2025. They have fewer voting rights than Class A shares, with a single Class B share having 1/10,000th of the voting rights of a Class A share.
The key takeaway here is that Class A shares can be converted into Class B shares, but you cannot convert Class B shares back into Class A shares.
For most individual investors, the BRK.B shares are the practical and accessible option.
Step 2: Open and Fund a Brokerage Account
You cannot buy Berkshire Hathaway stock directly from the company. To purchase shares, you will need a brokerage account.
Tip: Break it down — section by section.
Sub-heading: Choose a Brokerage Platform
There are many online brokerage platforms available. If you don't already have one, you'll need to open an account. Many platforms offer a user-friendly interface for beginners.
Sub-heading: Fund Your Account
Once your account is open, you will need to add money to it. This can be done through a bank transfer or other funding methods offered by your brokerage. Be sure to check for any minimum deposit requirements.
Step 3: Research and Decide How Much to Invest
Before you hit the "buy" button, it's always wise to do your own research.
Sub-heading: Do Your Due Diligence
While Berkshire Hathaway is a well-known company, it is important to look at its financial fundamentals, such as its revenue and net income. You can find this information in the company's annual and quarterly reports on its investor relations website. For example, as of March 2025, the company's revenue was $89.72 billion.
Sub-heading: Consider Fractional Shares
If even the Class B share price is too much for your budget, some brokerages offer the ability to buy fractional shares. This means you can buy a portion of a share for a specific dollar amount, rather than having to buy a whole share. For instance, if a BRK.B share is $485 and you have $100 to invest, you could buy approximately one-fifth of a share. This makes investing in a high-priced stock much more manageable.
QuickTip: Read actively, not passively.
Step 4: Place Your Order
This is the exciting part! You've done the research and funded your account. Now it's time to buy the stock.
Sub-heading: Find the Right Ticker Symbol
On your brokerage platform, search for Berkshire Hathaway using the ticker symbol. For most investors, this will be BRK.B. If you are looking for the Class A shares, the ticker is BRK.A.
Sub-heading: Choose Your Order Type
 |
When you place your order, you'll likely have a choice between a "market order" and a "limit order."
Market Order: This is the simplest option. It goes through at the best available market price at the time of the order. The price you pay may be slightly different from the price you see on the screen due to real-time fluctuations.
Limit Order: This allows you to set a specific price limit. Your order will only be executed if the stock's price drops to or below your set limit.
If you are a long-term investor, a market order is often sufficient. If you are concerned about getting the exact best price, a limit order can be a good option.
Step 5: Submit the Order
Once you've chosen your order type and indicated how many shares (or what dollar amount) you want to purchase, simply submit the order. The button will likely say "buy," "submit," or "place trade."
Congratulations! You are now a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder.
QuickTip: Scan the start and end of paragraphs.
10 Related FAQs: Quick Answers
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock directly from the company?
You cannot buy Berkshire Hathaway stock directly from the company; you must go through a brokerage account.
How to choose between Class A (BRK.A) and Class B (BRK.B) shares?
Choose Class B (BRK.B) if you are a typical investor and want an affordable share price. Choose Class A (BRK.A) if you have significant capital and want full voting rights.
How to buy fractional shares of Berkshire Hathaway?
You can buy fractional shares through brokerage platforms that offer this feature, allowing you to invest a specific dollar amount rather than the full price of a share.
How to find the ticker symbol for Berkshire Hathaway stock?
The ticker symbol for Class A shares is BRK.A and for Class B shares is BRK.B.
How to research Berkshire Hathaway's financial performance?
Tip: Reading in short bursts can keep focus high.
You can find the company's annual and quarterly reports on its investor relations website to review fundamentals like revenue and net income.
How to know the current price of Berkshire Hathaway stock?
The price of the stock fluctuates throughout the day during market hours. You can find real-time quotes on financial news websites or through your brokerage platform. As of June 28, 2025, the BRK.A price was approximately $729,000 and the BRK.B price was around $485.
How to find out who the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway is?
The CEO of Berkshire Hathaway is Warren Buffett.
How to convert Berkshire Hathaway shares?
Class A shares can be converted to Class B shares, but Class B shares cannot be converted back to Class A.
How to invest in Berkshire Hathaway from India?
Indian investors can buy Berkshire Hathaway shares by opening an international trading account with a brokerage that provides access to US stocks. Some platforms allow fractional share purchases, starting with amounts as low as $1.
How to see the historical performance of Berkshire Hathaway stock?
Historical performance data is available on financial websites and brokerage platforms, allowing you to see past returns and price movements over various periods like 3 months, 1 year, and 5 years.
 |
