Nobody touches Microsoft when it comes to S&P 500 market value. But its stock picks are less stellar.
Microsoft currently holds positions in six publicly traded stocks with U.S. listings, including Meta Platforms, Nano Dimension and Vertical Aerospace, says an Investor's Business Daily analysis of data from S&P Global Market Intelligence and MarketSurge.
But for a company expected to be worth $3.6 trillion in a year, the results of the holdings aren't great.
Microsoft's Top Stock Pick
Only one of Microsoft's positions is beating the S&P 500 in 2024 so far: Meta. Shares of the social media platform are up 43.4% this year.
Meta's growth rate is topping even Microsoft's, which is up 15.1%. To be clear, Microsoft's position in Meta is strategic, not for making a big gain. It only owns 1.6% of Meta.
And that's the key with most of Microsoft's bets. It's about the future.
Other Microsoft Holdings
Shares of Nano Dimension are up 4.6% this year. The company based in the Middle East makes high-tech components for computing systems. It's presumably a small position, as details aren't disclosed.
Microsoft is also making a bet on the future of aeronautics with a stake in Vertical Aerospace. The maker of zero-emission small helicopters has seen shares inch up just 4.1% this year.
The software giant's other positions like Rubrik and Cloudflare are down this year, by 4.7% and 12.8%, respectively. Rubrik is a software maker and Cloudflare is in internet services.
Again, Microsoft isn't going for huge wins with these holdings. But it's still good to know where the S&P 500's big dog is putting some of its investments.
Microsoft's U.S.-Listed Positions
| Name | Symbol | YTD % ch. | Primary Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms | 43.4% | Interactive Media and Services | |
| Nano Dimension | 4.6% | Technology Hardware, Storage and Peripherals | |
| Vertical Aerospace | 4.1% | Aerospace and Defense | |
| Rubrik | -4.7% | Systems Software | |
| Cloudflare | -12.8% | internet Services and Infrastructure | |
| Cyren (Pink Sheets) | N/A | Systems Software |
