Most Expensive Stock in the World (Per Share)

1. Introduction

In the financial world, the term "most expensive stock in the world" typically refers to the security with the highest nominal price for a single share. It is a common misconception to equate a high share price with the total value of a company. While a high price per share often reflects decades of compounded growth, a company's actual size is measured by its market capitalization (share price multiplied by total shares outstanding).

The undisputed leader in this category is Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Class A). As of late 2024 and early 2025, a single share of BRK.A trades for over $600,000 to $700,000, making it a unique asset in the global equity markets. Understanding why certain stocks reach these heights requires looking into corporate philosophy, stock split policies, and long-term value retention.

2. The Dominance of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)

Berkshire Hathaway, managed by the legendary investor Warren Buffett, is the primary answer to the query of the most expensive stock. The company’s Class A shares (ticker: BRK.A) have reached their staggering price because they have never undergone a stock split in the company’s history.

• The No-Split Policy: Buffett has famously resisted splitting the Class A shares to discourage short-term trading. By maintaining a high entry price, the company attracts long-term "partnership-style" investors who focus on fundamental growth rather than market volatility.
• Class A vs. Class B Shares: To provide accessibility for retail investors, Berkshire created Class B shares (BRK.B). These trade at a fraction of the Class A price (roughly 1/1500th) and carry fewer voting rights, but allow smaller participants to own a piece of the conglomerate.

3. Top Globally Listed High-Price Stocks

While Berkshire Hathaway leads the U.S. market, several other global companies maintain exceptionally high nominal share prices:

• Lindt & Sprüngli (Switzerland): The Swiss chocolatier offers "Registered Shares" that frequently trade above $100,000. Similar to Berkshire, the high price is a mark of prestige and a deterrent to high-frequency trading.
• NVR, Inc. (USA): A major U.S. homebuilder with a share price exceeding $7,000. NVR is known for aggressive share buybacks and a refusal to split its stock, which concentrates value into fewer, more expensive shares.
• Seaboard Corporation (USA): This diverse conglomerate involved in agribusiness and transportation often sees shares trading in the thousands of dollars due to a low float and consistent earnings.
• Booking Holdings (BKNG): The travel giant behind brands like Priceline and OpenTable has seen its share price climb past $4,000, driven by the post-pandemic recovery in global travel.

4. Factors Contributing to High Share Prices

Several corporate strategies lead to a stock becoming the most expensive in the world:

• Stock Split Avoidance: Many high-priced companies view their share price as a filter. A high price reduces liquidity in a way that often results in lower price volatility.
• Share Buybacks: When a company buys back its own stock, the total number of shares outstanding decreases. If the company's value remains the same or grows, the price of each remaining share must rise.
• Compounded Growth: For decades-old companies like Berkshire Hathaway, the simple math of 10% to 20% annual growth without splits leads inevitably to six-figure share prices.

5. Price vs. Valuation: Common Misconceptions

It is vital to distinguish between share price and market capitalization. A company like Apple (AAPL) may have a share price under $250 but a market cap exceeding $3 trillion because it has billions of shares outstanding. Conversely, Berkshire Hathaway has a high share price but a smaller market cap than the top tech giants.

An "expensive" share price does not mean the stock is "overvalued." Investors use the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio to determine value. A $500,000 share with high earnings per share can be fundamentally "cheaper" than a $5 penny stock with no earnings.

6. Trading and Accessibility in Modern Markets

Historically, the most expensive stock in the world was off-limits to average investors. However, fintech innovations have changed the landscape:

• Fractional Shares: Many modern trading platforms, including Bitget's integrated financial services, allow users to buy fractions of a share. This means an investor can own $10 worth of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) rather than needing the full $700,000.
• Exchange Technicalities: In 2021, the high price of BRK.A briefly caused technical glitches on the Nasdaq, which used a 32-bit format that couldn't handle prices above $429,496.72. Exchanges have since upgraded their systems to accommodate these ultra-high-value securities.

7. Market Volatility and Macroeconomic Context

High-priced stocks are not immune to broader market shifts. As of January 31, 2026, according to Yahoo Finance reports, U.S. markets faced significant volatility following President Trump’s nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve. This nomination led to a rising U.S. dollar and a sharp decline in precious metals, with gold falling below the $5,000 level.

Even the most expensive stocks react to these shifts. For instance, high-growth tech firms like Apple saw margins impacted by global memory shortages, while companies like Sandisk surged over 20% due to AI-driven demand. Investors looking to diversify away from traditional equity volatility often turn to platforms like Bitget to explore the crypto market or utilize Bitget Wallet for decentralized asset management, providing a hedge against the fluctuations seen in high-priced legacy stocks.