For S&P 500 stocks, triple-digit prices are now the rule

Share prices of more than $100 were once unusual among companies in the S&P 500 Index. Only 30 stocks were at or above the threshold when the U.S. equity benchmark peaked in March 2000, for instance, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. 

 

Now more than half of S&P 500 stocks are in triple digits, as shown by their median price, which surpassed $100 in February and has risen every month since then. 

Four-digit prices are more commonplace as well. Intuitive Surgical Inc. became the eighth company in the index to exceed $1,000 a share on Tuesday, though it closed just below that price.