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7+ Companies With a Dual Share Class

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Written By
Dan Buckley
Contributor Image
Written By
Dan Buckley
Dan Buckley is an US-based trader, consultant, and part-time writer with a background in macroeconomics and mathematical finance. He trades and writes about a variety of asset classes, including equities, fixed income, commodities, currencies, and interest rates. As a writer, his goal is to explain trading and finance concepts in levels of detail that could appeal to a range of audiences, from novice traders to those with more experienced backgrounds.
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Updated
Oct 2, 2023

Several companies have dual or multiple share classes.

Here are some notable examples:

GOOG vs. GOOGL

Alphabet Inc. (formerly Google Inc.) has two publicly traded share classes.

GOOG represents Class C shares (no voting rights), while GOOGL represents Class A shares (one vote per share).

BRK.A vs. BRK.B

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has two share classes.

BRK.A represents Class A shares, which have more voting rights and are much more expensive.

BRK.B represents Class B shares, which have fewer voting rights and are more affordable.

META (formerly FB)

Facebook, Inc. (now known as Meta Platforms, Inc.) has Class A and Class B shares.

META represents Class A shares (one vote per share), while Class B shares, which are not publicly traded, have 10 votes per share.

NWSA vs. NWS

News Corp has two share classes.

NWSA represents Class A shares (no voting rights), while NWS represents Class B shares (one vote per share).

LBTYA vs. LBTYK

Liberty Global plc has multiple share classes.

LBTYA represents Class A shares.

LBTYK represents Class C shares (no voting rights).

VIACA vs. VIAC

ViacomCBS Inc. has two share classes.

VIACA represents Class A shares (one vote per share).

VIAC represents Class B shares (no voting rights).

UA vs. UAA

Under Armour, Inc. has two share classes.

UA represents Class C shares (no voting rights).

UAA represents Class A shares (one vote per share).

FOX vs. FOXA

Fox Corporation has two share classes.

FOX represents Class B shares (one vote per share).

FOXA represents Class A shares (no voting rights).

 

FAQ – Dual Share Class

Why do some companies have dual share classes?

Some companies have dual share classes to maintain control and decision-making power within the founding team or certain shareholders, while still raising capital.

This structure allows different voting rights for different classes, ensuring that strategic decisions remain with core stakeholders even as new investors come in.

Many companies want to go public for fundraising purposes but don’t want the company controlled by an outside investor, especially one that is less knowledgeable about what the best decisions are.