You’re looking for Fruit of the Loom stock. Maybe you’re nostalgic for those 90s commercials with the guys dressed as grapes, or maybe you’ve noticed the brand still absolutely dominates the underwear aisle at Walmart and Target. It feels like a safe bet, right? A classic American staple that isn't going anywhere.
But here is the thing: you can’t buy it.
If you pull up your E*TRADE or Robinhood account and type in "Fruit of the Loom," nothing happens. There is no ticker. No chart. No green or red candles flickering in real-time. That is because the company hasn't been independent for over two decades. It’s a ghost in the market, existing only as a tiny—though profitable—slice of a much larger empire.
The Day the Ticker Died
To understand what happened to Fruit of the Loom stock, you have to look back at the chaos of the late 90s. It wasn't pretty. The company was struggling under a mountain of debt, weird manufacturing choices, and some serious inventory issues. In 1999, it actually filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Then came Warren Buffett.
Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway swooped in and bought the company out of bankruptcy in 2002 for roughly $835 million in cash. It was a classic "Buffett move"—buying a distressed brand with massive name recognition for a bargain price. Because Berkshire Hathaway is a massive conglomerate, Fruit of the Loom became a wholly-owned subsidiary.
That’s why the stock "doesn't exist." When you buy a share of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A or BRK.B), you’re technically buying a piece of Fruit of the Loom, along with GEICO, Dairy Queen, and Duracell.
Is It Still a "Good" Business?
Honestly, yeah. Even though we don't see the individual financial statements for the apparel division every quarter, we know it's a cash cow. Berkshire's annual reports usually lump it into the "Manufacturing, Service and Retailing" segment.
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Think about the moat.
Most people don't think twice about buying a pack of t-shirts or boxers. They want something reliable and cheap. Fruit of the Loom owns that mental space alongside Hanes. In the world of investing, that's called brand equity. It’s hard to disrupt a company that has been a household name since the 1850s. Yes, the 1850s. It was one of the first trademarks ever registered in the United States.
The Competition is Fierce
You can't talk about Fruit of the Loom without mentioning Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI). Unlike "Fruit," Hanes is actually a publicly traded entity. If you’re looking for a pure-play investment in the "basics" apparel space, HBI is usually where investors turn.
But it hasn't been an easy ride for Hanes lately.
The apparel industry is getting hammered by shifting consumer habits. People are buying more store brands—think Amazon Essentials or Target's Goodfellow & Co. These private labels are eating the lunch of traditional giants. Because Fruit of the Loom is tucked away inside Berkshire, it has a "big brother" to protect it from the quarterly pressure that Hanes faces.
The Berkshire Hathaway Workaround
If you are dead set on owning Fruit of the Loom stock, your only path is through Berkshire Hathaway.
Now, BRK.A is currently trading for more than the price of a nice suburban house. Most people aren't doing that. But BRK.B—the "Baby Berkshire"—is accessible. It's basically a mutual fund managed by some of the smartest value investors in history.
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But you have to realize something.
When you buy Berkshire to get Fruit of the Loom, you're getting a massive insurance business and a railroad company (BNSF) too. The underwear sales are a rounding error compared to the billions flowing in from Apple dividends and insurance premiums. It's a weird way to invest in t-shirts, but it's the only way.
Why Companies Like This Go Private
Why hasn't Buffett spun it off? He almost never does.
Buffett likes "unsexy" businesses that generate consistent cash. Fruit of the Loom doesn't need to innovate like a tech company. It just needs to keep making socks and shirts. By keeping it private within the conglomerate, they save millions on the regulatory headaches of being a public company. No earnings calls. No activist investors screaming for change. Just quiet, steady sales.
There was a time when Fruit of the Loom was a high-flyer on the NYSE. In the 80s, under the leadership of William Farley, it was part of a massive industrial conglomerate called Farley Industries. It was aggressive. It was flashy. And it eventually collapsed under the weight of its own debt.
The version of the company that exists today is much leaner. They’ve focused on the core basics. They also own Russell Athletic and Vanity Fair (the lingerie brand, not the magazine), which gives them a decent footprint in team sports and department stores.
The Sustainability Problem
Investors today care about ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). Apparel manufacturing is notoriously dirty. It uses massive amounts of water and involves complex global supply chains.
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If Fruit of the Loom stock were still public today, they would be under a microscope.
They’ve made strides, though. They have their "Fruitful Futures" program, which aims for zero waste in their main facilities. Being under the Berkshire umbrella doesn't mean they're exempt from these pressures, but they have the luxury of taking a long-term view rather than worrying about the next 90 days.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often confuse Fruit of the Loom with the company that owns the "Vanity Fair" magazine. They aren't the same. The clothing brands (Vanity Fair, Lily of France, etc.) are under the Fruit of the Loom umbrella, which is under Berkshire. The magazine is owned by Condé Nast. It’s a mess of branding that often trips up casual researchers.
Another misconception? That the company is "dying."
Hardly.
In a recession, people stop buying $200 designer jeans. They don't stop buying 6-packs of cotton socks. In fact, companies like Fruit of the Loom often see a "trade-down" effect when the economy gets shaky. It’s a defensive play.
Actionable Steps for Interested Investors
If you were looking for Fruit of the Loom stock to play a specific trend in retail, you have a few options that actually exist in the market.
- Look at Hanesbrands (HBI): This is the closest competitor. It’s a high-dividend stock (usually), but it carries significantly more risk because of its debt load.
- Consider Gildan Activewear (GIL): These are the guys who make the blank t-shirts for concerts and events. They are a powerhouse in the "basics" category and are very well-managed.
- The Berkshire B-Share (BRK.B): Buy this if you want the "Buffett Seal of Approval" and don't mind that your investment is spread across a hundred different industries.
- Watch the Cotton Market: If you want to understand the health of Fruit of the Loom, watch cotton futures. When the price of raw cotton spikes, the margins for these apparel companies get squeezed hard.
Honestly, the lack of an individual Fruit of the Loom stock is probably a good thing for the brand. It allowed it to heal after the bankruptcy of 1999 and find its footing again without the noise of Wall Street. It’s a reminder that some of the best-known brands in your house aren't actually "stocks" in the traditional sense anymore—they are just small gears in the massive machine of global conglomerates.
If you're looking for a pure play, you're out of luck. But if you're looking for a lesson in how a "boring" brand survives for over 150 years, Fruit of the Loom is the gold standard. It survived the Civil War, the Great Depression, and a near-death experience in the 90s. That’s more than most Silicon Valley darlings can say.