what is the most expensive stock in the world guide

Overview

This entry answers the question what is the most expensive stock in the world and explains the meaning, metrics, and practical implications for investors. If you want a clear distinction between price-per-share and company value, and to learn how to access high-priced shares via modern trading tools (including Bitget and Bitget Wallet), this guide covers the essentials.

Definition and metrics

When people ask "what is the most expensive stock in the world" they usually mean which listed share has the highest nominal price per single share (price-per-share), not the most valuable company by market capitalization. The phrase what is the most expensive stock in the world therefore refers to a nominal-ticket measure. That metric can be misleading without context: market cap, P/E, and enterprise value are the usual measures for economic comparison.

Common ranking practices for what is the most expensive stock in the world include:

• Using nominal closing prices quoted on exchanges (adjusted for splits where relevant).
• Noting share classes (A vs B) that carry different prices and voting rights.
• Excluding reversed or one-off corporate actions unless adjusted historical series are shown.

Current record holder (price-per-share)

In everyday finance coverage, the answer to what is the most expensive stock in the world most commonly points to Berkshire Hathaway Class A (BRK.A). Berkshire Hathaway’s Class A shares rank at the top of price-per-share lists because the company has not split its Class A shares over decades and the share count is designed for long-term holders. As of Dec 31, 2025, major financial summaries and market-data compilations (for example, NerdWallet and StatMuse) still listed Berkshire Hathaway Class A as the leading price-per-share example. Note that Class B shares exist to offer lower-cost exposure to the same company’s economics.

Historical holders and notable examples

Historically, other firms have appeared near the top of lists answering what is the most expensive stock in the world: U.S. homebuilders and specialty companies (e.g., NVR), agribusiness/holding firms (e.g., Seaboard), luxury Swiss companies (e.g., Lindt & Sprüngli), and global travel/online bookings firms (e.g., Booking Holdings). Outside the U.S., Swiss and select European firms often show high nominal prices because of long-standing share structures or low split frequency.

Why some stocks trade at very high nominal prices

No stock-split policy

A company that avoids stock splits will see its per-share price rise over time with retained earnings and share appreciation. This is a key reason many lists answering what is the most expensive stock in the world are topped by longstanding companies with no recent splits.

Small share count and low free float

Firms with small numbers of authorized shares or limited public float can have very high nominal prices per share even if their total market cap is moderate.

Corporate control and governance preferences

Promoters or management may avoid splits to preserve a shareholder base of long-term holders or to maintain concentrated voting control via share-class design.

Share classes, splits and corporate actions

Different share classes can trade at very different prices; a 1-for-1000 split or a reverse split changes per-share price without altering investor economic interest. When asking what is the most expensive stock in the world, always check whether prices are unadjusted or split-adjusted and which class is referenced.

Price-per-share vs market capitalization — why the distinction matters

Price-per-share answers a trivia-style question. Market capitalization (share price × shares outstanding) answers how large a company is economically. The most expensive share may be far smaller in market cap than many cheaper-per-share firms. Use market cap, P/E, and EV/EBITDA for economic comparison rather than price-per-share alone when evaluating companies.

Global lists and regional perspectives

Lists of what is the most expensive stock in the world are compiled from exchange quotes and typically include companies from NYSE/NASDAQ, Swiss exchanges, and select other markets. Currency conversion and multiple listings must be considered when creating cross-border rankings.

Investment and trading implications

Accessibility for retail investors

Buying one whole share of the answer to what is the most expensive stock in the world can be costly. Fractional shares, ADRs, and lower-priced share classes are common solutions. Bitget supports tools and custody solutions (Bitget Wallet) that help investors access markets and explore available fractional and derivative instruments—check Bitget for the current instruments offered. This article is informational and not investment advice.

Liquidity and volatility

High nominal price does not guarantee liquidity; check bid-ask spreads and daily volume. Limited float can increase volatility.

Voting and control

Owning an expensive Class A share may carry significant voting weight. Verify class rights in company filings.

Methodology for ranking and data considerations

Reliable rankings use exchange end-of-day quotes, adjust for splits and corporate actions, and record the date and currency. When comparing cross-listed shares, normalize to a single currency and note differing share classes.

Controversies and common misconceptions

A frequent misconception: equating a high price-per-share with better quality or higher company value. Headlines that ask what is the most expensive stock in the world can mislead if they omit market cap or share count context.

See also

• Stock split
• Market capitalization
• Fractional shares
• Berkshire Hathaway
• ADRs
• Corporate governance

References and editorial notes

• Sample sources used for compilation and context include NerdWallet, StatMuse, Moneyzine, Analytics Insight, and 5paisa (as of Dec 31, 2025). Editors: update the "Current record holder" section regularly with verified exchange close prices and list the date and source.

Further exploration: use Bitget’s market tools and Bitget Wallet to view up-to-date quotes and instrument availability. For live prices, consult exchange quotes and company investor relations pages. As of the noted reporting dates, the most-cited answer to what is the most expensive stock in the world remains Berkshire Hathaway Class A; verify current numbers before citing a price.