Will Berkshire Hathaway's retail stock price bring retail investors?
Filed under: Company News, Investing, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola Company, Berkshire Hathaway, Wal-Mart Stores, Wells Fargo & Co.
For years, the price of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)'s Class A and Class B common stock has been priced out of the range of what most retail investors can afford. A share of the less expensive of the two classes, the B, trades at about $3,300.
Berkshire, run by Warren Buffett, announced on Tuesday that its Board of Directors approved a 50-for-1 split of its Class B Common Stock. The transaction still has to be approved by shareholders, but that's nearly a sure thing.
Will smaller investors want to join Warren Buffett as a Berkshire owner, if shares are on sale for $60 or $70? Absolutely.
Even though the value of Berkshire's shares has risen less briskly in the last two years than it has since the company was founded, Buffett is still the most famous investor in the world -- and the world's second wealthiest, according to Forbes's analysis.
Berkshire stock is not only a way to invest with one of the most famous financiers in history, it's also a way to own the equivalent of a mutual fund of top-notch companies. Berkshire will own Burlington Northern (BNI), which it has just announced it will take over. The conglomerate also owns big pieces of Wal-Mart (WMT), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Wells Fargo (WFC), and Coca-Cola (KO).
The huge majority of investors in America would give a lot to shake Buffett's hand. But if they can't, at least a piece of his company may soon be within their reach.
Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-05-2009 @ 7:26AM
Glenn said...
Has there ever been a move that proved the stock market is topping (and probably for many years to come) than this split? When one of the most prolific investors in history changes how he conducts business, then you be the judge of his motives! Buffett didn't become "Buffett" by acts of altruism...........he became immensely wealthy because he was ruthless in his business deals (and in the devistating consequences his takeover deals had those companies average workers)! If you doubt this then read his autobiography!
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