Introduction
Contents
- Introduction
- History About Stocks
- Types of Stocks
- Factors Making Stocks Expensive
- Market and Popularity Trends of Stocks
- Risk Factors of Investing in Expensive Stocks
- Top 10 Most Expensive Stocks In The World
- #1. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. A
- #2. NVR Inc.
- #3. Booking Holdings Inc.
- #4. Seaboard Corp.
- #5. AutoZone Inc.
- #6. Fair Isaac Corp.
- #7. Markel Group
- #8. MRF Ltd.
- #9. Mettler-Toledo
- #10. Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc.
- Conclusion
Top 10 Most Expensive Stocks: Investing in stocks is always exciting, especially when looking at the most expensive ones. In recent years, some companies have had stock prices that reached thousands of dollars per share. These high prices often show strong financial performance, steady growth, and investor confidence. Well-known businesses, including tech giants and industrial leaders, dominate this list.
Owning shares in these companies is costly, but investors see them as valuable assets. In this article, we will explore the top 10 most expensive stocks, highlighting their industries, achievements, and reasons for their high prices. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced investor, learning about these stocks can give useful insights into the financial world. Let’s dive in and discover which companies make the list!
History About Stocks
(Source: sofi.com)
- 1602: The Dutch East India Company issued the first recorded shares, establishing the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, considered the world’s first official stock market.
- 1792: Twenty-four brokers signed the Buttonwood Agreement in New York City, leading to the formation of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
- 1929: The U.S. stock market crashed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) plunging nearly 25% over two days in October.
- 1957: Standard & Poor’s introduced the S&P 500 Index, which tracks 500 leading companies and provides a broader snapshot of the U.S. equity market.
- 1987: On “Black Monday” (October 19), the DJIA experienced its largest single-day share drop of 22.6%.
- 2000: The dot-com bubble burst, leading to a significant decline in technology stock valuations and a broader market downturn.
- 2008: The global financial crisis caused the S&P 500 to decline 57% from its 2007 peak.
- 2013: The S&P 500 surpassed 1,500 points for the first time, reflecting the recovery and growth in the U.S. economy after the recession.
- 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic caused rapid market declines, with the S&P 500 falling over 30% in March.
- 2024: The S&P 500 reached a valuation exceeding USD 50 trillion, a 50-fold increase since the bull market began in 1982.
Types of Stocks
Types | Description |
Common Stock |
Represents ownership in a company, giving shareholders voting rights and a claim on profits through dividends. |
Preferred Stock |
It does not provide voting rights but offers fixed dividends and priority over common stockholders when receiving dividends and during liquidation. |
Large-Cap Stocks |
Companies hold a market capitalization of over USD 10 billion. |
Mid-Cap Stocks |
Market capitalization is between USD 2 billion and USD 10 billion. |
Small-Cap Stocks |
Market capitalization is between USD 300 million and USD 2 billion. |
Growth Stocks |
Companies will grow their earnings at an above-average rate as compared to other firms. |
Value Stocks |
They are considered undervalued based on fundamentals like earnings, whereas investors buy these stocks, and the market will recognize their true value. |
Income Stocks |
Stocks that provide regular income through high dividends. |
Blue-Chip Stocks |
Shares of large, reputable companies with a history of reliable performance and often regular dividends. |
Cyclical Stocks |
Stocks of companies whose performance is closely tied to the economic cycle. |
Defensive Stocks |
Provide essential goods and services, such as utilities and healthcare. |
Factors Making Stocks Expensive
- A P/E ratio of 22 means investors pay USD 22 for every USD 1 of earnings.
- A P/B ratio above 1 suggests a stock’s market price exceeds its book value.
- A dividend yield below 2% may indicate a high stock price relative to dividends paid.
- A 70% surge in the S&P 500 since late 2022.
- The “Magnificent Seven” tech giants comprise about 33% of the S&P 500’s value.
- Anticipated 12% annual earnings growth over five years is historically uncommon.
- Record-low premiums suggest investors may underestimate potential risks.
- Narrow spreads indicate high valuations and potential underpricing of risks.
