In this article, we will take a detailed look at 12 Most Widely Held Stocks by Individuals in 2025.
Individual investors, often called retail investors, typically invest their personal capital directly into the stock market, driven primarily by personal research, news sentiment, social media trends, or recommendations from peers. They often favor stocks of recognizable brands or companies whose products and services they use regularly, as well as growth stocks perceived to offer high return potential. While their success varies widely (often marked by emotional decision-making and mixed results) monitoring retail investor trends can be valuable, as these investors collectively have the power to significantly influence stock prices and market volatility. Understanding where retail attention is focused can provide early signals of market shifts, speculative bubbles, or emerging investment opportunities. Just to recall two recent instances when retail investors successfully short-squeezed and caused billions of losses to the smartest hedge funds in the world – as they say, even the less informed parties may occasionally win big, and it is, therefore, important to be aware of their tendencies and trends.
READ ALSO: 10 Stocks That Members of Congress Own
The type of stocks most widely held by individuals has been changing over time, from consumer-centered brands that were popular in the ’80s and ’90s to popular dot-com names in the 2000s, and finally to technology stocks in the 2010s, as retail investors had firsthand experience with their products and platforms. One thing is certain – retail investors are often the last to jump on the ship, and periods of active inflow of retail money into stocks coincide with market peaks. A similar situation happened in the last two years, as the majority of the returns of the US stock market have been driven by a handful of 7–8 stocks with primary exposure to the AI megatrend – as you will see below, many of these stocks are now among the most widely held by individuals. It is no surprise that at this exact moment, the Magnificent 8 category, which confidently outperformed the whole market in the last two years, is finally lagging behind.
It should be noted that retail investors are not always wrong; in fact, you can frequently find quite promising high-growth names among those preferred by individuals. This category of investors often flocks together on social media platforms and actively shares knowledge with each other, meaning that the latest technological breakthroughs and inventions are already in their sights. In the current market, with uncertainties and fear looming from all directions (recall the tariff wars expected in April, large public spending cuts, layoffs, and Medicare/Medicaid threats), the “smart money” has been very cautious with US stocks. In fact, there has been a noticeable rotation of money from US stocks to the less overvalued foreign markets, like Germany and China, which have been using stimulus to fuel growth. With the US market becoming less favored by institutional investors, retail investors could enter the spotlight again and decide who the major winners will be.
This is particularly relevant as the modern investing philosophy has slowly drifted away from the rigid value-investing approach, which favors cheap, undervalued stocks, toward a preference for higher-growth stocks, which depend on momentum and often trade at high valuations for prolonged periods. The key takeaway for readers is that market winners are often not the cheap and undervalued stocks, but the stocks that gain the spotlight and become a magnet for money.
A crowded Wall Street plaza, bustling with people carrying briefcases.
Our Methodology
For this article, we used the Robinhood Investor Index (which shows the most popular stocks on the investing platform Robinhood) and the Yahoo Finance Most Active Stocks screener to find a list of stocks most widely held by individual investors. We then compare the list with our proprietary database of hedge funds’ ownership, as of Q4 2024 and include in the article the top 12 stocks with the largest number of hedge funds that own the stock.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
12. D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:QBTS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15
D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:QBTS) is a pioneering company in the field of quantum computing, specializing in the development and delivery of quantum computing systems, software, and services. The company offers the Advantage quantum computer, featuring over 5,000 qubits, and provides access to its quantum systems through Leap, a cloud-based platform that includes real-time access to quantum computers, hybrid solvers, and a suite of open-source Python tools known as Ocean. QBTS’s technology is utilized in various applications, including logistics, financial services, drug discovery, materials sciences, scheduling, fault detection, mobility, and supply chain management. Notably, the company is unique in building both annealing and gate-model quantum computers, aiming to unlock commercial use cases in optimization today while developing technologies for future solutions. The California-based company ranked ninth on our recent list of 10 Pump and Dump Stocks Favored by Hedge Funds.
