We recently published a list of the 12 Best Investment Websites To Research Stocks. In this article, we will look at where Insider Monkey stands against other best investment websites to research stocks.
Retail investors put a lot of effort into creating a solid portfolio by researching the economic climate, analyzing the latest stock market trends, learning about investing strategies, and keeping an eye on the most noteworthy moves made by smart investors and elite hedge funds. Retail investors constitute a significant section of the investing community, and they have access to many online resources that can help them navigate the volatile stock market.
According to a study by Gallup, 61% of Americans claim they own stocks as of April 2023, which is the highest percentage since 2008. This is a rebound from post-recession lows, up from 56% in 2021 and 55% in 2020. Between 2001 and 2008, stock ownership averaged 62%; however, after the financial crisis of 2007–2009, it began to drop. Moreover, demographics, education, and income all have a significant impact on ownership. Compared to just 29% of households making less than $40,000, 84% of adults in households making $100,000 or more own stocks. Likewise, over 80% of postgraduates and college graduates own equities, compared to much lower percentages of individuals without a degree. Lastly, another factor is demographics; older, married, and wealthier people tend to have higher ownership levels. Investments in individual stocks, mutual funds, and retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs are included in the measure, which reveals differences in financial engagement between income and academic achievement.
Specifically, according to the 2024 Women & Investing Study by Fidelity, 71% of women own stock market investments, up 18% from 2023. Boomer and Gen X women grew at the fastest rates, at 18% and 23% annually, respectively. In just two years, the percentage of women among Fidelity’s retail clients has increased by more than 20%. By contributing an average of 10.4% of their paychecks, which is greater than the 9.5% average for women overall, 77% of Gen Z women own investments, making them the leaders in early investing. This percentage is up 6% from 2023. Even while 52% of Gen Z women get their financial advice from friends and family, 89% of them seek professional assistance. Nonetheless, there is still a confidence gap, with women almost twice as likely as men to say they know nothing about investing.
Sangeeta Moorjani, Head of Tax Exempt Market and Lifetime Engagement for Fidelity Investments stated:
“It’s encouraging to see the number of women taking control of their finances swell over the past three years,” “We know there is still work to be done – the financial confidence gap continues to persist, and women continue to report higher levels of financial stress than men – but we’ve made considerable strides. Fidelity is committed to continuing that momentum by providing access to tools, support, and education tailored to the unique financial needs of women.”
Most importantly, research is essential before making an individual stock investment, and this is where trustworthy websites for stock research would come in very handy. Determine your level of risk tolerance first. Stocks are riskier than index funds or bonds, which provide diversity. According to experts, you should only own 5%–10% of your portfolio in individual stocks. Next, learn about the business. “Never invest in a business you cannot understand,” as stated by Warren Buffett. Examine the business’s activities, offerings, and sources of income. On their investor relations websites, publicly traded firms post their annual reports, which include financial information and earnings calls. Investors should examine these reports to gain knowledge about growth and profitability.
A person with a cell phone who is looking for new stocks
Methodology
To compile our list of the top websites for stock research, we based the rankings on a consensus drawn from multiple sources and Reddit discussions on the topic. Each website earned one point for every mention across the sources, and only those featured at least three times were included. Furthermore, we evaluated measurable aspects of these websites that provide significant value to users, awarding extra points for those features.
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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here)
Insider Monkey
Insider Monkey is a financial website that gives investors information about hedge funds and insider trading. The website provides a premium newsletter that selects the top stock recommendations from insiders and leading hedge funds using a distinctive approach. The latest market news, macroeconomic projections, stock screeners, hedge fund analysis, 13D and 13G filings, dividend stocks, retirement plans, and insider trading information are all covered by Insider Monkey. Our list of the Best websites to research Stocks includes Insider Monkey because it offers a wide range of stock selections from a select group of top hedge funds, market movers, and popular stocks throughout the week, as well as dividend picks, analyst favorites, downgraded securities, and more.
Insider Monkey specializes in hedge funds and provides in-depth analysis of holdings, manager information, and performance statistics for several prominent funds. Individuals can use this information to better understand hedge fund activities as well as reflect on the investments they make. Secondly, access to the most recent 13D and 13G filings is a significant benefit that sets Insider Monkey apart as the top website for stock research. These filings expose hedge fund holdings that surpass certain thresholds, providing readers with actual insight into where these noteworthy investors are investing their money.
Dr. Inan Dogan, the research director of Insider Monkey,’s portfolio of stock picks, returned 199.2% between March 2017 and March 2024, beating the S&P 500 ETFs’ 144.9% gain by more than 54 percentage points. Dr. Dogan recently wrote the insider trading chapter for Zacks Investment Research’s upcoming publication, “The Handbook of Investment Anomalies”.
According to the Insider Monkey Quarterly Newsletter, its flagship small-cap hedge fund strategy has returned 275.3% since it began in May 2014 (through May 20th, 2024), whereas its benchmark, which consists of 50% Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and 50% S&P 500 index ETF (SPY), has gained 125.2% over the same period. The stock choices performed 150 percentage points better than the benchmark.
As per Insider Monkey’s recent article, “30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds: 2024 Q3” since 2014 (as of December 31st), the top 10 stocks chosen by hedge funds have returned 532.1%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index ETF (SPY) by 254.7 percentage points.
The website offers a premium newsletter that uses an exclusive strategy for picking the best stock picks of top hedge funds and insiders. Insider Monkey’s newsletters turn its insights into practical investing recommendations. So don’t forget to Subscribe to Insider Monkey’s Premium Newsletter.
Overall, Insider Monkey ranks 1st on our list of the Best Investment Websites To Research Stocks. While we acknowledge the potential for AAPL to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some 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 AAPL but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.