The concept of stocks and shares is one that has been around for years. It has made several people wealthy and encourages strategic financial planning, helping millions of people grow their wealth through partial ownership of several companies. Some of the most valuable companies today have been built off the capital accrued by listing their company on the stock exchange. As an investor, you are always on the lookout for the next profitable investment, and while low priced stocks are logically the best kinds to invest in, great value can often be found in the most expensive stocks.
After all, in certain markets, the more expensive it is, the more valuable and profitable it will be. In this article, using stock prices of the third quarter of 2019, we compiled a list of twenty of the most expensive stocks in the world right now based on their respective share prices. Check it out below.
Most Expensive Stocks in the World
1. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class A – $317,495 per share
For established and aspiring investors, Warren Buffett is arguably the ultimate personality when it comes to investments. After all, he made his fortune from investing in various companies. However, to invest in his company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc, you will have to be an already rich investor.
Although his company is not the most valuable in the world, his decision not to split his shares has made the stock price for his money the most expensive in the world at $317,4945 per share. The company has a market cap of $482 billion and owns more than 60 companies and has a majority stake in 20 companies.
If you insist on owning a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. stock, however, you can consider the Class B stock, which sells for $211.80 per share.
2. Lindt & Spruengli AG – $79,600 per share
Switzerland is known for its expensive products and services, which is why it comes as no surprise that one of its companies, Lindt & Spruengli AG, a chocolatier and confectionery company, has the second most expensive stock price in the world at $79,600 per share.
They own five of the largest chocolate and confectionery companies in the world, and if you are wondering if the company is profitable at that price, yes, they are.
3. NEXT Plc – $6,712 per share
The stock of this multinational apparel and footwear company trades on the London Stock Exchange, and a share goes for a whopping $6,712.
NEXT Plc is based in the United Kingdom, where it has more than 500 stores and an additional 200 stores spread across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.
It achieved its astronomical value between July 2008 and October 2015 when it saw an increase of 840% in its stock price.
4. Seaboard Corporation – $4,160 per share
Seaboard Corporation might not have a ubiquitous name like companies like Facebook and Apple. Still, it is one of the highly profitable stocks for investors, which is a contributory factor to why it cost $4,160 to own a piece of the US company.
The company is involved in ocean transportation and agribusiness, with a focused interest in pork production, commodity trading, and cargo shipping. Seaboard Corporation, which has a market capitalization of $4.31 billion, trades on the New York Stock Exchange.
5. NVR Inc – $3,727.75 per share
In the fifth place among the most expensive stocks on the market for investors is the NVR Inc (NVR) stock5 which costs $3,727 per share. It is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and is an S&P 400 component.
The company, NVR Inc, is a mortgage and construction company with a market capitalization of $9.2 billion. Under the company are several subsidiaries like NVHomes, Ryan Homes, and Rymarc Homes. It gained its high value recently in 2017 after it outperformed several major stock indices, doubling its value within a year.
6. Booking Holdings – $2,055.93 per share
The era of the internet has made several people billionaires, one of them being Jay Walker, the founder of Priceline.com, the website that became Booking Holdings.
The company, since it went public in 1999, has acquired other companies like Kayak.com, Cheapflights, Momondo Group, and Rentalcars.com, becoming a conglomerate focused in the travel industry. It also owns the popular Booking.com and has a yearly revenue of more than $14 billion as of 2018.
At a current price of $2,055 per share, it is one of the highest-priced stocks in the world.
7. Amazon Inc. – $1,761 per share
The e-commerce company, Amazon Inc, has been one of the fastest-growing companies in the world, and it has the stock price to show for its amazing journey.
The company, under the direction of the world’s richest man, Jeff Bezos, has a stock price of $1,761. While the company is known for its online marketplace, it also has several subsidiaries, such as Whole Foods Market, Audible, Amazon Studios, and many more.
It is currently the most valuable public company in the world, and it trades its stock on NASDAQ.
8. Cable One – $1,309 per share
After Amazon and Booking Holdings, Cable One, a company now known as Sparklight, is the third internet-based company to make this list with an individual share price of $1,309 per share.
Unlike the first two, Cable One is an internet and cable service provider that has been in existence since 1986 when it was registered as Post-Newsweek Cable.
It rebranded its name to Sparklight in 2019 and currently trades on the New York Stock Exchange and is also an S&P 400 component.
9. Alphabet Inc. Class A – $1,264 per share
Alphabet is the parent company of Google and several other subsidiaries like DeepMind, CapitalG, DoubleClick, Waymo, and several others.
The company currently trades on the Nasdaq stock exchange at $1,264 per share, a far cry from its initial stock price of $50 per share when it went public for the first time in 2004.
