In this article, we discuss 5 most searched stocks on Insider Monkey. If you want to see more stocks in this selection, check out 10 Most Searched Stocks on Insider Monkey.
5. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD)
Percentage of Searches: 0.40%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 87
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) is a California-based semiconductor company that manufactures microprocessors, chipsets, discrete and integrated graphics processing units, and data center and professional GPUs, among other products. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) is one of the most searched stocks on Insider Monkey, with 0.40% of the total search queries attributed to the company.
On September 15, Wedbush removed Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) from its Best Ideas List given the firm’s investment price discipline. Analyst Matt Bryson still maintained an Outperform rating and a price target of $125 on Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) shares.
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) was part of 87 public stock portfolios at the end of the second quarter of 2022, up from 83 funds in the prior quarter. However, the collective stakes held by hedge funds in Q2 decreased to $4.8 billion from roughly $7 billion in Q1 2022. Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management featured as the leading position holder in Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD), with 25 million shares worth about $2 billion.
Here is what Baron Opportunity Fund has to say about Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) in its Q2 2022 investor letter:
“Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMD) is a global fabless semiconductor company focusing on high-performance computing technology, software, and products. AMD designs leading high-performance central and graphics processing units (known as CPUs and GPUs) and integrates them with hardware and software to build differentiated solutions for customers.
AMD has been gaining meaningful share in personal computing and server end markets over the past several years driven by the performance of its processors and technology and strong execution against its technology roadmap, and we believe share gains will continue over the coming years from a combination of AMD’s continued advancements and Intel’s stumbles in developing its leading-edge technology.
Additionally, the recently closed acquisitions of Xilinx and Pensando enhance AMD’s positioning within the data center, a key growth engine for the semiconductor industry, and Xilinx specifically opens up several new growth opportunities in new end markets like industrial, automotive, and communications. The company also generates significant cash flow, giving it capital allocation optionality for further M&A and returning capital to shareholders.”
4. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)
Percentage of Searches: 0.60%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 128
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was unsurprisingly one of the most looked up stocks on the Insider Monkey platform. A Reuters reported dated September 21 cites JPMorgan analysts, who said that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) might potentially shift a quarter of the iPhone production to India by 2025. The company expects to move 5% of the iPhone 14 production to India by the end of 2022. Earlier in September, a Bloomberg report suggested that the Indian conglomerate Tata Group and the Taiwanese firm Wistron were thinking about creating a joint venture to assemble iPhones in India.
On September 20, Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani raised the price target on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to $190 from $185 and reaffirmed an Outperform rating on the shares. This came in light of the firm’s survey of approximately 4,000 people about their purchasing decision regarding iPhone 14. The survey indicated that demand for high-end models is “notably higher” compared to previous years, noted the analyst, who boosted his iPhone revenue estimates for the next four quarters on the back of stronger than anticipated average selling prices.
According to Insider Monkey’s data, 128 hedge funds reported owning stakes worth $143 billion in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) at the end of Q2 2022, compared to 131 funds the prior quarter worth $182 billion. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway featured as the largest stakeholder of the company, with roughly 895 million shares valued at $122.3 billion.
In its Q2 2022 investor letter, Alger Capital, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:
“Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is a leading technology provider in telecommunications. computing and services. Apple’s iOS operating system is the company’s unique intellectual property and competitive strength. This software drives extremely tight engagement with consumers and enterprises. The engagement is fostering the growing purchase of high-margin services like music, apps, and apple pay. Apple’s shares detracted from performance as management lowered its guidance for the second quarter due to headwinds from the war in Ukraine, adverse foreign currency shifts, and dampened consumer demand associated with the coronavirus in China. Additionally, many investors were concerned that lockdowns implemented to curtail the spread of COVID-19 would impact production of apple products, however the manufacturing facilities have resumed activity.”
3. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG)
Percentage of Searches: 0.40%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 153
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has always held the interest of retail and institutional investors alike. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has poured around $1.5 billion into the blockchain industry between September 2021 and June 2022, with investments focused on four blockchain companies – Fireblocks, Dapper Labs, Voltage, and Digital Currency Group.
