You've probably seen the headlines. For decades, the Berkshire Hathaway name was synonymous with one person: Warren Buffett. But as of January 1, 2026, the era of "Buffett as CEO" has officially ended. Greg Abel is now the man in the driver's seat.
It's a weird time for the company.
Some people are panicking. They think the "magic" is gone. Others see it as a fresh start for a company that was, frankly, getting a little too big for its own boots. If you’re looking at the stock symbol for berkshire hathaway b, you’re looking at the most accessible way for a regular person to own a piece of this massive American engine.
But honestly? Most people buy this ticker without actually knowing what they own.
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The "Baby Berkshire" Basics
First off, let’s clear up the ticker soup. You have BRK.A and you have BRK.B.
If you want the A shares, you’d better have a house-sized pile of cash sitting around. As of mid-January 2026, a single share of BRK.A is trading north of $740,000. It’s basically a collectible for the ultra-wealthy.
Then you have the stock symbol for berkshire hathaway b (BRK.B). It’s currently trading around $494.
Why the massive gap? Buffett famously refused to split the Class A stock. He wanted to attract long-term "partners," not day traders looking for a quick buck. But by 1996, he realized that people were creating "unit trusts" to sell slices of Berkshire to smaller investors—and charging high fees to do it.
To kill that industry, he created the B shares.
In 2010, the B shares split 50-for-1 to help fund the acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway. That’s why today, one share of BRK.B represents exactly 1/1,500th of a Class A share.
What are you actually buying?
When you buy the stock symbol for berkshire hathaway b, you aren't just buying a "stock." You're buying a conglomerate that basically functions like a mini-S&P 500, but without the "junk" companies.
It’s a two-headed beast.
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The Operating Businesses
About half of the value comes from companies Berkshire owns outright. We’re talking about:
- GEICO: The insurance giant that provides the "float" (extra cash) Berkshire uses to invest.
- BNSF Railway: One of the largest freight railroad networks in North America.
- Berkshire Hathaway Energy: A massive utility business that Greg Abel actually ran before becoming CEO.
- Manufacturing and Retail: Everything from Dairy Queen and See’s Candies to Duracell and Fruit of the Loom.
The Investment Portfolio
The other half is the stuff you see in the news—the stocks. As of early 2026, the portfolio is still dominated by a few heavy hitters, though the mix is shifting. Apple (AAPL) remains a cornerstone, even though they trimmed the position recently. American Express (AXP), Coca-Cola (KO), and Bank of America (BAC) are the other "big three."
Interestingly, under the new regime, we’re seeing a bit more movement. There’s a record cash pile of nearly $382 billion just sitting there. That’s more than the entire market cap of some major tech companies.
The Greg Abel Factor: What's Changing?
Investors are obsessed with the "post-Buffett" world.
Here’s the thing: Buffett is still the Chairman. He’s 95 years old, but he’s still in the building. However, Greg Abel is the guy making the day-to-day operational decisions now.
Abel isn't a stock picker. He’s an operations guy.
He likes to get his hands dirty with the subsidiaries. While Buffett was famous for his "hands-off" approach—basically letting managers do whatever they wanted as long as they sent the cash to Omaha—Abel is expected to be more involved.
Some analysts think this might actually be a good thing. Large conglomerates can get bloated. A more active manager might find ways to make BNSF or GEICO run leaner.
Why the B Shares Still Matter in 2026
If you're looking at the stock symbol for berkshire hathaway b today, you're seeing a stock that has been a bit "soft" lately. It's down slightly over the last month, hovering around that $494 mark.
But look at the 5-year return. It’s up over 110%.
The main reason to hold BRK.B right now isn't for a 20% jump in a week. It’s because it’s a defensive fortress. With $380 billion in cash, Berkshire is the ultimate "rainy day" stock. If the market crashes, they are the only ones with the wallet big enough to go shopping for bargains.
A Few Nuances Most People Miss:
- No Dividends: Berkshire has never paid a dividend. They won't start now. They believe they can grow your money better by reinvesting it than by sending you a check.
- The Gift Tax Trick: Because the B shares are relatively "cheap" compared to the A shares, they are a favorite for estate planning. You can gift up to $19,000 worth of shares (as of 2025/2026 rules) to family members without hitting the gift tax.
- One-Way Conversion: If you own Class A, you can turn it into 1,500 Class B shares anytime. But if you own Class B, you can't turn it into Class A. You have to sell and buy.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re thinking about adding the stock symbol for berkshire hathaway b to your portfolio, don't just treat it like an index fund. It’s a bet on Greg Abel’s ability to manage a massive machine and the "Oracle's" legacy of disciplined capital allocation.
Watch the 13F filings in February. That will be the first real look at what the portfolio looks like without Buffett as CEO.
Check the "Price to Book" ratio. Historically, Berkshire would buy back its own shares when the price got close to 1.2x book value. They haven't done much buyback lately because the stock has been trading at a premium, but if it dips, that’s your signal.
Don't wait for a dividend. If you need income, this isn't the stock for you. You have to be okay with the "compounding machine" philosophy.
Basically, buying BRK.B is like buying a fortress. It might not be the fastest-moving thing in your portfolio, but it’s usually the last one standing when things get ugly.
Next Step for You: Review your current portfolio allocation. If you’re heavily weighted in tech, Berkshire (which is roughly 50% "old economy" businesses like railroads and utilities) serves as a solid counter-balance. Look for the next earnings report in early May, coincide with the legendary "Woodstock for Capitalists" annual meeting in Omaha.