So, you’ve probably seen that eye-popping number on your finance app. You’re looking at Berkshire Hathaway’s Class A shares, often just called BRK.A stock, and the price isn't a typo. It’s sitting somewhere north of $740,000 per share as of early 2026. Yes, for one single share.
Honestly, it feels a bit like a glitch in the Matrix. Most "expensive" stocks like Apple or Nvidia trade for a few hundred bucks, or maybe a couple thousand if they’re feeling spicy. But Warren Buffett—the "Oracle of Omaha" himself—has famously refused to split the Class A shares for decades. Why? Because he wants "partners," not "speculators." He basically designed this stock to be the ultimate filter. If you can afford a share, you're likely in it for the long haul.
What is BRK.A Stock Exactly?
At its core, BRK.A is the original common stock of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. When you buy it, you aren't just betting on a ticker symbol; you're buying a massive slice of a conglomerate that owns everything from GEICO and Duracell to Dairy Queen and major railroads like BNSF.
It’s a behemoth.
The history here is kinda wild. Back in 1962, when Buffett started buying into Berkshire (which was actually a failing textile mill at the time), the stock was trading for around $7.50. He eventually took control, ditched the textiles, and turned it into an insurance-fueled investment vehicle.
By never splitting the stock, the price just kept compounding. $100 became $1,000. $1,000 became $100,000. And now, well, it's the price of a luxury condo in most cities.
The "A" vs. "B" Drama: Why Two Classes?
You might be wondering, "If it's so expensive, how does anyone else own it?"
That's where BRK.B comes in. In the mid-90s, some clever investment managers were trying to set up "unit trusts" that would let small investors buy "slivers" of a Class A share. Buffett hated this. He thought these managers would charge high fees to people who didn't know better.
So, in 1996, he created the Class B shares (often called "Baby Berkshires").
- The Ratio: One share of BRK.A can be converted into 1,500 shares of BRK.B.
- The One-Way Street: You can turn your "A" into "B" anytime you want. But you cannot turn your "B" into "A."
- Voting Power: This is where the real hierarchy shows up. Class A shares have "full" voting rights. Class B shares only have 1/10,000th of the voting power of a Class A share.
Basically, if you want to actually have a say in how the company is run, you need the A. If you just want the economic growth, the B is perfectly fine for us mere mortals.
Why People Actually Buy BRK.A
It’s not just for bragging rights, though let’s be real, owning a $750,000 stock certificate is a major flex. There are some legitimate structural reasons why big-money players stick with the A shares.
For one, the bid-ask spread can sometimes be tighter in percentage terms for the big shares, though they are much less "liquid" (fewer people are buying and selling them every second). Also, for massive institutional investors, managing a few thousand "A" shares is sometimes cleaner than managing millions of "B" shares.
There's also a tax angle. Since Class A shares are convertible to Class B, a wealthy investor can hold Class A for decades, and then, if they want to gift money to family or a charity, they can convert a small portion into Class B shares to stay under certain tax thresholds. It’s a very elegant way to manage a massive fortune without triggering a giant "sell" event that would alert the IRS.
The 2026 Reality: Life After the Oracle
We’re at a pivot point. With the news recently focusing on the post-Buffett era—Greg Abel is now firmly at the helm of operations—the question is whether the "no-split" rule will survive.
Most analysts, including folks like Greggory Warren at Morningstar, think the culture is so baked in that we won't see a Class A split anytime soon. The high price is a badge of honor. It signals that Berkshire is a "fortress" company. Even with the recent acquisition of OxyChem in early January 2026, the strategy remains the same: buy cash-flowing businesses and hold them until the sun burns out.
Can You Buy a Fraction of an A Share?
In the old days, the answer was a hard "no." You either had the cash or you didn't.
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Today, things are a bit different thanks to fintech. Apps like Fidelity or Charles Schwab allow fractional trading. You could technically put $100 into "BRK.A."
But honestly? Most experts will tell you it's a bit silly.
If you're investing $1,000, you're better off buying two shares of BRK.B (which trades around **$490–$500** lately). You get the same economic exposure, more liquidity, and you don't have to deal with the weirdness of owning 0.00013 of a share.
What You Get at the "Woodstock for Capitalists"
One of the coolest perks of owning either A or B shares is the annual meeting in Omaha. It’s a pilgrimage.
If you own just one share of BRK.B, you can get up to four credentials to get into the meeting. You get to hear the leadership talk for six hours, you get discounts on See’s Candies and Brooks running shoes in the exhibit hall, and you get to hang out with 40,000 other people who are obsessed with compounding interest.
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Actionable Insights for Your Portfolio
If you're looking at Berkshire as an investment, here’s the ground truth:
- Check Your Time Horizon: Berkshire isn't a "get rich quick" tech play. It’s a "don't get poor" value play. If you need the money in six months, look elsewhere.
- A vs. B Choice: Unless you are managing a multi-million dollar estate, buy the BRK.B. It is more flexible. If you need $10,000 for a car repair, you can sell a few shares of B. If you only own one share of A, you have to sell the whole $740,000 share just to get that $10k.
- Watch the "Price to Book": Historically, Buffett liked to buy back stock when it traded near 1.2x its book value. While they've relaxed that rule, looking at the P/B ratio is still a better way to judge Berkshire than just looking at the price tag.
- Estate Planning: If you are lucky enough to own Class A, remember the conversion feature is your best friend for gifting.
The "A" share remains a monument to the idea that patience pays off. It's a reminder that a few hundred dollars, left alone for sixty years in the hands of the right managers, can turn into a literal fortune.
Don't let the high price scare you off the company itself. Berkshire is basically a self-cleansing mutual fund that doesn't charge you a management fee. That's a rare find in any market.