Just because something is expensive doesn't mean buying it is a no-brainer. This rings true whether you're buying a property, jewellery, or even S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares.
Here's a rundown of the three highest-priced ASX 200 shares at the close of the index on Tuesday, and whether analysts rate them a buy, hold, or sell.
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Pro Medicus Ltd (ASX: PME)
At $287.01 per share, Pro Medicus was the most expensive share on the ASX 200 Index at the close on Tuesday.
Its share price closed 0.46% lower for the day, and it's also 2.42% lower for the month. But most of the stock's gains have been since April. The share price has risen 34.8% over the past 6 months, pushing the share price 53.73% higher for the year.
Pro Medicus is a medical imaging technology provider for hospitals, imaging centres, and healthcare groups. It is a leading supplier of radiology information systems, picture archiving and communication systems, and advanced visualisation solutions for medical practices and hospitals. The ASX 200 share has offices in Australia, Germany, and the US.
It has a wide range of clients on long-term contracts too, and is continually expanding its presence worldwide. Earlier this month, the business won a new 5-year A$10 million contract with University Hospital Heidelberg (UKHD) and German Cancer Research Institute (DKFZ).
The company is constantly striving for growth, too. In FY25 alone, it has achieved a 31.9% revenue increase and a 39.2% increase in net profit.
Analysts are divided about the stock's outlook. According to TradingView data, 5 out of 15 analysts hold a buy or strong buy rating on Pro Medicus shares. Another 9 analysts have a hold rating. The average target price is $326.49, which represents a potential 13.76% upside for investors over the next 12 months.
Cochlear Ltd (ASX: COH)
The share price of the world's leading cochlear implant manufacturer closed 0.4% higher on Tuesday to $278.65 a piece. It's the second-most expensive share on the ASX 200 at the time of writing, but it has experienced a couple of stiff peaks and troughs over the past year, bringing it 4.96% lower than this time last year.
Cochlear's share price fell to an 18-month low in April this year, spiked in late July and has since fallen 12.76% at the time of writing. It's not clear exactly why the share price has fallen over this period, but it's likely due to lower-than-expected FY25 results in mid-August, followed by a number of brokers revising their outlook and target prices on the share.
Again, analyst sentiment on the stock is mixed. TradingView data shows that out of 18 analysts, 5 hold a buy or strong buy rating, and another 10 have a hold rating. The average target price is $309.71, which represents a potential 11.15% upside over the next 12 months.
UBS is one of the more bullish brokers. It recently revealed it has a buy rating and a $350 target price on the shares, citing expectations around the company's growth over the next year.
REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA)
The real estate advertising company's share price closed 0.34% higher on Tuesday at $220.17 per share. Over the year, the share price is 0.53% higher after an investor sell-off starting 22 August caused a 16.34% decline to the time of writing.
The Group appointed a new CEO on 18th August, but no other price-sensitive news has been released from the company to explain the share price drop.
It's possible the share price has also been affected by some brokers' calls that REA shares are overpriced. In late August, Toby Grimm from Baker Young said he sees challenges ahead for REA and suggested selling while the stock trades above his valuation.
Meanwhile, UBS confirmed its buy rating and target price of $290 on REA shares last month, citing business strength and a positive outlook. That implies a potential 31.7% upside over the next year.
Overall, TradingView data suggests analysts are relatively positive on the stock. Out of 17 analysts, 8 hold a buy or strong buy rating, and another 7 have a hold rating. The average target price is $263.14, which represents a potential upside of 19.52% at the time of writing.