- Projected USD 500 billion AI investment by major tech firms could lead to overvaluation if returns don’t meet expectations.
Market and Popularity Trends of Stocks
- As of 2025, the global stock market has reached a record high, with a total value exceeding USD 123 trillion.
- In the United States, the stock market is valued at approximately USD 63 trillion as of December 2024, having added nearly USD 11 trillion in market capitalization during 2024.
- India’s stock market capitalization is projected to reach USD 5.32 trillion in 2025.
- As of July 2024, the combined value of global stocks and bonds had reached an all-time high of USD 255 trillion, more than doubling since 2008.
- In 2024, the S&P 500 is expected to increase by approximately 9%, reaching around 6,500 points.
- In 2025, Palantir Technologies’ stock price increased by over 50%, reaching a record high of USD 117.91. This was largely due to retail investors purchasing approximately USD 339.72 million worth of shares in a single week.
- The S&P 500 index rose by 3.3% in early 2025, with the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF outperforming the “Magnificent Seven” tech stocks by gaining over 3%.
- The Stoxx 600 banks index, which tracks 47 of Europe’s largest banks, has returned over 100% since the start of 2022, surpassing the approximately 90% return of major U.S. tech companies in the same period.
- In January 2025, there were significant buy imbalances of up to USD 5.03 billion, indicating robust retail activity.
Risk Factors of Investing in Expensive Stocks
- High-priced stocks may be overvalued, meaning their market price exceeds their actual worth.
- Meanwhile, such stocks have less room for price appreciation and limit potential returns for investors.
- Expensive stocks experience sharp price swings due to market fluctuations.
- Investing heavily in expensive stocks can lead to a lack of diversification, increasing the risk of those particular stocks declining.
- During economic downturns, high-priced stocks may suffer significant declines as investors move to safer assets.
- High-priced stocks can be part of market bubbles driven by investor speculation.
Top 10 Most Expensive Stocks In The World
Name | Share Price Per Share (USD) |
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. A |
697,640.01 |
NVR Inc. |
9,773.58 |
Booking Holdings Inc. |
4,370.77 |
Seaboard Corp. |
3,056 |
AutoZone Inc. |
3,053 |
Fair Isaac Corp. |
2,038.95 |
Markel Group |
1,594.08 |
MRF Ltd. |
1,543.74* |
Mettler-Toledo |
1,364.19 |
Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc. |
1,305.59 |
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#1. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. A
(Source: stockanalysis.com)
- As of February 13, 2025, BRK.A closed at USD 721,500, reflecting a 1.98% increase from the previous day.
- The company’s market cap stands at approximately USD 1.04 trillion.
- Trailing twelve months (TTM) EPS is USD 74,275.80, highlighting strong profitability.
- The trailing P/E ratio is 9.71, suggesting the stock is reasonably valued relative to its earnings.
- There are 1.44 million BRK.A shares outstanding, with a slight decrease of 1.04% over the past year.
- As of November 2024, Berkshire’s cash reserves reached a record USD 325 billion.
- In 2023, the company reported an operating income of USD 96.223 billion.
- Berkshire Hathaway does not pay dividends and opts to reinvest earnings into the company.
- The company has never split its Class A shares.
Warren Buffett, aged 94, continues to lead as CEO, with Greg Abel designated as his successor.
#2. NVR Inc.
(Source: marketscreener.com)
- Founded in 1980 and headquartered in Reston, Virginia, NVR operates under brands such as Ryan Homes, NVHomes, and Heartland Homes. It primarily serves the East Coast in 14 states and Washington, D.C.
- As of January 10, 2025, NVR’s market capitalisation stood at approximately USD 24.04 billion, with 3.06 million shares outstanding.
- The company’s stock reached a 52-week high of USD 9,964.77 and a low of USD 6,800, resulting in a change of 8.33%,
- In the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, NVR reported a total revenue of USD 9.69 billion.
- The gross profit for 2023 was USD 2.64 billion, and the net income was USD 1.59 billion,
- In the third quarter of 2024, NVR reported an EPS of USD 130.50, slightly below analysts’ expectations of USD 131 per share.
