What is the Symbol for GEICO Stock and Why Isn't It Traded Publicly?

Decoding the Geico Stock Symbol: A Lesson in Corporate History

When investors search for the GEICO stock symbol, they are often surprised to discover that the beloved insurer of the Gecko fame does not have its own independent ticker symbol on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) or NASDAQ.

The Historical Evolution of GEICO

Founded in 1936 by Leo and Lillian Goodwin as the Government Employees Insurance Company, GEICO initially went public to fuel its expansion. For decades, it traded under its own corporate identity. However, after near-bankruptcy in the mid-1970s—largely averted by legendary investor Benjamin Graham—the company caught the eye of Warren Buffett.

Buffett's conglomerate, Berkshire Hathaway, began acquiring shares in GEICO in 1976, eventually purchasing the entire company outright in 1996. Upon the completion of this acquisition, GEICO was delisted from the stock exchange, officially retiring its historical ticker symbol.

How to Invest in GEICO Today

Because GEICO is a wholly-owned private subsidiary, retail investors cannot buy shares of "GEICO." Instead, to invest in GEICO's financial performance, shareholders must purchase stock in its parent company, Berkshire Hathaway, which trades under the ticker symbols BRK.A (Class A) and BRK.B (Class B).