Here is a comprehensive guide on the price of a single Berkshire Hathaway stock, complete with a step-by-step breakdown and a detailed FAQ section.
How Much is a Single Berkshire Hathaway Stock? A Comprehensive Guide
Hello, future investor! Are you ready to dive into the world of investing and consider one of the most iconic and respected companies in the market? Perhaps you've heard the legendary name of Warren Buffett and his massive conglomerate, Berkshire Hathaway, and you're curious about what it would cost to own a piece of it. Well, you've come to the right place! Let's explore this topic in detail, breaking down the cost and what makes this stock so unique.
| How Much Is A Single Berkshire Hathaway Stock |
Step 1: Understand the Two Tiers of Berkshire Hathaway Stock
Before we even get to the numbers, let's clear up the most crucial detail: Berkshire Hathaway has two classes of stock. This is a fundamental concept you must understand.
Class A Stock (Ticker: BRK.A): The "Original" Share. This is the legendary share that has never been split. It's the one that has grown to a truly eye-watering price, reflecting decades of compounding growth. Owning even one share of BRK.A is a significant investment.
Class B Stock (Ticker: BRK.B): The "Affordable" Share. This class was created to make Berkshire Hathaway accessible to a broader range of investors. It represents a smaller fraction of ownership and, as a result, has a much lower price tag.
So, the first step is to ask yourself: are you looking at the "A" shares or the "B" shares? Your answer will determine the price difference, which is colossal.
Step 2: Check the Current Market Price
Now for the numbers! The stock market is dynamic, and prices change constantly. To get the most accurate, real-time price, you need to check a reliable financial source. As of June 28, 2025, here are the approximate prices:
Sub-heading: Berkshire Hathaway Class A (BRK.A)
As of the market close on June 27, 2025, one share of Berkshire Hathaway Class A (BRK.A) was priced around $729,000 USD.
Note: The price can fluctuate slightly in after-hours trading.
The 52-week high for this stock has been around $812,855, and the 52-week low was around $607,955.
This price is not a typo. It reflects the company's long-term growth and its unique policy of never splitting the Class A stock. It is a price that makes it one of the most expensive individual stocks in the world.
QuickTip: Stop scrolling, read carefully here.
Sub-heading: Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B)
As of the market close on June 27, 2025, one share of Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B) was priced around $485.50 USD.
This is a much more accessible price for most investors.
The 52-week high for the Class B shares has been around $542, and the 52-week low was around $403.
The Class B share is a fantastic way for individuals to invest in Berkshire Hathaway and gain exposure to its diverse portfolio of companies and its disciplined investment philosophy, led by Warren Buffett and his team.
Step 3: Understand the Value Behind the Price
So, why are the shares so expensive, especially the Class A? It's not just a number; it's a reflection of the company's value.
Sub-heading: The Power of Compounding
The price of a Berkshire Hathaway stock is a testament to the power of compounding. For decades, under the leadership of Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger (until his passing), the company has reinvested its earnings back into the business or used them to acquire other businesses. This strategy, rather than paying out dividends, has allowed the company's value to grow exponentially over time.
Sub-heading: A Portfolio of Businesses
When you buy a share of Berkshire Hathaway, you are not just buying into one company. You are buying a piece of a vast conglomerate that owns a wide array of businesses, including:
Insurance: GEICO, General Re, etc.
Railroads: BNSF Railway
Utilities: Berkshire Hathaway Energy
Manufacturing: Precision Castparts, Marmon, etc.
Consumer Products: See's Candies, Dairy Queen, and many more.
Publicly traded stocks: Significant holdings in companies like Apple, Coca-Cola, American Express, and Bank of America.
This diversified portfolio is a key reason for the stock's stability and long-term growth. It's a "one-stop shop" for exposure to a variety of industries.
Tip: Let the key ideas stand out.
Step 4: Decide Which Class is Right for You
Now that you know the prices and the story behind them, you need to decide which class, if any, is right for you.
Sub-heading: For the Serious, High-Net-Worth Investor
If you have a significant amount of capital and are looking for a share with more voting power and historical significance, the Class A (BRK.A) might be an option. However, the high price is a significant barrier to entry. For most people, this is not a practical investment.
Sub-heading: For the Everyday Investor
For the vast majority of people, the Class B (BRK.B) is the only sensible choice. It provides you with:
Access to the same underlying businesses and investment portfolio.
A highly liquid stock that is easy to buy and sell.
A much more affordable price point that allows for fractional share investing through many brokerage platforms.
Don't feel like you are missing out by buying the B shares. For all practical purposes, they track the same performance as the A shares and give you a stake in the same phenomenal company.
Step 5: How to Buy the Stock
Ready to take the plunge? Here's a quick guide on how to buy a share:
Open a Brokerage Account: You'll need an account with a brokerage firm (like Zerodha, Angel One, or an international brokerage like Charles Schwab or Fidelity for US stocks).
Fund Your Account: Transfer money from your bank account to your brokerage account.
Search for the Ticker: Look up the ticker symbol you want: BRK.A for Class A or BRK.B for Class B.
Place Your Order: You can place a "market order" to buy at the current price or a "limit order" to buy at a specific price you choose.
QuickTip: Look for repeated words — they signal importance.
Related FAQ
How to buy a Berkshire Hathaway Class A share if I can't afford it?
It is practically impossible to buy a full Class A share for most individual investors. You would need to look into brokers that offer fractional share investing, which allows you to buy a portion of a share (e.g., $100 worth of BRK.A). However, this is more commonly done with the Class B shares due to their lower price.
How to check the live price of Berkshire Hathaway stock?
You can check the live price on any financial news website (e.g., Google Finance, Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg) or through your brokerage account's trading platform. Just search for the ticker symbol, BRK.A or BRK.B.
How to invest in Berkshire Hathaway without buying the stock directly?
You can invest in mutual funds or ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) that hold Berkshire Hathaway in their portfolio. This provides indirect exposure to the company.
How to understand the difference in voting rights between BRK.A and BRK.B?
A Class A share gets one vote per share, while a Class B share gets 1/10,000th of a vote per share. This means the Class A shares hold the majority of the voting power, but for the average investor, this difference is generally insignificant.
QuickTip: A careful read saves time later.
How to find out if a brokerage offers fractional shares of BRK.A?
You can check the website or contact the customer support of your brokerage to see if they offer fractional share investing for US stocks. This is a feature that is becoming more common.
How to convert a Class A share to a Class B share?
Yes, you can convert a Class A share to 1,500 Class B shares at any time. However, you cannot convert Class B shares back into Class A shares.
How to compare the performance of BRK.A and BRK.B?
The performance of the two classes of stock is designed to be virtually identical, as they represent ownership in the same company. The B shares will simply be 1/1,500th the price of the A shares.
How to calculate the value of my BRK.B shares if I owned BRK.A instead?
To find the equivalent value, you would multiply the number of your BRK.A shares by 1,500 to get the equivalent number of BRK.B shares, and then multiply that by the BRK.B price.
How to find out the market cap of Berkshire Hathaway?
The market capitalization is calculated by multiplying the total number of outstanding shares by the current share price. For Berkshire Hathaway, you would need to sum the market cap of both the A and B shares to get the total. As of June 28, 2025, the total market cap is over $1 trillion.
How to know if Berkshire Hathaway pays dividends?
Berkshire Hathaway has a long-standing policy of not paying dividends. Instead, they reinvest all of their earnings back into the company, which is a key reason for their phenomenal growth over the decades.