In this article, we discuss 10 most searched stocks on Insider Monkey.
A Bloomberg report dated September 20 suggests that elite hedge funds went on a buying spree as the S&P 500 declined 5% last week in light of the August inflation numbers. Data from Goldman Sachs indicates that these funds were betting against the broader market by pouring into ETFs. Accounting for both long and short positions, the total gross trading flow of hedge funds climbed for a fifth consecutive week, which is the biggest notional boost since 2017. Morgan Stanley data indicates that funds raised their bearish calls but did not trim long positions, and JPMorgan Chase’s hedge fund data shows that funds were net buyers. Given the stronger hedge fund performance lately, JPMorgan noted that funds are becoming more constructive. The JPMorgan analyst team wrote in a note:
“If performance were to deteriorate then perhaps the risk of further selling could increase, but for now it seems some hedge funds might be able to play a bit more offense than they were able to earlier this year.”
It is prudent to look for the moves of hedge funds to understand the market direction and investor sentiment better. This is why Insider Monkey regularly tracks the quarterly movements of elite hedge funds. Since they have massive teams, comprising the best talent, creating stock portfolios and investment baskets for clients, it is interesting to track their strategies or replicate them. Some of the most searched stocks on Insider Monkey include Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META).
Photo by Alvaro Reyes on Unsplash
Our Methodology
As per our data, the following stocks have been most searched on Insider Monkey. We have mentioned the percentage of searches for each stock, along with the hedge fund data as of Q2 2022, analyst ratings, and the latest news surrounding the companies for the convenience of our readers.
Most Searched Stocks on Insider Monkey
10. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)
Percentage of Searches: 0.40%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is one of the most searched stocks on Insider Monkey. Apart from its portfolio of fizzy beverages, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)’s Japan division is in a new collaboration with Kirin Holdings Company, the first food and beverage company in Japan, to formulate a health drink that aims to boost immunity. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is a leader in the Japan beverage market, but it is only now beginning to penetrate the health drinks segment. The company displayed hyper-growth during the pandemic, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
On September 6, HSBC analyst Carlos Laboy raised the price target on The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) to $76 from $72 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) has new revenue drivers in Latin America as it extends its once-exclusive sales and delivery system to other brands, the analyst told investors in a bullish thesis.
According to Insider Monkey’s data, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) was part of 60 hedge fund portfolios at the end of the second quarter of 2022, compared to 64 funds in the earlier quarter. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is the leading stakeholder of the company, with 400 million shares valued at more than $25 billion.
In addition to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META), The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is a popular stock in the hedge fund universe.
9. Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)
Percentage of Searches: 0.40%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65
Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) is a Texas-based energy infrastructure company that operates liquefied natural gas businesses in the United States. On September 12, Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) stock climbed 2.4% after the company raised its guidance to factor in the new expected timing of cargoes, which will now be delivered in 2022 rather than 2023. The company also expects sustained higher margins on LNG throughout this year. The 2022 distributable cash flow is forecasted to be $8.1 billion-$8.6 billion, versus the last guidance of $6.9 billion-$7.4 billion. The firm boosted its share buyback program by $4 billion and extended it by three more years. Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) is one of the most searched stocks on Insider Monkey.
On September 19, Stifel analyst Benjamin Nolan raised the price target on Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) to $201 from $159 and kept a Buy rating on the shares after the company lifted its 2022 guidance and said it expects over $20 billion of distributable cash flow through 2026, up from $16 billion guided earlier.
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 65 funds were bullish on Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) at the end of Q2 2022, with collective stakes worth about $2.4 billion, compared to 62 funds in the prior quarter worth $3.20 billion. Carl Icahn’s Icahn Capital LP is the leading position holder in the company, with 5.6 million shares valued at $746.5 million.
Here is what ClearBridge Global Infrastructure Value Strategy has to say about Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) in its Q3 2021 investor letter:
“Cheniere Energy is an energy infrastructure company that owns and operates U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities. Strong quarterly results and the disclosure of capital allocation policies were positively received by the markets. In addition, continued supply and demand tightness in the LNG market created a favorable commodity price environment.”
8. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)
Percentage of Searches: 0.40%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) is a California-based company that engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of computer products and technologies worldwide. On September 16, Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.365 per share, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on December 1, to shareholders of record on November 7. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) delivers a dividend yield of 4.99% as of September 21.
On September 8, Deutsche Bank analyst Ross Seymore lowered the price target on Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) to $35 from $38 and maintained a Hold rating on the shares. The analyst said in a research note that Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) issued a weak pre-announcement at an investor conference for a second quarter in a row, and the company now expects Q3 results to be near the lower end of its guidance range.
According to the second quarter database of Insider Monkey, 65 hedge funds were bullish on Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), with collective stakes worth $2.5 billion, compared to 76 funds in the earlier quarter worth $3.15 billion. David Blood and Al Gore’s Generation Investment Management is the largest stakeholder of the company, with 14.7 million shares worth $552.5 million. Generation Investment boosted its stake in Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) by 14% in the June quarter.
