5 Most Expensive Shares in the World

What could you buy with $600,000? You could buy yourself a decent house (even in this crazy market), a very fancy yacht, even travel the world many, many times over. Or you could just about buy a single share of Berkshire Hathaway – yep, you read that right! A single share of Warren Buffet’s company Berkshire Hathaway will currently set you back more than $600,000!

It got us thinking, what other shares will cost you an arm and a leg to own? So, we put together a list of the most expensive shares in the world.

But first, why do some companies choose not to split their stock?

A stock split usually occurs when a share price is too high that it could be putting off investors and to create more liquidity. So, why is it then that some companies choose not to split their stocks when the price is well into the thousands?

In some cases, maintaining a high share price could make the company seem prestigious and even be perceived as worth more, despite the fact that the company’s market capitalization may be the same as a company whose shares trade for $50. If liquidity is not an issue for the stock there may be no reason to conduct a stock split.

And, back to our list.

5 Most Expensive Shares in the World

**Note: Share prices correct as of 10/01/2022

1. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class A (NYSE: BRK.A) -AU$667,102

Berkshire Hathaway is probably best known for two things: being owned by Warren Buffet (a famous investor) and never doing a stock split. The latter has left this prestigious company’s share price at a hefty US$480,000, equivalent to roughly AU$667,102 at the time of writing.

If you’re in the position to buy some shares in Berkshire Hathaway, here are a few things that you should know. As an investment company Berkshire Hathaway owns shares in other companies, notably the conglomerate is a minority shareholder in Kraft Heinz Company, American Express, The Coca-Cola Company, Bank of America, and Apple. Berkshire Hathaway also owns several companies including: Duracell, Dairy Queen, BNSF, Fruit of the Loom and Helzberg Diamonds, to name a few.

And, if you are not in the position to part with $600,000, you could consider Berkshire Hathaway Class B which, at the time of writing, is a much more modest $319. The difference between the two is Class A has never had a stock split, Class B on the other hand has had several. Both trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), which you can access with an International Share trading platform.

2. Lindt & Sprüngli AG (SWX: LISN) – AU$176,205

Founded in 1845, Lindt & Sprungli began as a simple chocolate shop in Zurich, Switzerland. In the company’s 176 year history the company expanded to become number one in the global premium chocolate market, and is known worldwide for its decadent, tasty chocolate. Is it even Easter, without their signature gold wrapped, chocolate bunny?

Over the years, Lindt has acquired key brands, such as American companies Ghirardelli and Russell Stover, which expanded their reach into the largest chocolate market in the world, the USA. In 2009, a big year for Lindt, Roger Federer, Swiss national treasure and tennis player, was brought on board as a Lindt ambassador and the company launched its global retail network, bringing Lindt to countries around the world.

Lidnt trades on the Swiss Stocks exchange and will cost a pretty penny, currently CHF 116,700, roughly AU$176,205.

3. NVR Inc. (NYSE: NVR) – AU$7,558

Based in Virginia, USA, NVR specialises in homebuilding and mortgage banking. The company claims to be one of America’s leading homebuilders serving 14 US states, largely on the east coast.

The company made its stock market debut in 1985, and had steady growth for many years. However, in 2016 did the company’s share price sky-rocket, gaining 253% in six years. At the time of writing, to buy a share of NVR will cost you US$5438.88 about AU$ 7558.93 and you will need an international share trading platform that has access to the NYSE.

Related article: How to buy US stocks in Australia

4. Seaboard Corporation (NYSE AMERICAN: SEB) – AU$5,488

Seaboard Corporation is a 100-year old American company that began as a series of flour mills. Today, Seaboard has expanded into a multinational agribusiness and, as the name suggests, a transportation conglomerate. The company has seven subsidiaries including: Seaboard Foods, Seaboard Marine, Butterball and Mount Dora Farms. These subsidiaries are involved in a range of industries including production of pork and turkey products and supplying biofuels and alcohol across North and Central America. .

When Seaboard Corporation first went public in 1982 its share price was US$25, it has grown significantly since then and at the time of writing the corporation trades on the NYSE American, formerly known as the American Stock Exchange for US$3949, which equates to AU$5,488.

5. Amazon Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) –  AU$4,518

Amazon had a rather humble beginning, founded in Jeff Bezos’s garage in 1994 as an online book retailer. However, much has changed and today you can buy just about anything on Amazon and it is one of the largest companies in the world, reaching the trillion dollar market cap in 2018. Amazon operates in 13 countries around the world, including Australia. The company has also branched out of retail and now offers services like Amazon Prime Video (a streaming platform), Amazon Music, Amazon publishing and Amazon studios.

At the time of writing, Amazon trades on the NASDAQ for US$3,251, which is AU$4,518.26.

How to buy international shares?

Investing in overseas markets requires a broker that can place orders on your behalf. It’s no different to how you would invest locally. However, historically, for most Australians it’s been very difficult to access international stocks – there were lots of paper forms, high costs and lots of complications.

However, times have changed and new technology, plus niche platforms that focus on investing overseas makes it simpler and more affordable than ever.  Check out this article for more information on how to buy international shares.

Should I invest in international shares?

There are plenty of benefits to investing overseas, including access to some of the largest companies in the world and the ability to diversify your portfolio. Another advantage is the cyclical patterns of overseas markets that, at times, move in the opposite direction of the Aussie share market which can help smooth out your returns. There are a few downsides to be aware of as well, such as the currency exchange fees, the different rules and regulations, Australian tax laws, and economic and political threats.
Related article: Risks and benefits of investing overseas.

If you are thinking of investing overseas you should first thoroughly research the company to ensure that it aligns with your investment goals and strategy. Also, bear in mind that past performance is not an indicator of future performance.

Main image source: pada smith/ Shutterstock.com