Of course! Here is a very lengthy and detailed guide on the price of a share of Berkshire Hathaway, with a step-by-step format and engaging user experience.
How Much for a Share of Berkshire Hathaway? A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding the Price of BRK.A and BRK.B
Have you ever looked at the stock market and wondered about the companies that seem to defy all norms? Among them, one name stands out as a titan of investing: Berkshire Hathaway, led by the legendary Warren Buffett. You've likely heard stories about its incredibly high stock price, but have you ever considered what it would actually take to own a piece of this financial powerhouse? Let's dive in and explore the price of a Berkshire Hathaway share, its different classes, and what you need to know before you invest.
Step 1: Get Ready to Be Surprised!
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's play a quick game. Take a guess: What do you think a single share of Berkshire Hathaway costs today? Is it a few hundred dollars? A few thousand? More?
...
Hold that number in your mind. Now, let's find out the real answer, which might just blow your mind!
Step 2: Understand the Two Classes of Shares: A Tale of Two Tickers
One of the most important things to understand about Berkshire Hathaway is that it has two different classes of stock, each with its own price and characteristics. These are referred to as Class A and Class B shares.
Sub-heading 2.1: The 'Golden Ticket' - Berkshire Hathaway Class A (BRK.A)
This is the famous one. The share that has become synonymous with an astronomical price tag. The Class A shares are the original shares of the company, and they have never undergone a stock split. This is a deliberate choice by Warren Buffett, who believes it attracts long-term, value-oriented investors who are not interested in short-term trading.
As of Friday, June 27, 2025, the price of a single share of Berkshire Hathaway Class A (BRK.A) was approximately $729,000 USD.
Yes, you read that correctly. That's over 7 lakh US dollars for a single share!
Key Characteristics of BRK.A:
Voting Rights: Each Class A share comes with 10,000 times the voting rights of a Class B share. This gives Class A shareholders significant influence in company matters.
Price: Due to its rarity and lack of splits, the price is incredibly high, making it inaccessible to the average retail investor.
Conversion: Class A shares can be converted into Class B shares, but the reverse is not possible. This means once you convert, you lose the higher voting rights.
Sub-heading 2.2: The 'Everyday Investor's' Choice - Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B)
Recognizing the inaccessibility of the Class A shares for most investors, Berkshire Hathaway created the Class B shares in 1996. These shares were issued at a fraction of the price and are much more liquid.
As of Friday, June 27, 2025, the price of a single share of Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B) was approximately $485.50 USD.
This is the share that most individual investors would consider buying.
Key Characteristics of BRK.B:
Voting Rights: Each Class B share has 1/10,000th of the voting rights of a Class A share.
Price: The price is significantly lower and more manageable for most investors, making it a popular choice.
Conversion: As mentioned, you cannot convert Class B shares into Class A shares.
Step 3: Finding the Live Price and Understanding Market Data
The prices mentioned above are based on the market close on a specific day. Stock prices are constantly fluctuating, so it's crucial to check the live price before making any investment decisions.
Sub-heading 3.1: Where to find the live price:
Reliable Financial Websites: Use financial news websites like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Yahoo Finance. Simply search for the ticker symbol, BRK.A or BRK.B.
Your Brokerage Account: The most accurate real-time price will be available through your online brokerage account.
Google Finance: A quick and easy way to get the latest quotes is by searching "BRK.A stock price" or "BRK.B stock price" on Google.
Sub-heading 3.2: What do the numbers mean?
When you look up the stock price, you'll see a lot of data. Here's a breakdown of what some of those terms mean:
Last Price: The most recent price at which a trade was executed.
Change: The difference between the current price and the previous day's closing price.
High/Low: The highest and lowest prices the stock has traded at during the current trading day.
Volume: The number of shares that have been traded.
Market Cap: This is the total value of the company. It's calculated by multiplying the share price by the number of shares outstanding. Even with the huge price difference, the market cap of BRK.A and BRK.B will be the same because they represent different classes of the same company.
Step 4: Buying a Share: The Practical Steps
So, you've decided you want to invest in Berkshire Hathaway. Here's how you can go about it.