- The gross profit margin declined to 23.4% in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 24.3% in the same period the previous year.
- NVR delivered 5,908 homes, a 5% increase from the previous year.
- Consolidated revenues rose by 6% to USD 2.73 billion, surpassing analysts’ estimates of USD 2.66 billion.
#3. Booking Holdings Inc.
(Source: yahoo.com)
- As of February 14, 2025, BKNG is trading at USD 5,008.70 per share, with an intraday high of USD 5,100.00 and a low of USD 4,980.00.
- The company boasts a market cap of around USD 165.77 billion.
- In the trailing twelve months, Booking Holdings reported revenue of $23.05 billion and a net income of $5.04 billion,
- The company achieved an EPS of USD 145.91 over the past year, showcasing its profitability on a per-share basis.
- With a trailing P/E ratio of 34.33 and a forward P/E of 24.79, the stock is valued higher than the market average.
- The consensus among 32 analysts is a “Buy” rat. Then, a 12-month average price target of USD 5,054.13, indicating a potential upside of approximately 0.91%.
- Booking Holdings declared an annual dividend of USD 35.00 per share, yielding 0.70%. The ex-dividend date was December 6, 2024.
- The stock has a beta of 1.39, suggesting higher volatility compared to the overall market.
- In the third quarter, ending September 30, 2024, the company reported gross bookings of USD 43.4 billion, a 9% increase year-over-year.
#4. Seaboard Corp.
(Source: stockanalysis.com)
- As of February 14, 2025, SEB is trading at USD 2,614.97, reflecting a 1.88% decrease from the previous close.
- The company’s market cap is approximately USD 2.55 billion, a 26.65% decline over the past year.
- SEB has 971,055 shares outstanding, with a 15.98% reduction in the number of shares over the past year.
- In 2023, Seaboard reported revenues of USD 9.56 billion, a 14.95% decrease from the previous year.
- The company’s net income was USD 226 million in 2023, a 61.03% decline from the prior year.
- SEB’s P/E ratio is 14.96, indicating the stock is trading at nearly 15 times its earnings.
- The company offers an annual dividend of USD 9.00 per share, yielding approximately 0.34%.
- With a beta of 0.36, SEB’s stock exhibits lower volatility compared to the broader market.
- The company’s debt-to-equity ratio is 0.40.
- SEB’s Return on Equity stands at -0.02%.
#5. AutoZone Inc.
(Source: tipranks.com)
- As of February 14, 2025, AutoZone’s stock is trading at USD 3,469.71 per share.
- The company has a market cap of approximately USD 57.52 billion.
- AutoZone’s P/E ratio is 23.0, which indicates the price investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings.
- In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, AutoZone reported net income of USD 564.9 million, or USD 32.52 per share, slightly below analysts’ expectations of USD 33.55 per share.
- The company’s revenue for the same quarter increased by 2% year-over-year to approximately USD 4.28 billion, though it missed the expected USD 4.31 billion.
- Domestic same-store sales grew by 0.3% in the first quarter, compared to a 1.2% increase in the same period last year.
- AutoZone has received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy,” with an average rating score of 2.95 based on 16 buy ratings, two hold ratings, and one sell rating.
- Analysts have set an average 12-month price target of USD 3,680.89 for AZO, with estimates ranging from USD 3,350.00 to USD 3,900.00.
- The stock has a beta of 0.50, suggesting lower volatility.
- AutoZone’s Return on Equity is -14.95%.
#6. Fair Isaac Corp.
(Source: stockanalysis.com)
- As of February 14, 2025, FICO’s stock is trading at USD 1,802.79 per share, reflecting a 2% increase from the previous close.
- The company’s market cap stands at approximately USD 44.02 billion.
- In 2024, FICO reported revenues of USD 1.72 billion, a 13.48% increase from USD 1.51 billion in 2023.
- The trailing twelve months (TTM) EPS is USD 21.79, resulting in a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 82.75.
- FICO boasts a net profit margin of 30.66%.
- The company has a high debt-to-equity ratio of -212.7%.
- Analysts have a “Buy” consensus with an average 12-month price target of USD 2,089.69.
