How to buy Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) stock from Canada

Nikita Sheth avatar
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Andrew Boyd avatar
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Updated 12 Oct 2023

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.B), first made Class B stocks available to investors in 1996. Buffett, otherwise known as "The Oracle of Omaha," has a reputation as the most successful value investor in the world, with returns consistently exceeding the S&P 500 index for more than 50 years.

Fortunately, you can capitalize on Berkshire Hathaway’s success by buying and trading the company’s stock. This brief guide gives you everything you need to know about buying Berkshire Hathaway stock from Canada.

About the company

Berkshire Hathaway overview

Founded in 1839, with offices in Omaha, NE, Berkshire Hathaway has a legacy that stretches back nearly two centuries. The current CEO, Warren Buffett, has spent the last 50 years as the CEO of the company. Over the years, Buffet developed a reputation as the best value investor in the world.

Berkshire Hathaway has controlling interests in many companies, and it’s a solid blue-chip large-cap company with hundreds of billions in earnings.

Unsure about what trading platform to use?

Where to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock

Qtrade Direct Investing™

On website

Apply by October 31, 2025

Qtrade Direct Investing™

Highlights

  • Low trading fees with no hidden costs and consistently competitive pricing across Canadian markets.
  • Clean and intuitive platform with robust tools for stock screening, charting, and portfolio tracking.
  • Trade on the go with the new Qtrade app, featuring options trading, portfolio insights, alerts, and a sleeker design.
  • Options Lab simplifies complex strategies into step-by-step guided selections.
  • Stay informed with a personalized AI-powered newsfeed through Qtrade’s integration with PersonaFin.
  • Known for award-winning customer service that follows through when you need help.

Pros

  • Consistently low trading commissions make it a smart choice for long-term investors and active traders alike.
  • Well-designed desktop and mobile platforms offer both simplicity for beginners and depth for experienced investors.
  • The Options Lab tool demystifies options trading with tailored strategy recommendations.
  • Access to a wide selection of ETFs, stocks, mutual funds, and fixed income products in one place.
  • Strong research tools including screeners, watchlists, and analyst ratings help users make more confident decisions.
  • Responsive and knowledgeable client service, often ranked among the best in Canada.

Cons

  • $25 quarterly fee applies if you don’t maintain a minimum balance or meet trading activity — but this can be waived easily with regular use.
  • No commission-free ETF trading unlike some competitors.
  • While robust, the mobile app may still lack some advanced features.
CIBC Investor's Edge

Not available for application via this website

CIBC Investor's Edge

Highlights

  • Trade Canadian and U.S. stocks online for a flat $6.95 per trade — with no account minimums.
  • Students benefit from a reduced $5.95 flat fee and no annual account fees.
  • Access both registered (RRSP, TFSA) and non-registered accounts in one place.
  • Research tools include analyst ratings, stock screeners, and market news powered by Thomson Reuters.

Pros

  • Backed by one of Canada’s Big Five banks, with integrated banking and investing through your CIBC account.
  • Easy-to-use platform suitable for long-term investors who want a simple, self-directed option.
  • Joint accounts, spousal RRSPs, and RESP accounts are available, giving flexibility for families.
  • Dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) are supported with no extra charge.
  • CIBC Mobile Wealth app makes it easy to monitor your portfolio on the go.
  • No inactivity fees, which is rare among bank-owned brokerages.

Cons

  • No access to commission-free ETFs, which some other platforms now offer.
  • Trading platform lacks advanced charting and technical tools for active traders.
  • U.S. dollar accounts are not available for all account types, so currency conversion fees can add up.
Questrade

On website

Highlights

  • Trade stocks, ETFs, options, and more with low commissions starting at 1¢ per share (min. $4.95, max. $9.95).
  • No annual RRSP or TFSA account fees.
  • Wide range of account types, including registered, non-registered, corporate, and margin accounts.
  • Buy ETFs commission-free, which helps reduce costs for passive investors.
  • Robust research tools, market data packages, and customizable trading platforms.
  • Fund your account easily with Interac e-Transfer, bank transfer, or pre-authorized deposit.

Pros

  • One of the most cost-effective platforms in Canada for self-directed investors.
  • Buying ETFs for free makes it highly appealing for those following long-term, passive strategies.
  • Flexible platform options. From easy-to-use Questrade Trading to the more advanced Questrade Edge.
  • Offers both USD and CAD accounts, so you can avoid currency conversion fees when trading U.S. stocks.
  • Access to IPOs and international equities gives investors more diversification opportunities.
  • Educational resources and real-time market data packages help users trade with more confidence.
  • Registered with IIROC and CIPF, ensuring regulation and investor protection.

Cons

  • Charges apply when selling ETFs.
  • Currency conversion fees can still apply if you're not using a dual-currency setup.
  • Some of the more advanced data packages cost extra, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious users.

Compare online trading platforms to find one that suits your requirements for costs, tradable assets, and more.

First time buying?