D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:QBTS) achieved a major breakthrough by demonstrating quantum supremacy on a practical business and scientific problem, marking the first instance where quantum computing outperformed classical methods in a meaningful application. The company reported a record $18.3 million in bookings for Q4 2024, fueled by the first sale of an Advantage system to the Jülich Supercomputing Center. With over $300 million in cash reserves, QBTS has significantly strengthened its financial position, which management believes will be sufficient to reach sustained profitability. The company anticipates becoming the first dedicated quantum computing firm to achieve profitability with less capital investment than its competitors.
D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE:QBTS)’s Advantage2 processor brings notable advancements, including double the qubit coherence time, a 40% boost in energy scale, and improved qubit connectivity from 15-way to 20-way. Its quantum systems are already delivering faster, more accurate, and cost-effective solutions compared to classical computing for real-world applications such as optimizing mobile networks, improving workforce scheduling, and enhancing automotive manufacturing efficiency. The company is collaborating with a range of partners on quantum and hybrid applications, including drug discovery with Japan Tobacco, insurance portfolio optimization with Leithà, and police vehicle deployment optimization with North Wales Police. Looking forward, management expects to surpass $10 million in revenue for Q1 2025, reinforcing its position as a leader in commercial quantum computing. Besides 15 hedge funds owning the stock, QBTS is also one of the most widely held stocks by individuals.
11. GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24
GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME) is a video game, consumer electronics, and collectibles retailer operating primarily in North America, Europe, and Australia. The company sells new and pre-owned video game hardware, software, accessories, and gaming merchandise through its physical stores and e-commerce platform. In recent years, GME has expanded its focus to digital assets, including collectibles and blockchain-related initiatives. While historically reliant on brick-and-mortar retail, the company has been shifting toward a more technology-driven approach, aiming to adapt to evolving consumer gaming trends and online commerce.
GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME) implemented YOOBIC across 3,000 stores and distribution centers, going live in March 2023 with 22,000 users on the platform. The implementation addressed challenges including a disconnected tech stack and limited real-time analytics capabilities. The platform consolidated multiple functions including tasking, communications, and learning into one seamless integration, significantly improving operational efficiency. A notable improvement was in store visibility, where managers could now track not just task completion but also detailed metrics about execution time and employee feedback. The platform enhanced peer-to-peer communication, allowing knowledgeable associates to answer questions and share expertise across the organization.
GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME)’s implementation of YOOBIC’s AI capabilities has led to projected efficiency gains, including an estimated 70% reduction in calls to the Helpdesk customer service desk. The platform has particularly improved content creation efficiency, reducing what previously took 15-20 hours to create to a fraction of the time. The success of the implementation was attributed to careful planning and testing in a select group of stores before the full rollout. Besides 24 hedge funds owning the stock, GME is also one of the most widely held stocks by individuals.
10. Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is a global automaker that designs, manufactures, markets, and services a range of vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, and electric vehicles (EVs). The company operates through key segments: Ford Blue, focused on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles; Ford Model e, dedicated to electric and connected vehicles; and Ford Pro, providing commercial vehicles and fleet services. F also invests in autonomous driving technology, mobility solutions, and software-driven services. The company sells its products under the Ford and Lincoln brands, serving markets worldwide through a combination of direct sales, dealerships, and digital platforms.
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)’s biggest opportunity lies in addressing its cost structure challenges, with management focusing intensely on this area. The company has implemented significant changes including bringing in new competitive talent, third-party validation of approaches, and establishing dedicated governance under new leadership. In the Pro business segment, F has achieved remarkable progress with 700,000 software subscriptions and is focusing on expanding its service capacity with 2,000 additional service trucks and stalls. The company is making strategic adjustments to its EV strategy, having reduced CapEx by 30% on batteries and developed a new affordable EV platform through a separate California-based team.
Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F)’s hybrid strategy is showing success, with hybrid margins now higher than ICE margins on the F-150, and hybrid models accounting for 25% of the mix. Regarding manufacturing and trade concerns, F sources 90% of its steel from the US and is actively managing potential trade risks through careful supply chain planning. The company is also strategically positioning itself in the autonomous driving space, focusing on Level 3 capabilities in-house while considering partnerships for Level 4 development. Management emphasized a new focus on capital efficiency and spending less while earning more, marking a significant shift in the company’s approach. F is one of the most widely held stocks by individuals.