Berkshire Hathaway’s Class A shares are famous for having the highest per-share price on the New York Stock Exchange.
Berkshire Hathaway’s Class A stock has never undergone a conventional stock split, allowing its per-share price to rise into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The company’s policy reflects Warren Buffett’s preference for attracting long-term investors and limiting short-term trading in the original share class.
Berkshire created Class B shares in 1996 to make ownership more accessible. Class B shares represent a much smaller economic interest and carry fewer voting rights, but they track the same underlying business. Investors commonly use Class B shares when they want Berkshire exposure without purchasing a Class A share.
Berkshire’s market capitalization is determined by the value of all its outstanding share classes, not simply the price of one Class A share. Its businesses include insurance, railroads, utilities, manufacturing, and large publicly traded investments.