How Much Are Berkshire Hathaway Stocks? A Comprehensive Guide to Investing in a Legendary Conglomerate
Are you looking to invest in one of the most iconic and successful companies in the world, led by the legendary Warren Buffett? You've come to the right place! Understanding the price of Berkshire Hathaway stock is the first crucial step in your investment journey. But it's not as simple as checking a single ticker symbol, because Berkshire Hathaway offers two distinct classes of stock.
Let's dive in and explore what makes Berkshire Hathaway's stock unique and how you can get a piece of this investment giant.
Step 1: Understand the Two Classes of Berkshire Hathaway Stock
Before you even think about the price, you need to know that Berkshire Hathaway has two types of stock, each with a very different price tag. This is a critical distinction, and you'll want to choose the one that aligns with your investment goals and budget.
Berkshire Hathaway Class A (BRK.A): The “Big Ticket” Stock This is the original stock, and it's known for its incredibly high price. One share of BRK.A can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. This high price is a deliberate choice by Warren Buffett, who wanted to attract long-term investors and discourage short-term trading. It's a testament to the company's long-term value and stability.
Key features of BRK.A:
High Price: As of June 27, 2025, the price of a single BRK.A share was around $729,000 USD. Yes, you read that correctly! The price fluctuates, but it consistently remains one of the most expensive stocks on the market.
Voting Rights: Each BRK.A share gives you one vote in the company's affairs, which is significant for major decisions.
No Stock Splits: The company has a policy of not splitting its Class A shares, which contributes to their high value and exclusivity.
Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B): The "Accessible" Stock Introduced in 1996, the Class B stock was created to make Berkshire Hathaway accessible to a wider range of investors who couldn't afford the Class A shares. This is the more common choice for individual investors.
Key features of BRK.B:
Affordable Price: As of June 27, 2025, a single BRK.B share was priced around $485.50 USD. This is a far more manageable entry point for most investors.
Limited Voting Rights: Each BRK.B share has limited voting rights, specifically 1/10,000th of the voting power of a Class A share.
Convertibility: Class A shares can be converted into Class B shares, but not the other way around. This provides a clear hierarchy and maintains the value of the Class A stock.
So, before you proceed, ask yourself: Are you an institutional investor or high-net-worth individual looking for a major stake with voting power, or are you an individual investor looking for a more affordable way to own a piece of this iconic company?
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| How Much Are Berkshire Hathaway Stocks |
Step 2: Check the Current Market Price
Once you know which class of stock you're interested in, you need to check the current market price. Stock prices fluctuate throughout the trading day based on supply and demand.
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Sub-heading: Where to find the price? You can easily find the live stock price on any financial news website or brokerage platform. Simply search for the ticker symbol: BRK.A for Class A and BRK.B for Class B. The price you see will be in real-time or with a slight delay, depending on the platform.
Step 3: Understand the Factors that Influence the Stock Price
The price of Berkshire Hathaway's stock, like any other, is not static. It's influenced by a variety of factors. Knowing these can help you understand the company's performance and make informed decisions.
Sub-heading: The Performance of its Underlying Businesses Berkshire Hathaway is a conglomerate, meaning it's a holding company that owns a diverse portfolio of businesses. The stock price is heavily influenced by the performance of its core operations, including its insurance businesses (like GEICO), railway company (BNSF), and a multitude of other companies in various sectors.
Sub-heading: Investment Portfolio Performance A significant portion of Berkshire Hathaway's value comes from its massive investment portfolio, which includes major holdings in companies like Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express. The performance of these stocks directly impacts Berkshire Hathaway's book value and, in turn, its stock price.
Sub-heading: The "Buffett Effect" Warren Buffett's reputation and his wise investment decisions have a profound impact on investor sentiment. Any major announcement, annual letter, or public appearance by the "Oracle of Omaha" can influence the stock price. This is a unique and powerful factor.
Sub-heading: Broader Market Conditions Like all stocks, BRK.A and BRK.B are subject to broader economic trends, market volatility, and global events. A strong economy and bull market generally favor the stock, while a recession or market downturn can put pressure on the price.