How to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock

Step 1: Choose a broker

In order to buy Berkshire Hathaway stock, you’ll need to open a trading account with a discount broker. There are dozens of brokers in Canada and hundreds of offshore broker options.

While selecting your broker, compare their product offerings. Not all brokers are the same, and they vary in fees, platforms, and other factors. Here are the key features to look for in a prospective broker.

Fractional stock

Rather than having to buy a whole share, many platforms now allow you to buy a fraction of a share. This is very useful when investing in stocks that are expensive since you can invest whatever you can afford in any share you want, regardless of its price.

Trading platforms

Your broker gives you access to a trading platform, but what these platforms can do differs between brokers. They all offer the basic features of buying and selling stock with multiple order types available. Many brokers also offer you the option of plugging in a third-party trading platform, like Sterling Pro or DAS Trader.

Commission structure

There is no reason for you to pay commissions on your trades since many brokers have moved to a commission-free model. For frequent traders, commissions can take up a large percentage of profits, making it challenging to grow a small account.

Cash and margin accounts

Your broker will offer you a cash or margin account when you sign up. A cash account only lets you trade your available fund balance. You’ll also have to wait for the broker's clearinghouse to process the transaction after you exit your trade in order to see the funds in your account.

A margin account resolves this issue for day traders. By accessing margin accounts, the broker lets you “leverage” your trades by a certain amount. For example, if you had 3x leverage with $300 in your account, you can use it to buy up to $900 worth of stock.

Note that trading on margin is inherently riskier and not advisable for inexperienced traders.

Real-time market data feeds

Price quotes on standard trading platform are delayed by up to 15 minutes. You can get access to real-time market data for asset pricing, but you’ll need to pay an extra fee.

If you’re day trading, then real-time data is critical to your success. Delayed quotes are the better choice for swing traders or value investors.

Step 2: Funding your account

After setting up your broker account, it’s time to deposit some funds and start trading. Most discount brokers accept deposits using bank transfers or debit cards.

However, it’s important to note that it might take the broker some time to credit your trading account with your first deposit.

Step 3: Decide your investment amount

When you fund your trading account, make sure you do it with money you can afford to lose. Depositing everything you have into your trading account is risky. Stocks are inherently volatile. What if you have to handle a financial emergency? You don’t want to be forced to sell your stock to fund an emergency, especially if the market is down that day. You could end up missing an opportunity or locking in a loss.

Step 4: Choose between stock or an ETF

Berkshire Hathaway stock is available to purchase on the market as a standalone stock. However, many ETF products hold BRK.B shares, such as the iShares Russell Top 200 Value ETF (IWX), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO), and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY).

Buying an ETF not only gives you exposure to Berkshire Hathaway stock, but it also gives you ownership of many others that can help to spread out the risk in the ETF.

Step 5: Set up your order

After setting up your account, it’s time to take a look at the different order types available. Below are the four most common order types used in trading.

Market order

This order buys Berkshire Hathaway stock at the price quoted when you submit your order. Unfortunately, you could end up filling above your target entry price, otherwise known as “slippage,” as the market could move between order entry and execution.

Limit order

This order means you are setting the price you are prepared to pay for Berkshire Hathaway's stock. For example, you place a limit order to buy at US$100. The broker can only fill this order at the price you submitted, and not a cent more.

If you’re trading in fast-moving markets, the downside of using limit orders is that the price action might surge past your entry, and the broker doesn’t fill your order, or you only get a partial fill.

Stop limit

This order will sell when the stock reaches a certain price. For instance, you set a stop limit order to sell at US$200, and the order only executes at this price.

Stop loss

This risk management tool helps you exit a position automatically. You base your stop loss on your risk tolerance. For example, if you buy the stock at US$100, you could set your stop loss to US$90. If the price drops to US$90, the broker automatically sells your position so you don’t risk more than US$10 of downside.

Step 6: Place the order

After opening and funding your account, it’s time to place your first trade. Enter the stock ticker (BRK.B), the number of shares you want to buy, and your market or limit order price. Click the “Buy” button to buy your shares in Berkshire Hathaway.

After you buy

What moves Berkshire Hathaway's stock price

Berkshire Hathaway is a large-cap and a slow-moving stock. If you want to trade volatility in price action, it’s best to trade the stock on earnings reports when the market has the greatest volatility.

If you’re day trading, it’s best not to leave your trading platform while you are in the trade. Stay at your seat until you either reach your price target or get out of the trade with a loss. Another way to manage this is to put in a stop limit or stop loss order, so you can be assured your trade will execute in the event you are away.

Disclaimer: We put our customer’s needs first. The views expressed in this article are those of the writer’s alone and do not constitute financial advice. Advertisers cannot influence editorial content. However, Finty and/or the writer may have a financial interest in the companies mentioned. Finty is committed to providing factual, honest, and accurate information that is compliant with governing laws and regulations. Do your own due diligence and seek professional advice before deciding to invest in one of the products mentioned. For more information, see Finty’s editorial guidelines and terms and conditions.

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