Want to know the most popular US stocks among active fund managers?
A Credit Suisse team led by Lori Calvasina looked at “long only, actively managed” small, mid, and large cap funds to find the answer.
Microsoft was the most crowded US stock with 380 large cap funds holding long positions. Apple and Google followed close behind with the interest of 374 and 358 funds respectively.
The team claims its ranking, as it incorporates holdings of both retail and institutional funds, is more robust than other studies.
It advised against owning too many crowded stocks for reasons including the ongoing outflow of funds from active to passive management.
We present the 11 most popular US stocks among large cap funds below.
1. Microsoft
Ticker: MSFT
Industry group: Software & Services
Market cap: 483.2 billion
No. of large cap funds: 380
4Q '16 performance: 7.9%
Source: Credit Suisse
2. Apple
Ticker: AAPL
Industry group: Tech hardware & Equipment
Market cap: 617.6 billion
No. of large cap funds: 374
4Q '16 performance: 2.5%
Source: Credit Suisse
3. Google
Ticker: GOOGL
Industry group: Software & Services
Market cap: 539.1 billion
No. of large cap funds: 358
4Q '16 performance: -1.4%
Source: Credit Suisse
4. JPMorgan Chase
Ticker: JPM
Industry group: Banks
Market cap: 308.7 billion
No. of large cap funds: 291
4Q '16 performance: 29.6%
Source: Credit Suisse
5. Johnson & Johnson
Ticker: JNJ
Industry group: Pharma, biotech
Market cap: 313.4 billion
No. of large cap funds: 268
4Q '16 performance: -2.5%
Source: Credit Suisse
6. Facebook
Ticker: FB
Industry group: Software & Services
Market cap: 331.6 billion
No. of large cap funds: 259
4Q '16 performance: -10.3%
Source: Credit Suisse
7. Wells Fargo
Ticker: WFC
Industry group: Banks
Market cap: 276.8 billion
No. of large cap funds: 259
4Q '16 performance: 24.5%
Source: Credit Suisse
8. Home Depot
Ticker: HD
Industry group: Retailing
Market cap: 163.4 billion
No. of large cap funds: 240
4Q '16 performance: 4.2%
Source: Credit Suisse
9. Visa
Ticker: V
Industry group: Software & Services
Market cap: 181.5 billion
No. of large cap funds: 240
4Q '16 performance: -5.7%
Source: Credit Suisse
10. Comcast
Ticker: CMCSA
Industry group: Media
Market cap: 165.2 billion
No. of large cap funds: 238
4Q '16 performance: 4.1%
Source: Credit Suisse
11. Merck
Ticker: MRK
Industry group: Pharma, biotech
Market cap: 162.3 billion
No. of large cap funds: 235
4Q '16 performance: -5.7%
Source: Credit Suisse
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