Berkshire Hathaway B Stock Quote: What Most People Get Wrong

You’ve seen the ticker. BRK.B. It’s the stock that sits in nearly every major index fund and the one that investors check when they want to see how "The Oracle" is doing. But looking at a berkshire hathaway b stock quote isn't just about watching a number flicker on a screen.

Honestly, it’s about a massive machine.

As of mid-January 2026, the price is hovering around $494.72. It’s been a bit of a bumpy ride lately. Just a few weeks ago, it was flirting with the $500 mark, but we’ve seen a slight dip of about 0.7% in the last few trading sessions.

Some people panic when they see red. Don't.

This isn't your typical tech stock that lives or dies by a single software launch. This is a collection of insurance companies, railroads, energy utilities, and a massive pile of Apple shares. When you look at the quote, you’re looking at the health of the American economy, more or less.

Why the B Shares Exist Anyway

Warren Buffett didn't always want a "cheaper" stock. For years, he resisted. He wanted people who were in it for the long haul, not folks looking to make a quick buck on a Friday afternoon.

But the Class A shares (BRK.A) became... well, expensive. Like, "buy a literal mansion" expensive. Right now, those A shares are trading around $742,000. Each.

In 1996, Buffett finally gave in and created the Class B shares. He wanted to stop investment managers from creating "units" of Berkshire and selling them to retail investors with high fees. So, he cut them off at the pass by issuing the B shares himself.

The 1/1,500th Rule

Basically, one Class B share represents 1/1,500th of the economic interest of a Class A share. If the A shares go up 10%, the B shares should, in theory, go up 10%.

But there’s a catch.

Voting rights aren't equal. A Class B share only has 1/10,000th of the voting power. If you’re looking to stage a boardroom coup, you’re going to need a lot of B shares. If you’re just trying to grow your retirement account? It doesn't really matter.

Also, you can convert A to B, but you can’t go backwards. It’s a one-way street. If you happen to have a spare $740k lying around and buy an A share, you can swap it for 1,500 B shares anytime. But you can't gather up 1,500 B shares and turn them into an A.

The 2026 Greg Abel Transition

We have to talk about the elephant in the room. Or rather, the elephant that isn't in the room anymore.

Greg Abel officially took over as CEO on January 1, 2026. This is the biggest leadership change in the company's history. For decades, the berkshire hathaway b stock quote was inseparable from Warren Buffett’s personal brand.

Now? The market is still figuring out how to price "Abel-era" Berkshire.

The transition has been surprisingly smooth, mostly because Buffett spent about fifteen years prepping for it. Greg Abel has been running the energy side of the business forever. He knows the plumbing. But investors are still eagle-eyed. They’re watching for any shift in how the company spends its massive cash pile—which, by the way, is still enormous even after the $9.7 billion OxyChem acquisition earlier this month.

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What’s Actually Under the Hood?

When you check the quote, you aren't just betting on a manager. You’re betting on a portfolio.

Berkshire's equity holdings have shifted significantly over the last two years. They’ve been net sellers of stock for three years straight. That tells you something about how Buffett and Abel view the broader market's valuation.

Here is what the heavy hitters in the portfolio look like right now:

• Apple (AAPL): Still the king, though they’ve trimmed it significantly. It makes up about 20% of the invested assets.
• American Express (AXP): This has been a monster performer. It’s now nearly 18.2% of the portfolio.
• Bank of America (BAC): They’ve been paring this down lately, selling off over 400 million shares since mid-2024.
• Coca-Cola (KO): The classic. They’ve owned this since the late 80s. The dividend yield on their original cost is basically a money printer at this point.
• Chubb (CB): The "mystery stock" from a couple of years back. It’s now a core pillar of their insurance segment.

Understanding the Volatility

Is BRK.B volatile? Sorta.

Compared to a biotech startup or an AI chipmaker? No. It’s a rock.

Compared to a Treasury bond? Yeah, it moves.

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In the last 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $454 and $542. If you bought at the high last May, you’re down a bit. If you’ve held for five years, you’re laughing.

The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio can look weird on your brokerage app. Sometimes it says 0.01, sometimes it’s 20. That’s because of an accounting rule (GAAP) that requires Berkshire to report "unrealized gains" in their earnings.

If Apple’s stock price goes up, Berkshire's "earnings" look massive. If Apple goes down, Berkshire looks like it’s losing billions.

Ignore that. Buffett has always said to look at "operating earnings." That’s the money the businesses (like Geico and BNSF Railway) actually make from selling products and services. That number is much more stable than the daily swings of the stock market.

The "No Dividend" Problem

One thing that confuses new investors is that Berkshire Hathaway doesn't pay a dividend. Not a cent.

They haven't paid one since a single 10-cent dividend in 1967 (which Buffett jokingly says he must have been in the bathroom when it was authorized).

Why? Because they think they can use that dollar better than you can.

If they give you a dollar, you have to pay taxes on it. If they keep it and reinvest it into a new company like OxyChem or use it to buy back their own shares, the value of your B share goes up without a tax hit. It’s the ultimate compound interest machine.

Actionable Insights for Investors

If you’re staring at the berkshire hathaway b stock quote and wondering whether to hit the "buy" button, consider these factors:

1. Check the Price-to-Book: Historically, Buffett liked to buy back shares when the price was around 1.2 times book value. While they’ve moved away from a hard rule, looking at the book value per share gives you a "floor" for the stock's worth.
2. Leadership Stability: Greg Abel is the guy now. Watch his first few quarterly letters. If the tone remains disciplined and the capital allocation stays boring, that’s usually a good sign for long-term holders.
3. The Cash Hoard: Berkshire is currently sitting on a mountain of cash. They are waiting for a market crash or a massive "elephant" to buy. If the market stays expensive, they’ll keep waiting.
4. The S&P 500 Correlation: Because Berkshire is so big, it often moves with the broader market. If you already own an S&P 500 index fund, you already own a lot of Berkshire. Buying more B shares is a way to "overweight" your portfolio toward value and insurance.

Stop checking the price every ten minutes. Berkshire wasn't built in a day, and your returns won't be either. It’s a "get rich slowly" stock.

The current dip below $500 might look like a discount to some, while others see it as a sign of a slowing economy. Honestly? It's probably just the market being the market. Stay focused on the underlying businesses, not the flickering green and red lights on your phone.

Keep an eye on the upcoming annual meeting in May. That will be the first big test for Abel to see if he can maintain the "Woodstock for Capitalists" vibe without the founder at the helm. It’ll be different, sure, but the math behind the companies stays the same.