In this article, we will be taking a look at the 5 Most Widely Held Stocks by Individuals in 2026. If you wish to see the complete list, visit 10 Most Widely Held Stocks by Individuals in 2026.
5. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 137
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is also one of the most widely held stock by individuals.
TheFly reported on May 21 that Wolfe Research maintained an Outperform rating on LLY and kept its $1,350 price target unchanged. The firm highlighted late-stage Phase 3 data for retatrutide, showing strong weight reduction outcomes, reaching up to 26.1% at 80 weeks and exceeding 30% in longer follow-up among higher-body-mass participants. The results also showed meaningful improvements across key cardiometabolic health indicators. Wolfe Research said these findings reinforce LLY’s leadership position in GLP-1-based obesity treatments and strengthen its differentiation in the competitive metabolic disease space. The firm further noted that the drug candidate may help set a new standard for future obesity therapies aimed at higher efficacy benchmarks.
Separately, on May 20, Engage Biologics confirmed that Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) had acquired it in a transaction valued at up to $202 million in cash. The deal includes an upfront payment along with additional milestone-based payments tied to future development achievements. Engage Biologics is working on the Tethosome platform, a non-viral DNA delivery technology designed to address challenges in gene delivery such as limited potency, reduced tolerability, and restrictions on repeat dosing.
The acquisition is intended to support the advancement of this platform by integrating it into Lilly’s broader research and development efforts in genetic medicine and advanced therapeutic delivery systems.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a U.S.-based pharmaceutical firm that develops and manufactures prescription medicines in areas like cardiometabolic diseases, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience.
4. Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 146
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is one of the most widely held stocks.
TheFly reported on May 14 that TD Cowen reiterated its Buy rating on NFLX and maintained a $112 price target. The firm highlighted disclosures from NFLX’s upfront presentation showing continued expansion of its advertising-supported tier, with global monthly active users rising to 250 million from 190 million in November 2025. The company also outlined plans to expand the ad-supported offering into 15 additional markets starting next year while enhancing programmatic advertising tools for advertisers. TD Cowen noted that NFLX expects advertising revenue to reach $3 billion in 2026, contributing a significant share of incremental growth and reinforcing the importance of the ad-supported segment in its overall monetization strategy.
On the same day, it was reported that Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) has been developing an internal production studio called INKubator focused on using generative artificial intelligence to produce short-form animated content. The initiative appears to be in early stages, with hiring activity reported across roles such as producers, software engineers, and computer graphics artists based on recently posted job listings.
Although the company has not formally announced the project, online professional profiles suggest the studio began operating quietly around March. The effort reflects NFLX’s exploration of AI-assisted content creation tools and expanding its internal production capabilities for animation and digital storytelling formats.
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) is a global streaming platform that offers TV shows, movies, documentaries, and games to hundreds of millions of subscribers worldwide.
3. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 184
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is among the most widely held stocks by individuals in 2026.
TheFly reported on May 20 that V and Men in Blazers Media Network announced a partnership to introduce “Men in Blazers City Guides,” a travel-focused initiative aimed at highlighting cities through their culture, communities, and local businesses. The collaboration is designed as a fan-oriented guide for travelers during the summer and beyond, helping visitors experience destinations connected to global soccer events.
The project emphasizes simplifying trip planning by curating local recommendations so users can focus more on cultural experiences. Men in Blazers noted that the initiative reflects the idea that soccer extends beyond stadiums and into everyday city life, with Visa supporting efforts to elevate local institutions and improve how fans engage with host cities.
Separately, on May 12, Commerce Bancshares reported that Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) accepted its tender of 411,723 shares of Visa Class B-2 common stock, which were exchanged for a mix of Visa Class B-3 and Class C shares. Following the completion of the exchange, the bank recorded a $99 million gain after revaluing its remaining Visa Class C holdings based on prevailing market pricing.
The company also outlined a portfolio repositioning plan involving the sale of roughly $911 million in available-for-sale debt securities, which carry lower yields, and reinvestment into higher-yielding instruments. Management said the strategy is intended to strengthen net interest income, reduce earnings volatility, and improve balance sheet flexibility while maintaining a broadly neutral impact on regulatory capital ratios.
Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is a global payments network that enables secure electronic transactions between consumers, businesses, and financial institutions worldwide.
2. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 256
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is also among the most widely held stocks by individuals.
TheFly reported on May 20 that META CEO Mark Zuckerberg informed employees that the company does not expect any additional broad layoffs for the remainder of the year. Earlier restructuring reduced the global workforce by about 10% and included the reassignment of roughly 7,000 employees into artificial intelligence-focused roles. The internal communication, reported via a memo cited by Reuters, indicated that the company is shifting headcount toward AI development rather than continuing large-scale workforce reductions. The update suggests a transition phase in which META is stabilizing staffing levels after prior cuts while prioritizing investment in artificial intelligence initiatives and reorganizing internal teams to support that strategic direction.
In a separate move, on May 20, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) regarding its Meta AI smart glasses, focusing on privacy and data protection concerns. The inquiry examines whether the device’s camera-enabled eyewear could expose sensitive personal information, including audio, video recordings, and facial data of individuals in Texas.
The glasses include continuous data-processing features linked to Meta AI, along with a recording indicator light that authorities say may not always be easily noticeable. The investigation also references concerns about third-party data access and potential exposure of private user content during data annotation processes. Additional scrutiny involves reports that future versions may incorporate facial recognition capabilities using embedded camera systems to identify individuals without their knowledge.
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is a global tech company that operates major social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, connecting billions of users worldwide.
1. NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 264
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is one of the most widely held stocks by individuals in 2026.
TheFly reported on May 21 that Truist increased its price target on NVDA to $307 from $287 while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock. The firm said the company delivered a strong quarterly performance with results exceeding expectations and an improved outlook. It noted that demand trends remain firm and growth momentum is accelerating rather than slowing. Truist also emphasized its view that artificial intelligence expansion is still in an early phase, not a speculative bubble, and highlighted expectations for substantial long-term industry growth, with AI market expansion projected to reach multi-trillion-dollar levels by 2030 under continued high growth rates.
Separately, today, on May 22, it was reported that Taiwanese authorities have detained three individuals in connection with allegations of document forgery linked to the unauthorized export of NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) chips. The case involves shipments reportedly intended for destinations including China, Hong Kong, and Macau, in violation of U.S. export control regulations. Officials said the activity covered approximately 50 servers containing restricted semiconductor components. The suspects were taken into custody on Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation led by the Taiwan Keelung District Prosecutors’ Office. The case highlights continued enforcement efforts against illegal diversion of advanced computing hardware amid heightened global scrutiny of semiconductor supply chains and trade compliance rules.
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) is a U.S. technology company known for inventing GPUs and leading the development of AI computing and accelerated computing infrastructure.
While we acknowledge the potential of NVDA to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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