- Over the past year, FICO’s stock has appreciated by approximately 84.5%.
- The stock has a beta of 1.39.
#7. Markel Group
(Source: stockanalysis.com)
- As of February 13, 2025, the market capitalisation is approximately USD 24.40 billion.
- Trailing Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio is 9.52; forward P/E is 19.82.
- Earnings Per Share (EPS) is USD 199.32 over the trailing twelve months.
- Revenue accounted for USD 16.62 billion in the last 12 months.
- Net Income turned out to be 2.60 billion in the same period.
- Shares Outstanding resulted in 12.86 million, with a 2.52% decrease over the past year.
- Debt-to-Equity Ratio (0.25), indicating a conservative use of debt.
- Return on Equity (ROE) amounted to 17.16%, reflecting efficient profit generation.
- The consensus rating is “Hold,” and the average price target is USD 1,702.20. This suggests a potential downside of about 10.27%.
- The stock of Beta is 0.78, indicating lower volatility compared to the market.
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#8. MRF Ltd.
(Source: screener.in)
- Current Share Price: ₹1,09,150.00 per share.
- Market Capitalization: Approximately ₹46,281.71 crore.
- Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio: 26.43.
- Earnings Per Share (EPS): ₹4,134.00.
- Revenue Growth: In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, MRF reported a total income of ₹24,986 crore, a 9.5% increase from the previous year.
- Profit Before Tax (PBT): ₹2,739 crore for the year ending March 31, 2024, up from ₹1,119 crore in the previous year.
- Net Profit: ₹2,041 crore for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, compared to ₹816 crore in the prior year.
- Dividend Declaration: The company declared a total dividend of ₹200 per share for the fiscal year 2023-2024.
- Return on Equity (ROE): 12.6%.
- Debt-to-Equity Ratio: 0.1, indicating a low level of debt relative to equity.
#9. Mettler-Toledo
(Source: tradingview.com)
- As of February 14, 2025, MTD’s stock is priced at USD 1,297.14, reflecting a 0.73% decrease from the previous day.
- The company has a market cap of approximately USD 27.15 billion.
- MTD’s trailing P/E ratio is 32.04, indicating investors are willing to pay USD 32.04 for every dollar of earnings.
- Over the past year, the company reported an EPS of USD 40.48.
- In the last 12 months, MTD generated USD 3.87 billion in revenue.
- The profit margin is 22.29%, and the company has USD 2.13 billion in total debt, resulting in a net cash position of USD 2.07 billion.
- Analysts have a “Moderate Buy” consensus for MTD, with an average 12-month price target of USD 1,391.50.
- On February 10, 2025, Gerry Keller, Head of Process Analytics, sold 600 shares at an average price of USD 1,351.34, totaling approximately USD 810,804.
- MTD has a beta of 1.13.
#10. Coca-Cola Consolidated Inc.
(Source: stockanalysis.com)
- Current Stock Price: As of February 14, 2025, COKE is trading at USD 1,458.46 per share.
- Market Capitalization: Approximately USD 12.78 billion.
- Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio: 25.38, higher than the Consumer Staples sector average of about 20.21.
- Dividend Yield: 0.74%, with an annual dividend of USD 10.00 per share.
- Revenue: In 2023, the company reported revenues of USD 6.65 billion, a 7.3% increase from the previous year.
- Net Income: USD 408.38 million in 2023
- Return on Equity (ROE): 37.73%
- Debt-to-Equity Ratio: 1.48
- Beta: 0.88
- 52-Week Range: The stock has traded between USD 800.76 and USD 1,460.92 over the past year.
Conclusion
Expensive stocks account for high prices and are often due to strong company growth, investor demand, or market trends. Meanwhile, these stocks mostly value, but they are not always the best for investment. High prices don’t always mean high returns, and they can be risky if the market changes. Investors should always research a company’s performance, past analysis, future growth, and financial health before buying any expensive stocks. Instead of just looking at price, factors like earnings and industry trends matter.
Diversifying investments and considering both expensive and affordable stocks can help balance risks and rewards for better long-term success.