Today, it is one of the most valuable stocks in the world, and with plenty of room for growth, also one of the most attractive to investors around the globe.
10. AutoZone – $1,129 per share
Automotive parts retail company, AutoZone, saunters in at number nine with a share price of $1,129. The company, which was founded in 1979, has more than 6,000 stores across the United States, and other countries like Brazil and Mexico.
The company, which has more than 87,000 employees across its market, is focused on the sale of automotive parts and accessories. It also has several subsidiaries like ALLDATA, AutoZone Development Corp, and Riverside Captive Insurance Company.
It trades its stock out of the New York Stock Exchange, and at $1,129 per share, it is the tenth most expensive stock in the world.
11. Markel Corporation – $1,110 per share
The insurance company comes in at number eleven among companies with the highest stock prices in the world, with an individual stock price of $1,110 per share.
The company has several subsidiaries, such as Essex Insurance Company, Markel Service, State National Companies, and several more. The company, which trades its stock on the New York Stock Exchange, has a market capitalization of $15.35 billion.
Aside from a focus on insurance, the company is also an investment company with operations all over the globe.
12. White Mountains Insurance Group – $1074.62 per share
White Mountains Insurance Group came into existence in the early 1980s and has witnessed remarkable growth since it went public in 1985, setting a record at the time for the largest IPO in American history.
White Mountains, like most of the companies in the top ten, has a host of subsidiaries, such as OneBeacon, Removal Stars Limited. It is based in Hamilton, Bermuda, and has a share price of $1074 per share to kick off the bottom half of the top twenty of the highest stock prices in the world.
13. Madras Rubber Factory Limited (MRF) – 63,126 INR ($891.11) per share
The second non-American company to make this list, the rubber manufacturing company based in India, Madras Rubber Factory
The company is the largest manufacturer of tires in India and one of the top twenty manufacturers in the world. Its products include tires, conveyor belts, toys, paints, treads, and more.
It trades its stock on the National Stock Exchange of India and cost $891.11 per share, to place thirteenth among the most expensive stocks in the world.
14. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc – $787 per share
The first fast-food chain to make this list is Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc at a share price of $787. The restaurant chain has locations in several international countries, including Germany, France, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
The company is one of the youngest companies on this list, having been founded in 1993. It currently trades on the New York Stock Exchange.
15. Alleghany Corporation – $757 per share
Alleghany Corporation is one of the few holding companies to make this list. It comes in at number 15 of the top twenty most expensive stock prices at $757 per share.
The company was established in 1929 by Oris and Mantis Van Sweringen. It makes over $6 billion in yearly revenue and currently trades on the New York Stock Exchange. It is also an S&P 400 component.
16. Mettler Toledo – $698 per share
The multinational analytical instruments and scales manufacturing company, Mettler Toledo makes this list with a share price of $698 per share.
The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and has more than $2.9 billion in revenue. In consistence with several other companies on this list, Mettler Toledo also has several subsidiaries, such as Ohaus, Anachem Limited, and more.
17. Graham Holding Company – $650 per share
Graham Holding Company is as the name suggests, a holding company that had a plethora of subsidiaries, for which, Cable One was one.
Its current subsidiaries are The Daily Herald Company, Graham Media Group, NewsWeek Inc, and several more. The company has more than 11,500 employees and has over $2.58 billion in revenue.
Graham Holding Company trades its stock on the New York Stock Exchange.
18. Intuitive Surgical Inc. – $549.27 per share
At a stock price of $549 per share, Intuitive Surgical is the first medicine-based company to crack the top twenty companies with the most expensive stock prices in the world.
The company develops and manufactures medical products and has several subsidiaries like most companies on the list. The company is based out of Sunnyvale, California, and has a market capitalization of $63.4 billion.
It trades on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
See Also: 10 Most Expensive Guns and Firearms Ever Sold at Any Auction
19. Rasoi Ltd – $452 per share
Rasoi Ltd is the second Indian company to make this list with a stock price of $452 per share. Unlike the MRF, Rasoi Ltd is a subsidiary of The Rasoi Group, and it is focused on the manufacturing of baby care and packaging products. It is also involved in the trading of metals and treasury operations.
The company has been in existence since 1905 and witnessed significant growth in its share price between 2014 and 2017, with a 300% increase.
20. Apple Inc. – $246 per share
Wrapping up our top twenty is the famous tech company, Apple Inc. The company is one of the most valuable companies in the world, with a market capitalization of $1 trillion.
Its stock price is driven by the sale of its iPhone, which is one of the most popular phones in the world. It currently trades its stock on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