Here is what Baron Funds specifically said about Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) in its Q2 2022 investor letter:
“Then, there is the case of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC). A blue-chip tech champion with a market capitalization of over $500 billion in early 2000, the stock was trading at a P/E multiple of 42. It was a fast-growing company whose stock price and multiple declined more or less in line with its peers. However, unlike Google, Intel’s net income has grown from $7.3 billion in 1999 to $19.9 billion in 2021, a compounded annual growth rate of just 4.7%. Its growth from the dot com era has not proven to be durable, and Intel has yet to trade at the price it attained in 1999.”
7. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)
Percentage of Searches: 0.40%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 72
Elon Musk’s Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is one of the most searched stocks on Insider Monkey. On September 21, Michael Burry, the celebrated investor of The Big Short fame and founder of Scion Asset Management, reviewed Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) yet again. This happened after Tesla’s megapack battery was involved in a fire accident that led to closing a part of a prominent California highway for a few hours. Burry’s fund sold its Tesla stake in Q3 2021, and he said he would short Tesla if he still owned the stock. He has previously placed short bets of more than half a billion dollars against Tesla.
On September 20, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas noted that Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is up against its biggest ever competition from domestic Chinese EV companies. However, he added that Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) will get rid of its “peak China” dependency over the next year on the back of higher capacity in the U.S. and Europe, which will allow far superior levels of vertical integration. The rest of this decade will see a swift industrialization of Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s NAFTA and EU supply chains, which will naturally dilute China’s role in Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s story, said the analyst. He maintained an Overweight rating and a $383 price target on the stock.
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 72 hedge funds were bullish on Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) at the end of June 2022, compared to 80 funds in the last quarter. Cathie Wood’s ARK Investment Management is a prominent Tesla stakeholder, with 1.4 million shares worth over $1 billion.
Here is what Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC had to say about Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) in its Q1 2022 investor letter:
“To put the demand growth for clean energy materials into perspective, let’s look at Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA). At its Battery Day last year, Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) projected three terawatt hours of lithium-ion battery capacity needed in 2030 for the EVs and storage they expect to produce. To reach this target, Tesla alone would gobble up approximately 75% of the world’s current nickel production and four times the world’s current lithium production. These numbers are astounding enough, but when one considers that EVs currently represent just 15% of global nickel demand and about 45% of lithium demand and that Tesla will likely be producing only a small proportion of the world’s EVs in 2030, the implications are staggering. Clean energy materials companies will make a lot more money in the decades to come than they ever have both because they will be selling a lot more metric tons of material and because there are certain to be shortages where supply can’t keep up with the rapidly growing demand.”
6. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)
Percentage of Searches: 0.40%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 84
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA), the American semiconductor giant, is another stock on the radar of investors who often frequent the Insider Monkey website. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) stock gained over 3% on September 21, as its CEO Jensen Huang announced that he sees a “large space” for Nvidia products in the Chinese semiconductor market. He further said that the US government’s limitations on NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)’s activities should not have a meaningful impact on performance. The company also announced multiple new products at its yearly conference, such as a high-end RTX and GeForce GPUs.
On September 20, Oppenheimer analyst Rick Schafer maintained his Outperform rating and $250 price target on NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) after the keynote address by CEO Jensen Huang. The company’s GeForce 40-series seems ready for a strong launch, and he thinks that gaming is de-risked, even though the mixed corporate data presents possible risk to its data center division, the analyst told investors. He added that NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)’s present headwinds are temporary, and he believes that its growth thesis in artificial intelligence is on the right track.
Elite hedge funds pulled out of NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) in the second quarter of 2022. The number of long NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) positions declined to 84 at the end of June 2022 from 102 in the prior quarter. Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management is the biggest position holder in the company, with 7.6 million shares worth $1.15 billion.
Like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META), NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is one of the most searched stocks on the Insider Monkey platform.
Here is what Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund has to say about NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) in its Q2 2022 investor letter:
“At the company-specific level, there was a broad correction across the entire portfolio. While four of our holdings contributed to performance, the contribution to absolute returns was less than 100bps combined, as unfortunately none of them were large enough to move the needle. We had 16 investments detracting over 100bps each with NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), our second largest detractor, costing the Fund 254bps.
NVIDIA’s stock was hit even harder, down 44.4%, impacted by concerns over the health of the consumer, dramatic declines in crypto, and COVID-related lockdowns in China. Despite the sell-off and the increased near-term volatility in its gaming business, NVIDIA’s revenues grew 46% year-over-year with 48% operating margins, driven by continued strength in its data center business as companies across industries adopt AI and ML…” (Click here to see the full text)
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.
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Disclosure: None. 10 Most Searched Stocks on Insider Monkey is originally published on Insider Monkey.
