Top 10 Stocks That Captured Retail Investors’ Attention in 2024
In 2024, retail investors once again demonstrated their preference for large-cap tech stocks, particularly those leading advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). These familiar names not only delivered substantial profits but also maintained their stronghold as investor favorites.
Vanda Research reported that self-directed retail investors contributed approximately $265 billion in net new inflows to U.S. markets throughout 2024. While this figure is $25 billion lower than the average of the previous three years, it remains within the healthy post-pandemic range, reflecting consistent market engagement from individual investors.
Here’s the list of the 10 most popular retail investor stocks of 2024:
The Most Popular Stocks of 2024
Six tech giants dominated retail investor inflows last year: AMD (AMD), Nvidia (NVDA), Apple (AAPL), Palantir (PLTR), Tesla (TSLA), and Amazon (AMZN). Together, these companies accounted for $67.7 billion in retail inflows.
Nvidia Takes the Lead
Nvidia emerged as the most popular stock among retail investors in 2024, with $29.8 billion in net inflows—more than double the $11.4 billion it garnered in 2023. This surge reflects its dominance in AI and semiconductor technology.
Tesla's Influence Waning?
While Tesla attracted $14.7 billion in inflows last year, this marks a significant decline from the $48 billion recorded in 2023. Despite the drop, Tesla retained its position as the top holding in retail investor portfolios, making up 10.58% of the average portfolio, just ahead of Nvidia’s 10.33%.
Other Popular Investments
Retail investors also leaned into index-based trades tied to key themes such as AI and market momentum. These included:
Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL)*
Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)*
ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ)
SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
These vehicles offered exposure to trending sectors and amplified returns for investors seeking growth in a volatile market.
A Year of Resilience and Returns
"2024 was an eventful year for markets," noted Marco Iachini, Senior Vice President at Vanda Research. "For the average retail investor, it was another great year of portfolio performance. Loyalty to tech names paid off."
As 2024 showed, retail investors' steadfast commitment to technology and AI-focused stocks continues to be a winning strategy. Their ability to adapt to market trends while maintaining core holdings in high-growth sectors remains a defining trait of the modern retail investor.
In 2024, retail investors once again demonstrated their preference for large-cap tech stocks, particularly those leading advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). These familiar names not only delivered substantial profits but also maintained their stronghold as investor favorites.
Vanda Research reported that self-directed retail investors contributed approximately $265 billion in net new inflows to U.S. markets throughout 2024. While this figure is $25 billion lower than the average of the previous three years, it remains within the healthy post-pandemic range, reflecting consistent market engagement from individual investors.
Here’s the list of the 10 most popular retail investor stocks of 2024:
- Tesla (TSLA)
- Nvidia (NVDA)
- Apple (AAPL)
- SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
- Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQ)
- Meta Platforms (META)
- Amazon.com (AMZN)
- ProShares UltraPro QQQ ETF (TQQQ)
- Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
- Netflix (NFLX)
The Most Popular Stocks of 2024
Six tech giants dominated retail investor inflows last year: AMD (AMD), Nvidia (NVDA), Apple (AAPL), Palantir (PLTR), Tesla (TSLA), and Amazon (AMZN). Together, these companies accounted for $67.7 billion in retail inflows.
Nvidia Takes the Lead
Nvidia emerged as the most popular stock among retail investors in 2024, with $29.8 billion in net inflows—more than double the $11.4 billion it garnered in 2023. This surge reflects its dominance in AI and semiconductor technology.
Tesla's Influence Waning?
While Tesla attracted $14.7 billion in inflows last year, this marks a significant decline from the $48 billion recorded in 2023. Despite the drop, Tesla retained its position as the top holding in retail investor portfolios, making up 10.58% of the average portfolio, just ahead of Nvidia’s 10.33%.
Other Popular Investments
Retail investors also leaned into index-based trades tied to key themes such as AI and market momentum. These included:
Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL)*
Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)*
ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ)
SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
These vehicles offered exposure to trending sectors and amplified returns for investors seeking growth in a volatile market.
A Year of Resilience and Returns
"2024 was an eventful year for markets," noted Marco Iachini, Senior Vice President at Vanda Research. "For the average retail investor, it was another great year of portfolio performance. Loyalty to tech names paid off."
As 2024 showed, retail investors' steadfast commitment to technology and AI-focused stocks continues to be a winning strategy. Their ability to adapt to market trends while maintaining core holdings in high-growth sectors remains a defining trait of the modern retail investor.