Step 4: A Step-by-Step Guide to Buying Berkshire Hathaway Stock
Now that you have the knowledge, let's talk about the practical steps to buying the stock.
Step 4.1: Open a Brokerage Account You cannot buy shares directly from Berkshire Hathaway. You need a brokerage account to purchase stocks. If you don't have one, you'll need to open an account with a reputable brokerage firm (e.g., Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Robinhood, etc.). The process is generally straightforward and involves providing your personal information and funding the account.
Step 4.2: Fund Your Account Once your account is open, you need to deposit money into it. This can be done via a bank transfer, wire transfer, or linking your bank account. Make sure you have enough funds to cover the price of the shares you want to buy, plus any associated fees.
Step 4.3: Search for the Stock Log in to your brokerage platform and use the search bar to find Berkshire Hathaway stock using the ticker symbols: BRK.A or BRK.B.
Step 4.4: Place Your Order On the stock's page, you'll see options to buy or sell. When buying, you'll need to choose the number of shares or a dollar amount you wish to invest.
Market Order: This will buy the stock at the current market price. This is a quick way to execute your trade, but the price might change slightly between when you place the order and when it is filled.
Limit Order: This allows you to set a specific price at which you want to buy the stock. The order will only be executed if the stock's price drops to your specified limit or below it. This gives you more control over the price you pay.
Step 4.5: Consider Fractional Shares If the price of a full share is still too high for your budget, even for Class B, many modern brokerage platforms offer fractional shares. This allows you to buy a portion of a share for a specific dollar amount. For example, if BRK.B is trading at $485, you could invest $100 and own approximately 0.206 shares.
Step 4.6: Confirm the Trade Review your order details, including the type of order, the number of shares, and the total cost. Once you're sure, confirm the trade. The shares will then be added to your portfolio.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
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How to find the real-time price of Berkshire Hathaway stock?
You can find the real-time price on financial websites like Bloomberg, Reuters, Yahoo Finance, or directly through your brokerage account by searching for the ticker symbols BRK.A and BRK.B.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway Class A stock?
To buy BRK.A, you need a brokerage account with a significant amount of capital, as a single share can cost over $700,000. You would then place a buy order for the stock using its ticker symbol, BRK.A.
How to buy Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock?
You can buy BRK.B through any brokerage account that offers US stocks. Since the price is much lower, you can buy a whole share or even a fractional share, depending on your brokerage's offerings.
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How to get voting rights with Berkshire Hathaway stock?
To have significant voting rights, you need to own Class A (BRK.A) shares, as each share grants one vote. Class B shares have very limited voting power.
How to convert Class A shares to Class B?
Class A shares can be converted to Class B shares at a ratio of 1:1,500. This is a one-way conversion and cannot be reversed. You would typically do this through your brokerage.
How to invest in Berkshire Hathaway with a small amount of money?
The best way to invest with a small amount is by purchasing Class B (BRK.B) fractional shares through a brokerage that offers this feature. This allows you to invest a dollar amount of your choosing, even if it's less than the price of a full share.
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How to know if Berkshire Hathaway stock is a good investment for me?
Investing in Berkshire Hathaway means investing in a diversified portfolio of businesses and a proven management team. However, it's crucial to research the company's fundamentals and assess your own risk tolerance and investment goals before making any decision.
How to check the performance history of Berkshire Hathaway stock?
You can find detailed historical price data, including charts and year-over-year performance, on financial websites like Macrotrends or Nasdaq by searching for the ticker symbols.
How to understand the difference between BRK.A and BRK.B in simple terms?
Think of BRK.A as the "VIP" stock with a high price and voting power, and BRK.B as the "General Admission" stock with a low price and limited voting power, created to allow more people to own a piece of the company.
How to find the latest news and updates on Berkshire Hathaway?
You can stay updated by following financial news outlets, reading Warren Buffett's annual letters to shareholders on the official Berkshire Hathaway website, and checking reputable financial websites like Reuters, Bloomberg, and The Motley Fool.
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