JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM): Among Bourgeon Capital’s Top Stock Picks

We recently compiled a list of the Top 12 Stocks to Buy According to Bourgeon Capital. In this article, we are going to take a look at where JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) stands against the other stocks.

Bourgeon Capital Management LLC is an investment advisory firm headquartered in Darien, Connecticut. Founded in 1999 by seasoned financial professional John Aniblo Zaro, the firm specializes in actively managed, separate accounts with investment portfolios consisting primarily of stocks and bonds. In 2002, Bourgeon Capital expanded its leadership team when Michael Keohane joined SAC Capital to co-manage the firm’s long/short hedge fund. With a portfolio value of nearly $535.55 million by the end of December 2024, Bourgeon Capital is known for providing personalized investment strategies designed to manage risk while achieving long-term growth.

John Zaro, the firm’s founder and managing partner, has an extensive background in investment management spanning several decades. In addition to his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics from Stanford University, he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and an active member of the New York Society of Security Analysts.

John Zaro’s career in finance has been marked by influential roles at major financial institutions; it began at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC where he held the role of vice president from 1984 to 1991. Later, he served as a portfolio manager and vice president at J.P. Morgan Investment Management from 1991 to 1997 during which he managed substantial assets for clients. Just before establishing Bourgeon Capital, Zaro held the positions of Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director at Warburg Pincus Asset Management from 1997 to 1999. During his time there, he played a key role in shaping investment strategies for high-net-worth clients. With expertise in portfolio and alpha target management, Zaro was instrumental in refining investment processes for private clients and high-net-worth individuals.

With over two decades of experience, Zaro founded Bourgeon Capital with the vision of offering a more client-centric approach to wealth management. His goal has always been to foster strong, long-term relationships with clients through honest and strategic financial guidance. Bourgeon Capital continues to uphold this commitment, ensuring that each client’s investment strategy is tailored to their unique financial needs and aspirations.

In recognition of his accomplishments in wealth management, Morgan Stanley announced in 2022 that Zaro, then serving as a First Vice President and Financial Advisor at the firm’s Wealth Management office, was named to Forbes Magazine’s prestigious list of Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors. This ranking evaluates candidates based on various qualitative and quantitative factors, including industry experience, leadership experience, assets under management, revenue trends, and compliance records. The selection process also incorporates insights gained from extensive interviews.

Bourgeon Capital’s investment philosophy is centered on achieving consistent, long-term returns while minimizing volatility. The firm prioritizes risk management by employing strategies that aim to reduce extreme market fluctuations. A key approach under Zaro’s leadership has been investing excess cash in the bond market to capitalize on higher interest rates. This strategy reflects the firm’s commitment to balancing risk and reward while ensuring that clients’ investments align with their financial goals.

Our Methodology

The stocks discussed below were picked from Bourgeon Capital’s Q4 2024 13F filings. They are compiled in the ascending order of Bourgeon Capital’s stake in them as of December 31, 2024. In order to assist readers with more context, we have included the hedge fund sentiment regarding each stock using data from over 1000 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in the fourth quarter of 2024.

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).

Is JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) Buying Back Its Stock in 2025?

A group of business people discussing plans around a boardroom table adorned with a financial services company logo.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders as of Q4: 123

Bourgeon Capital’s Equity Stake: $30.09 Million 

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) is a leading American multinational financial services firm headquartered in New York City and incorporated in Delaware. As the largest bank in the United States, it has a history spanning 225 years and operates in over 100 markets worldwide. The firm provides a wide range of financial services, including investment banking, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management, serving millions of individuals, businesses, and institutions globally.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) reported impressive financial results, with revenue reaching $42.77 billion—an increase of 10% from the previous year. Net income surged by 50% year-over-year to $14.01 billion. The company operates through four primary business segments, with Consumer & Community Banking generating $4.5 billion in net income despite a 6% decline from the prior year. Meanwhile, Commercial & Investment Banking experienced significant growth, with net income rising 59% to $6.6 billion. Given its strong financial performance and leadership in the banking industry, JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) remains an attractive stock for investors seeking stability and long-term growth.

Carillon Eagle Growth & Income Fund stated the following regarding JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter:

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) contributed positively to performance following solid financial results and positive guidance for the remainder of 2024. Moreover, growing chatter around rising capital markets activity likely contributed to the stock’s strong performance relative to other banks. Recall that JPMorgan has a robust capital markets franchise.”

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) was the largest holding in John Zaro’s stock portfolio. Bourgeon Capital owned over 125,520 shares of the company as of Q4 2024 worth over $30.09 million, which constitutes 5.61% of the hedge fund’s 13F holding.

Overall JPM ranks 1st on our list of the stocks to buy according to Bourgeon Capital. While we acknowledge the potential for JPM as an investment, 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 JPM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stock To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.