BRT, often used to represent Berkshire Hathaway’s Class B shares (BRK.B), is a widely tracked symbol on Google Finance and other financial platforms. Understanding its significance requires knowing what Berkshire Hathaway is and why its performance matters to investors.
Berkshire Hathaway, led by the legendary investor Warren Buffett, is a multinational conglomerate holding company. It owns a diverse range of businesses, spanning insurance (GEICO), railroads (BNSF Railway), energy (Berkshire Hathaway Energy), manufacturing (Precision Castparts), and retail (Dairy Queen, See’s Candies). Beyond wholly-owned subsidiaries, Berkshire also holds significant minority stakes in publicly traded companies like Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express.
The “BRT” that you see on Google Finance usually refers to the ticker symbol BRK.B. Berkshire Hathaway initially offered only Class A shares (BRK.A), which were famously expensive, trading for hundreds of thousands of dollars per share. This high price made it inaccessible to many individual investors. In 1996, Berkshire Hathaway created Class B shares (BRK.B) to make the stock more accessible. Class B shares have fewer voting rights than Class A shares and a smaller claim on Berkshire’s earnings, but they trade at a significantly lower price point.
Tracking BRK.B (or the misrepresented “BRT” on Google Finance) provides a broad overview of the overall health and performance of the U.S. economy. Because Berkshire Hathaway’s operations are so diversified across various sectors, its stock performance is often seen as a barometer of the American economy. Positive performance can indicate economic growth and investor confidence, while negative performance may suggest economic headwinds.
Google Finance offers various tools for tracking BRK.B’s performance. You can view historical price data, track intraday price movements, analyze financial charts, and access news related to Berkshire Hathaway. The platform also provides key financial ratios, such as price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio and earnings per share (EPS), which can be used to assess the company’s valuation. Furthermore, Google Finance often aggregates news articles and analysis from various sources, providing investors with a comprehensive view of market sentiment surrounding Berkshire Hathaway.
Investors follow Berkshire Hathaway closely due to Warren Buffett’s reputation as a value investor. His investment strategies and insights are widely respected and emulated. Analyzing Berkshire Hathaway’s stock performance and its portfolio holdings can offer valuable lessons and investment ideas. Many investors look to Berkshire’s performance as a benchmark to gauge their own investment success.
However, it is crucial to note that attributing the symbol “BRT” solely to Berkshire Hathaway’s Class B shares is not always accurate. While BRK.B is the correct ticker, some sources might incorrectly use “BRT.” Always verify the ticker symbol and company name on Google Finance to ensure you are tracking the correct security.