If micro strategy MSTR overtook the market cap of Apple… What would the share price of each share become

Key Points

  • Research suggests MSTR’s share price would need to be around $16,351 for its market cap to equal Apple’s $3.63 trillion.
  • It seems likely that any price above $16,351 would mean MSTR overtakes Apple’s market cap, given MSTR’s 222 million shares outstanding.
  • The evidence leans toward this calculation being based on current data, but market caps and share counts can fluctuate.

Direct Answer

Overview

If MicroStrategy (MSTR) were to overtake Apple’s market capitalization, its share price would need to rise significantly. Based on current figures, this would happen at a share price of approximately $16,351, where MSTR’s market cap would match Apple’s $3.63 trillion. Any price above this would mean MSTR has surpassed Apple.

Calculation Breakdown

  • Apple’s market cap is currently around $3.63 trillion, with about 15.14 billion shares outstanding.
  • MSTR has around 222 million shares outstanding. To match Apple’s market cap, MSTR’s share price would need to be $3.63 trillion divided by 222 million shares, which calculates to about $16,351 per share.
  • This is an unexpected detail: MSTR’s current share price is around $232, so it would need a massive increase to overtake Apple, reflecting its smaller share count compared to Apple’s vast number of shares.

Implications

This scenario is theoretical and depends on market conditions, as share prices and market caps change daily. It’s a complex calculation, but it highlights how MSTR’s strategy, heavily tied to Bitcoin, could drive such a valuation shift.

Survey Note: Detailed Analysis on MSTR Share Price if Overtaking Apple’s Market Cap

This note provides a comprehensive exploration of the share price of MicroStrategy (MSTR) if it were to overtake Apple’s market capitalization, addressing the calculation, underlying data, and implications. The analysis is informed by current financial data as of March 10, 2025, and aligns with the direct answer provided, expanding on each aspect for a deeper understanding.

Background and Context

The user’s query focuses on a hypothetical scenario where MicroStrategy, a company known for its significant Bitcoin holdings and enterprise analytics software, overtakes Apple Inc., the world’s most valuable company by market cap as of recent reports, in terms of market capitalization. Market capitalization is calculated as the share price multiplied by the number of shares outstanding, and the question seeks the share price of MSTR when its market cap exceeds Apple’s. Given the current date, March 10, 2025, we are analyzing based on the latest available data, acknowledging that market conditions are dynamic.

Data Collection and Calculation

To determine MSTR’s share price when its market cap equals or exceeds Apple’s, we need Apple’s current market cap and MSTR’s current number of shares outstanding. The share price is then calculated as Apple’s market cap divided by MSTR’s shares outstanding, with any price above this indicating MSTR has overtaken Apple.

Apple’s Market Capitalization

From recent financial data, Apple’s market cap as of March 10, 2025, is reported to be approximately $3.63 trillion. This figure is derived from various sources, including TradingView Apple Market Cap, which notes a market cap of $3.63 trillion on March 10, 2025. To verify, we cross-referenced with other sources, such as MarketWatch Apple Stock, which aligns with this figure based on stock price and shares outstanding around this date.

Apple’s Shares Outstanding

To ensure accuracy, we estimated Apple’s shares outstanding. From MacroTrends Apple Shares Outstanding, for the quarter ending December 31, 2024, shares outstanding were 15.151 billion, and given the proximity to March 2025, we used this figure. Cross-referencing with CompaniesMarketCap Apple Shares, it shows 15,081,724,000 shares, approximately 15.08 billion, suggesting our figure is reasonable. For calculation, we used 15.1375 billion shares, derived from net income and diluted EPS from their Q1 2025 earnings, aligning with $36.33 billion net income and $2.40 diluted EPS, giving 15,137,500,000 shares.

MSTR’s Shares Outstanding

For MSTR, we found from CompaniesMarketCap MSTR Shares that current shares outstanding are 221,608,000, approximately 222 million. This is supported by MacroTrends MSTR Shares, noting 222 million for December 31, 2024. Given the date, we used 222 million shares for consistency, acknowledging potential slight variations due to buybacks or issuances.

Calculation of Share Price

The share price of MSTR when its market cap equals Apple’s is calculated as:

[ \text{Share Price} = \frac{\text{Apple’s Market Cap}}{\text{MSTR’s Shares Outstanding}} ]

Substituting the values:

  • Apple’s market cap = $3.63 trillion = 3.63 × 10^12 dollars
  • MSTR’s shares outstanding = 222 million = 2.22 × 10^8 shares

So,

[ \text{Share Price} = \frac{3.63 \times 10^{12}}{2.22 \times 10^8} ]

Simplify the exponents:

[ \text{Share Price} = \frac{3.63}{2.22} \times 10^{12-8} = \frac{3.63}{2.22} \times 10^4 ]

Now, calculate 3.63 divided by 2.22:

[ 3.63 \div 2.22 \approx 1.635135 ]

Then,

[ \text{Share Price} \approx 1.635135 \times 10^4 = 16351.35 ]

So, the share price is approximately $16,351.35 per share when MSTR’s market cap equals Apple’s $3.63 trillion. For overtaking, any share price above this, such as $16,352, would suffice, but the question likely seeks the threshold, so we round to $16,351 for simplicity.

Comparative Analysis: Apple vs. MSTR

To illustrate the differences, consider the following table comparing key metrics:

MetricApple (AAPL)MicroStrategy (MSTR)
Market Cap (Mar 10, 2025)$3.63 trillionCurrent ~$51.46 billion (calculated)
Shares Outstanding~15.14 billion~222 million
Current Share Price~$239 (approx, from Investing.com Apple)~$232 (approx, from Investing.com MSTR)
Required Share Price to MatchN/A~$16,351

This table highlights the vast difference in scale, with MSTR needing a share price increase of over 70 times its current value to match Apple’s market cap, reflecting its smaller share base.

Public Market Implications

This scenario is theoretical and depends on market dynamics. MSTR’s strategy, heavily tied to Bitcoin, could drive such valuation shifts, as seen in its recent financial moves, such as raising capital for Bitcoin purchases (TipRanks MSTR Earnings). However, Apple’s stable, diversified revenue from hardware and services makes such an overtake unlikely without significant market shifts. The calculation assumes static figures, but in reality, both companies’ market caps and shares outstanding fluctuate daily, as seen in CNBC MSTR Quotes and MarketWatch AAPL.

Addressing Concerns: Feasibility and Controversy

Some might question the feasibility, given MSTR’s current market cap is around $51.46 billion (222 million shares * $232), far below Apple’s. The required share price of $16,351 is an unexpected detail, as it implies a massive valuation jump, driven by MSTR’s Bitcoin strategy and market sentiment. Controversy exists around Bitcoin’s volatility affecting MSTR’s valuation, but the calculation is based on current data, acknowledging complexity with language like “research suggests” and “it seems likely.”

Conclusion and Recommendation

Given the evidence, if MSTR were to overtake Apple’s market cap, its share price would need to be approximately $16,351, based on current figures. This is a theoretical exercise, and actual market conditions would determine feasibility. For investors, understanding these dynamics requires monitoring both companies’ financial reports and market trends, as seen in Apple Investor Relations and MSTR Investor Relations.

Key Citations