Global trading
Key takeaways
- Berkshire Hathaway Inc is an insurance - diversified business with stocks listed in the US.
- Berkshire Hathaway shares (BRK-B) are listed on the NYSE and all prices are listed in US Dollars.
- Its last market close was US$521.8 - an increase of 2.01% over the previous week.
These days a single stock in Warren Buffet's iconic company costs upwards of US$500,000. In the past, that hefty price tag meant Berkshire Hathaway shares were out of reach to most investors.
That's where Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B) shares come in. BRK.B shares were launched so that investors could purchase Berkshire shares at a much lower price point. In Australia, you have the option of purchasing both A or B Class shares, depending on the platform you use.
About Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway is involved in utilities, insurance and freight businesses worldwide. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, the company is known for its CEO Warren Buffett, a renowned American investor. Berkshire Hathaway trades on the New York Stock Exchange, where it offers class A (BRK.A) and class B (BRK.B) shares.Should you buy Berkshire Hathaway Class A or Class B shares?
There are two types of Berkshire Hathaway shares available to investors – Class A (BRK.A) and Class B (BRK.B) shares. Regular investors wanting to buy shares in Berkshire Hathaway typically purchase Class B shares thanks to the lower price. B-shares are generally over 1/100th of the price of A-shares.
However, there are other differences that may make Class A shares the more attractive option:
- Class A shares have historically outperformed Class B.
- Class A shares can be converted into Class B shares, but the same is not true in reverse.
- Class B shares can split. However, Buffet has assured shareholders that Class A will never experience this.
- The status element of owning Class A will be attractive for some investors.
- Many platforms now offer fractional share trading, meaning you can more easily invest in fractions of Class A shares.
Australian investors can purchase either Class A or Class B shares depending on their preference and the trading platform they use.
While Class A shares may have been out of reach in the past, a number of trading platforms these days offer fractional share trading where fractions of stocks can be purchased. So instead of buying 1 BRK.A stock for US$500,000, you could instead buy a fraction of the stock for say $50.
Either way, Australian investors will need to find a trading platform that offers US stocks if they want to purchase Berkshire Hathaway stocks.
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How to buy shares in Berkshire Hathaway
- Compare share trading platforms. To buy shares in a company listed in the USA from Australia you'll need to find a trading platform that offers access to USA stock markets. Look for a platform with low brokerage and foreign exchange fees.
- Open and fund your brokerage account. Complete an application with your personal and financial details, which will typically include your ID and tax file number. Fund your account with a bank transfer, credit card or debit card.
- Search for Berkshire Hathaway. Find the share by name or ticker symbol: BRK-B. Research its history to confirm it's an investment that matches your financial goals.
- Purchase now or later. Buy today with a market order or use a limit order to delay your purchase until Berkshire Hathaway reaches your desired price. To spread out your risk, look into dollar-cost averaging, which smooths out buying using consistent intervals and amounts.
- Decide on how many to buy. At last close price of US$521.8, weigh your budget against a diversified portfolio that can minimise risk through the market's ups and downs. You may be able to buy a fractional share of Berkshire Hathaway, depending on your broker.
- Check in on your investment. Congratulations, you own a part of Berkshire Hathaway. Optimise your portfolio by tracking how your stock performs with an eye on the long term. You may be eligible for dividends and shareholder voting rights.
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The value of your investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is no indication of future results.
Berkshire Hathaway overview
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the insurance, freight rail transportation, and utility businesses. The company provides property, casualty, life, accident, and health insurance and reinsurance; operates railroad systems in North America; generates, transmits, stores, and distributes electricity from natural gas, coal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear, and geothermal sources; operates natural gas distribution and storage facilities, interstate pipelines, liquefied natural gas facilities, and compressor and meter stations; and holds interest in coal mining assets. It manufactures boxed chocolates and other confectionery products; specialty chemicals, metal cutting tools, and components for aerospace and power generation applications; prefabricated and site-built residential homes, flooring products; insulation, roofing, and engineered products; building and engineered components; paints and coatings; and bricks and masonry products, as well as offers manufactured and site-built home construction, and related lending and financial services. In addition, the company provides recreational vehicles, apparel, footwear, toys, jewelry, custom picture framing products, alkaline batteries, logistics services, and professional aviation training and shared aircraft ownership programs; castings, forgings, fasteners/fastener systems, aerostructures, and precision components; and cobalt, nickel, and titanium alloys. Further, it distributes televisions and information, and grocery and non-food consumer products; franchises and services quick service restaurants; and distributes electronic components. Additionally, it retails automobiles; furniture, bedding, and accessories; household appliances, electronics, and floor coverings; watches, home decor and repair services; sells kitchenware; and motorcycle clothing and equipment. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
Berkshire Hathaway price performance over time
Historical closes compared with the last close of US$521.8
| 1 week (2026-07-31) | 2.01% |
|---|---|
| 1 month (2026-07-08) | 5.46% |
| 3 months (2026-05-08) | 9.64% |
| 6 months (2026-02-06) | 2.70% |
| 1 year (2025-08-08) | 12.12% |
|---|---|
| 2 years (2024-08-08) | 20.92% |
| 3 years (2023-08-08) | 43.46% |
| 5 years (2021-08-06) | 82.68% |
Is it a good time to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock?
The technical analysis gauge below displays real-time ratings for the timeframes you select. However, this is not a recommendation. It represents a technical analysis based on the most popular technical indicators: Moving Averages, Oscillators and Pivots. Finder might not concur and takes no responsibility.
Berkshire Hathaway share price volatility
Over the last 12 months, Berkshire Hathaway's shares have ranged in value from as little as US$455.19 up to US$516.85. A popular way to gauge a stock's volatility is its "beta".
Beta measures a share's volatility in relation to the market. The market ( average) beta is 1, while Berkshire Hathaway's is 0.607. This would suggest that Berkshire Hathaway's shares are less volatile than average (for this exchange).
Berkshire Hathaway financials
| Revenue TTM | US$375.4 billion |
|---|---|
| Operating margin TTM | 14.35% |
| Gross profit TTM | US$104.3 billion |
| Return on assets TTM | 5.39% |
| Return on equity TTM | 10.5% |
| Profit margin | 19.31% |
| Book value | 505559.44 |
| Market capitalisation | US$1.1 trillion |
| EBITDA | US$118 billion |
TTM: trailing 12 months
Berkshire Hathaway share dividends
We're not expecting Berkshire Hathaway to pay a dividend over the next 12 months.
Have Berkshire Hathaway's shares ever split?
Berkshire Hathaway's shares were split on a 50:1 basis on 21 January 2010. So if you had owned 1 share the day before the split, the next day you would own 50 shares. This wouldn't directly have changed the overall worth of your Berkshire Hathaway shares - just the quantity. However, indirectly, the new 98% lower share price could have impacted the market appetite for Berkshire Hathaway shares which in turn could have impacted Berkshire Hathaway's share price.
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