We recently compiled a list of the Top 10 Stocks to Buy According to Lone Pine Capital. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) stands against the other stocks.
Lone Pine Capital, established in 1997 by Stephen Mandel, is a leading hedge fund and investment advisory firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut. The firm also operates offices in major financial hubs, including London, New York City, and San Francisco. Over the years, Lone Pine Capital has built a strong reputation in the investment world, focusing on long-term growth strategies. The firm’s disciplined approach to stock selection and asset management has enabled it to maintain a significant presence in the hedge fund industry.
Stephen Mandel, the founder of the firm, has had an extensive career in finance even before launching Lone Pine Capital. He previously worked as a managing director at Tiger Management, gaining valuable experience in investment strategy. A graduate of Dartmouth College with a degree in government, Mandel later earned an MBA from Harvard University. His expertise and leadership led to his ranking in the highest-earning categories among Forbes’ top hedge fund managers multiple times between 2012 and 2018. Although Mandel stepped away from active investment management in 2019, he continues to serve as a managing director at the firm. As of Q4 2024, Lone Pine Capital managed nearly $13.5 billion in 13F securities spread across 30 companies, with its top 10 holdings accounting for 55.89% of its portfolio.
Lone Pine Capital’s investment philosophy is rooted in identifying transformative changes that can unlock or accelerate value. By leveraging institutional knowledge and deep expertise across sectors and global markets, the firm continuously reassesses its investment theses and uncovers new opportunities. It strategically times market entry by recognizing key turning points in economic and industry cycles, allowing it to capitalize on shifts before they become widely apparent. The firm also prioritizes long-term value creation, typically holding investments for two to three years, though it has held stocks of certain companies for decades. This disciplined approach aligns investment timelines with investor expectations, optimizing returns. Additionally, Lone Pine Capital remains highly responsive to innovation in various forms—whether through technological advancements, business model evolution, or leadership changes—adapting its strategies based on emerging data and shifting market dynamics.
Moreover, the hedge fund’s investment strategies are designed to achieve long-term capital appreciation through a disciplined and research-driven approach. For its long-only strategy, the firm focuses on high-conviction investments in companies with strong growth potential, maintaining a diversified portfolio primarily across North America and Europe while limiting exposure to emerging markets. Its long/short equity strategy follows a similar approach, combining concentrated long positions with a diversified selection of short investments to navigate market fluctuations effectively. Net exposure varies based on market conditions and available opportunities, ensuring flexibility in positioning. In private investments, the firm applies its extensive research capabilities to identify promising companies in sectors such as software, financial technology, healthcare, and consumer markets. By targeting capital-efficient businesses with significant public market potential, Lone Pine Capital seeks to maximize returns through selective, high-impact investments.
Our Methodology
The stocks discussed below were picked from Lone Pine Capital’s Q4 2024 13F filings. They are compiled in the ascending order of the hedge fund’s stake in them as of December 31, 2024. To assist readers with more context, we have included the hedge fund sentiment regarding each stock using data from 1008 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).
A development team working together to create the next version of Windows.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders as of Q4: 317
Lone Pine Capital’s Equity Stake: $691.13 Million
As of Q4 2024, 317 out of 1,008 funds tracked by Insider Monkey held shares in Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) that were collectively worth nearly $91.24 billion by the end of the quarter, up from 279 funds in Q3. This heightened institutional interest reflects confidence in Microsoft’s long-term growth prospects and market dominance. The company’s strong financial performance further reinforces its appeal, with Q4 2024 revenue reaching $69.63 billion, surpassing market expectations of $68.81 billion and representing a 12.27% year-over-year increase. Earnings per share (EPS) also exceeded analyst projections, coming in at $3.23, marking a 3.5% beat.
Beyond financial strength, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) continues to push the boundaries of innovation. In February 2025, the company announced a major breakthrough in quantum computing with the development of a topological qubit, a technological milestone that could revolutionize artificial intelligence, medicine, and cryptography. While skepticism remains regarding the qubit’s immediate impact, this advancement places Microsoft at the forefront of global quantum research.
Despite its strong position, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) faces challenges in the evolving AI landscape. Veteran stock analyst Helene Meisler noted that the company’s aggressive investment in AI infrastructure has led to significant spending on high-performance servers from suppliers such as Super Micro and Dell. While this aligns with the AI boom, concerns are growing that demand may decelerate, leaving Microsoft with excess capacity. In 2024, AI-driven stock rallies benefited from expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts, which facilitated corporate borrowing and investment. However, as inflation rises and anticipated rate cuts diminish, combined with the emergence of competitors like DeepSeek offering cost-efficient AI solutions, investors are questioning whether AI spending will require recalibration. This uncertainty has contributed to the recent stagnation of Microsoft’s stock price.
Despite these concerns, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) remains an attractive investment due to its strong financial performance, technological leadership, and dominance in AI and cloud computing. The company’s continued innovation in quantum computing, coupled with its ability to integrate AI into enterprise solutions, positions it for sustained long-term growth.
Overall MSFT ranks 7th on our list of the stocks to buy according to Lone Pine Capital. While we acknowledge the potential for MSFT 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 MSFT 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.
