# Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock (BRK-B)

16 Hacker News commenters recommended Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock (BRK-B) and 3 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 5 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Recommended as a diversified stock less tied to tech than the S&P 500. Critics say returns track the S&P 500 and have lagged since Buffett's retirement.

## Why people recommend it

- Diversifies away from tech (3 comments): "It offers enough diversification off the "total market" funds for me that I invest a small but material portion" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46449784)) "It's a solid alternative if you distrust tech which is today very heavy in the SP500." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46195284)) "relatively diversified, kinda mirrors the greater market, and doesn't pay dividends" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46195923))
- Hedge against downturns and overheating (3 comments): "I expect it to underperform the market on average (but also be a very good hedge in case of big downturn)." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49758302)) "BRK-B would soften the blow as Value stocks tend to do well in such times." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48428597)) "it's an opportunity to invest into something that might not be overheated" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49072526))
- Strong long-term returns versus index (3 comments): "all I did was buy BRK.B like a decade ago and it's up 172% or something like that." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46167430)) "BRK will stay a better long term bet than an index fund" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49757265)) "they've done a fair bit better than the S&P 500" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48891905))

## What people warn about

- Returns no better than S&P 500 (4 comments): "The only reason BRK kept up with SP500 over the last 10 years is because of its outsized investment in Apple in 2016 or so" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46195400)) "It's actually slowing down over the last 50 years. I predict will be equal or less the S&P 500 for the next two decades." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49764617)) "I expect it to underperform the market on average (but also be a very good hedge in case of big downturn)." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49758302))
- Lagging since Buffett's retirement (2 comments): "Hasn't done so great since Buffett announced his retirement." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49758458)) "BRK has been roughly flat since the beginning of 2025" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49072381))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Tesla stock](https://hackerapproved.com/p/tesla-stock.md): 5 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock (BRK-B)", https://hackerapproved.com/p/berkshire-hathaway-stock/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).