Sub-heading 4.1: Open a Brokerage Account
This is your first and most important step. You need a brokerage account to buy and sell stocks. There are many options available, both traditional and online. Choose one that suits your needs, considering factors like fees, research tools, and customer service.
Sub-heading 4.2: Fund Your Account
Once your account is open, you need to transfer money into it. You can do this through a bank transfer, wire transfer, or other methods offered by your brokerage.
Sub-heading 4.3: Place Your Order
Now for the exciting part!
Search for the Ticker: In your brokerage account, search for "BRK.B" (unless you're a multi-millionaire, in which case you might consider BRK.A!).
Choose Your Order Type:
Market Order: This will buy the shares at the current market price. This is good for quick execution but the price can fluctuate slightly.
Limit Order: This allows you to set a specific price you are willing to pay for the shares. The order will only be executed if the stock price drops to or below your set price. This is a great way to control your entry point.
Enter the Quantity: Decide how many shares you want to buy. Remember, even with BRK.B, the price can add up quickly.
Review and Confirm: Double-check all the details of your order before you hit the "buy" button.
Step 5: Consider Fractional Shares
What if you want to invest in Berkshire Hathaway but can't afford a full share of even the Class B stock? Many modern brokerages now offer the option of buying fractional shares.
This is a game-changer for many investors. It means you can invest a specific dollar amount (e.g., $100 or $500) and own a fraction of a share, proportional to the amount you invested. This allows you to gain exposure to a high-priced stock without needing to buy a whole share.
So, if a share of BRK.B is $485, and you invest $100, you would own approximately 0.206 of a share.
Step 6: Don't Forget the Big Picture
Investing in a single company, no matter how famous, carries risk. Before you invest, always do your own research, understand your risk tolerance, and consider diversifying your portfolio. Berkshire Hathaway is a conglomerate with a diverse portfolio of businesses, but it's still a single entity.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to buy a fractional share of Berkshire Hathaway?
You can buy a fractional share of Berkshire Hathaway B (BRK.B) through a brokerage platform that offers this feature. Simply deposit the amount you want to invest and place a buy order for that dollar amount instead of a number of shares.
How to find the historical stock price of BRK.A?
You can find the historical stock price of BRK.A on financial data websites like Macrotrends, Yahoo Finance, or the official NYSE website. These sites provide charts and tables with daily, weekly, and monthly price data going back for many years.
How to calculate the total market capitalization of Berkshire Hathaway?
To calculate the market capitalization, you multiply the current stock price of either the Class A (BRK.A) or Class B (BRK.B) shares by the total number of outstanding shares for that class. The market cap of both classes combined gives you the total market value of the company.
How to choose between buying BRK.A and BRK.B?
For most individual investors, BRK.B is the only realistic option due to its much lower price. BRK.A is primarily for institutional investors or those who want significant voting power and have a large amount of capital to deploy.
How to get real-time price quotes for BRK.B?
You can get real-time price quotes through your brokerage account, or on financial platforms that provide this service, often for a subscription fee. Free services like Google Finance usually have a slight delay (e.g., 15 minutes).
How to understand the ticker symbols BRK.A and BRK.B?
The ticker symbol is a unique code for a stock. BRK.A stands for Berkshire Hathaway Class A and BRK.B stands for Berkshire Hathaway Class B. They are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
How to invest in Berkshire Hathaway without buying a single share?
You can gain exposure to Berkshire Hathaway's performance without buying a single share by investing in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) or mutual fund that holds BRK.B as one of its top holdings, such as an S&P 500 index fund.
How to know if the Berkshire Hathaway stock is a good investment?
This requires extensive research. You should analyze the company's financial statements, read its annual reports, understand its business segments, and evaluate its valuation metrics (like P/E ratio and Price/Book value) to determine if it aligns with your investment strategy.
How to handle the high volatility of the stock market?
Instead of reacting to daily price swings, focus on a long-term investment horizon. Use strategies like dollar-cost averaging, where you invest a fixed amount at regular intervals, to mitigate the impact of market volatility.
How to find out if Berkshire Hathaway pays dividends?
Berkshire Hathaway is famous for not paying a dividend. Warren Buffett believes in reinvesting the company's earnings back into its businesses and new acquisitions, which he argues provides a greater return for shareholders over the long run.
