12 Most Widely Held Stocks by Individuals in 2025

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1. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 339

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is a global technology company specializing in e-commerce, cloud computing, AI, and digital services. Its core business includes Amazon.com, one of the world’s largest online marketplaces, and AWS, a leading provider of cloud computing solutions. The company also operates Prime Video, Amazon Music, Kindle, Audible, and Alexa, expanding into streaming, smart home technology, and digital content. AMZN has a growing presence in logistics, retail automation, and artificial intelligence, with investments in autonomous delivery, AI-powered recommendations, and cashier-less stores.

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) reported strong Q4 2024 results, with revenue reaching $187.8 billion, reflecting a 10% YoY increase, while operating income surged 61% to $21.2 billion. The North American segment posted 10% revenue growth, while international markets grew 9% when excluding currency fluctuations. AWS continued to perform well, expanding 19% YoY to an annualized revenue run rate of $115 billion. The company’s strategy of broadening selection, lowering prices, and enhancing convenience contributed to strong unit growth that outpaced revenue growth. Third-party sellers played a significant role in this success, accounting for 61% of total items sold in 2024 – the highest share in the company’s history.

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) also significantly expanded its delivery network, increasing same-day delivery sites by more than 60% in 2024, now covering over 140 metro areas. In advertising, revenue grew 18% YoY to $17.3 billion in Q4, pushing the segment’s annual run rate to $69 billion – more than double its size from four years ago. AI development remains a key focus, with around 1,000 generative AI applications either completed or in progress. Looking ahead to 2025, AMZN plans to continue investing in fulfillment and transportation infrastructure, prioritizing same-day delivery facilities, improvements in its inbound logistics network, and further automation to enhance delivery speed while lowering costs.

Overall Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) ranks first on our list of the 12 stocks that are most widely held by individuals. While we acknowledge the potential of AMZN as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than AMZN but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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