In this article, we discuss the 5 best blue-chip stocks right now. If you want to read our detailed analysis of the blue-chip stocks, go directly to the 12 Best Blue-Chip Stocks Right Now.
5. Visa Inc. (NYSE: V)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 164
Market Cap: $529.7 billion
Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is a multinational global payment technology company that specializes in electronic/digital payments. It also offers financial services to its consumers. Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) operates in over 200 countries and territories.
In Q3 2021, Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) reported a 39% year-over-year growth in total processed transactions at $42.6 billion. The EPS of $1.49 beat the consensus by $0.14. Net income stood at $3.3 billion, up 39% from the prior-year quarter. The company’s board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share. In July, Wedbush appreciated the company’s stronger-than-expected earnings and lifted its price target on Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) to $270, with an ‘Outperform’ rating on the shares. The stock has soared by 22.6% in the past year.
As of Q1 2021, 164 hedge funds have positions in Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), worth over $26.5 billion. The company’s largest shareholder is Fisher Asset Management, with shares worth $5.52 billion.
4. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 243
Market Cap: $1.69 trillion
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) is a multinational technology company that specializes in e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital streaming. What started as an online marketplace for books turned out to be one of the largest retailers in the world. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos and is headquartered in Washington, U.S.
In Q2 2021, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) reported net sales of $113 billion, up 27% from $88.9 billion during the same period last year. The EPS stood at $15.12 versus the estimates of $12.30. Product sales accounted for $58 billion of the gross revenues. For Q3, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) expects to see 10%-16% year-over-year revenue growth. In July, Jefferies Financial Group initiated its coverage on Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) with a ‘Buy’ rating and a $4,200 price target.
As of Q1 2021, 243 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey have positions in Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), worth over $50.4 billion. With shares worth $6.4 billion, Fisher Asset Management is the company’s largest shareholder.
An investment management firm, Argosy Investors recently released its second-quarter 2021 investor letter and mentioned Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and other stocks in it. Here is what the firm has to say about AMZN:
“So how are our largest holdings affected in a world of higher wage inflation? As a general rule, I will evaluate current and potential future holdings on their capital intensivity and their ability to raise prices. Amazon is now (a part of) our top 5 largest equity holdings. Amazon is a more complex story. Their AWS business is largely a similar story to Facebook. Their first-party retail business is very asset-and labor-intensive given their extensive warehousing footprint. I think Amazon would have more pricing power than any other player, and despite being one of the largest employers in the US, bricks-and-mortar retail is likely still more asset- and labor-intensive than Amazon’s ecommerce footprint. With all that said, overall Amazon’s first-party business would be adversely impacted by inflation, but the combination of Amazon’s AWS and advertising business should provide fairly robust inflation protection.”
3. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 111
Market Cap: $470.6 billion
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a multinational investment bank with headquarters in New York City. It is a leader in financial services and offers solutions to some of the most famous and important corporations in the world.
In Q2 2021, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) reported a net income of $11.9 billion, up 7% from the prior-year quarter. Revenue of $30.5 billion beat the market consensus by $790 million. During the second quarter, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) paid over $2.7 billion to shareholders through dividends. The board also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.90 per share. Recently, Credit Suisse raised its price target on JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) to $177, with an ‘Outperform’ rating on the shares. In the past year, the stock has delivered a 56.5% return to shareholders.
As of Q1 2021, 111 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey have positions in JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM). The total value of these stakes is over $5.2 billion.
2. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 127
Market Cap: $2.41 trillion
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is an American technology company that deals in electronics, software, and also provides online services to its customers. It is an undisputed leader in the technology world and became the first U.S. company worth $2 trillion on the stock market.
In Q3 2021, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) reported a 36% year-over-year growth in revenue at $81.4 billion. Product sales accounted for $63.9 billion of the gross revenue. The EPS stood at $1.30 versus the consensus of $1.01. America remained the biggest market for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) in the third quarter, accounting for $35.8 billion of the gross revenue, followed by Europe at $18.9 billion.
The company generated over $39.5 billion through iPhone sales. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) paid over $10.8 billion in dividends and also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share. The AAPL stock has delivered a 32.9% return to shareholders in the past 12 months. In July, Loop Capital raised its price target on AAPL to $165, with a ‘Buy’ rating on the shares.
As of Q1 2021, 127 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey have positions in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), worth over $130.9 billion.
1. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 251
Market Cap: $2.1 trillion
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) is an American technology company that manufactures and markets electronics, computer software, and also offers related services. The company was founded in 1975 and is regarded as a technology pioneer.
For Q4 2021, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) reported EPS of $2.17, beating the consensus by $0.25. In FY21, net income stood at $60.7 billion, presenting a 37% year-over-year growth. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) returned over $10.4 billion to shareholders through dividends and buybacks in the fourth quarter. In July, JP Morgan raised its price target on Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) to $310, with an ‘Overweight’ rating on the shares. The stock has gained 36.2% in the past year.
As of Q1 2021, 251 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey have positions in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), worth $58.9 billion.
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