On July 27, Evercore ISI analyst Mark Mahaney maintained an Outperform rating on Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) but lowered the price target on the stock to $140 from $155.50. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) reported “surprisingly solid” Q2 earnings, along with revenue broadly in-line with Street estimates, said the analyst, who also noted that fundamentals are “holding up better than the market (and we) thought they would”.
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) was part of 153 public stock portfolios at the end of Q2 2022, compared to 160 in the last quarter. Chris Hohn’s TCI Fund Management is one of the largest stakeholders of the company, with 2.5 million shares worth $5.4 billion.
In its Q2 2022 investor letter, Baron Funds, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:
“Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is the parent company of Google, the world’s largest search and online advertising company. Shares of Alphabet declined 21.6% in the quarter due to concerns about slower global growth impacting the company’s core advertising business. We retain conviction in Alphabet’s merits as it continues to benefit from growth in mobile and online video advertising, which accrues to its core assets of search, YouTube, and the Google ad network. We are further encouraged by Alphabet’s investments in Cloud, AI, and Autonomous Driving (through its Waymo subsidiary).”
2. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)
Percentage of Searches: 0.80%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 184
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is the most searched stock on Insider Monkey. On September 21, the stock climbed higher as the company reported that it is focusing on cost control and plans to cut expenses by at least 10% in the next few months. Most of the cost cutting will result from layoffs at the tech giant.
On September 13, Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak told investors that third party data from Sensor Tower indicated that total time spent on Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) in the United States declined 3% year-over-year in August, which is a second consistent monthly decline. His past negative revisions and slashed estimates are “well understood by the market”, but these trends create more tactical risk and uncertainty to short-term estimates, said the analyst. He has an Overweight rating and a $225 price target on Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) shares.
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 184 funds were long Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) at the end of June 2022, compared to 200 funds in the earlier quarter. Boykin Curry’s Eagle Capital Management is one of the leading stakeholders of the company, with 7.3 million shares worth $1.18 billion.
In its Q2 2022 investor letter, Baron Funds, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:
“Shares of Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META), the owner of Facebook, the world’s largest social network, fell 28.4% during the second quarter due to quarterly results that missed consensus estimates, driven by the impact of Apple’s new privacy changes in its iOS operating system. These changes have made it harder for Facebook to measure the effectiveness of its advertising across its mobile apps.
In the longer term, we expect Facebook to continue utilizing its leadership in mobile to provide global advertisers targeted marketing capabilities at scale, with substantial monetization optionality ahead in newer areas such as Reels (Meta’s competing solution to TikTok) and e-commerce.”
1. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Percentage of Searches: 0.60%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 258
Investors frequently look up Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) stock on the Insider Monkey platform. On September 20, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) declared a $0.68 per share quarterly dividend, a 10% increase from its prior dividend of $0.62. The dividend is distributable on December 8, to shareholders of record on November 17. The forward yield was 1.11%. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) also announced on September 20 that it is cutting a dozen Xbox game titles by the end of the month.
On September 21, Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss observed that the dividend hike indicates Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s “durable high-teens total return profile” when paired with its high-teens percentage EPS growth. This dividend boost is consistent with dividend hikes by the company in the last several years. He kept an Overweight rating and a $354 price target on Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) shares.
According to Insider Monkey’s data, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) was part of 258 hedge fund portfolios at the end of the second quarter of 2022, compared to 259 funds in the earlier quarter. Peter Rathjens, Bruce Clarke, and John Campbell’s Arrowstreet Capital is one of the leading stakeholders of the company, with approximately 18 million shares valued at $4.6 billion.
In its Q2 2022 investor letter, Baron Funds, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:
“Shares of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), a leading global provider of software solutions, declined 16.6% in the quarter along with the broader software group as well as due to growing concerns of a potential macro-driven slowdown. This is despite the company posting strong quarterly financial results and successfully absorbing headwinds from the war in Ukraine. The company had 21% revenue growth, 23% operating income growth, and 35% growth in Microsoft Cloud (all year-over-year in constant currency), which now represents 47% of total revenues. (read more…)
You can also take a look at 10 Best Performing S&P 500 Stocks in 2022 and 10 Best Consumer Discretionary Stocks To Buy.
