Which stocks do institutions love? Which do they avoid? High institutional ownership indicates smart money conviction, whereas low ownership may signal potential overlooked opportunities. Our 2026 study breaks down the data.
| Ticker | Company | Sector | Inst. Ownership (%) | Number of Inst. | Top Holder | Top Holder (%) | Insider Ownership (%) | Market Cap ($B) | P/E Ratio | Short Interest (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MMM | 3M | Industrials | 76.32% | 2,824 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.31% | 0.12% | $80.80 | 25.57 | 1.56% |
| AOS | A. O. Smith | Industrials | 100.00% | 905 | Vanguard Group Inc | 13.43% | 0.44% | $9.82 | 18.44 | 5.57% |
| ABT | Abbott Laboratories | Health Care | 81.95% | 4,087 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.10% | 0.56% | $190.38 | 29.37 | 0.99% |
| ABBV | AbbVie | Health Care | 76.39% | 5,076 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.22% | 0.11% | $406.87 | 97.09 | 1.29% |
| ACN | Accenture | Information Technology | 82.75% | 3,221 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.00% | 0.08% | $133.33 | 17.77 | 2.76% |
| ADBE | Adobe Inc. | Information Technology | 87.67% | 3,540 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.06% | 0.25% | $118.72 | 16.97 | 3.02% |
| AMD | Advanced Micro Devices | Information Technology | 72.22% | 4,063 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.72% | 0.44% | $313.76 | 73.45 | 1.89% |
| AES | AES Corporation | Utilities | 88.09% | 986 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.43% | 0.48% | $10.08 | 9.31 | 3.16% |
| AFL | Aflac | Financials | 59.60% | 2,112 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.07% | 10.91% | $57.47 | 16.32 | 1.43% |
| A | Agilent Technologies | Health Care | 93.04% | 1,598 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.07% | 0.18% | $32.55 | 25.40 | 1.72% |
| APD | Air Products and Chemicals | Materials | 94.08% | 2,120 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.02% | 1.89% | $60.60 | N/A | 2.33% |
| ABNB | Airbnb | Consumer Discretionary | 86.53% | 1,807 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.04% | 1.37% | $79.87 | 33.14 | 3.65% |
| AKAM | Akamai Technologies | Information Technology | 100.00% | 980 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.67% | 2.01% | $14.47 | 32.54 | 12.12% |
| ALB | Albemarle Corporation | Materials | 94.67% | 1,206 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.33% | 0.38% | $19.13 | N/A | 10.98% |
| ARE | Alexandria Real Estate Equities | Real Estate | 97.94% | 902 | Vanguard Group Inc | 14.90% | 1.33% | $8.79 | N/A | 6.45% |
| ALGN | Align Technology | Health Care | 96.01% | 967 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.48% | 6.83% | $12.48 | 30.74 | 4.28% |
| ALLE | Allegion | Industrials | 97.48% | 1,129 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.31% | 1.17% | $12.95 | 20.21 | 3.34% |
| LNT | Alliant Energy | Utilities | 91.46% | 1,104 | Vanguard Group Inc | 14.31% | 0.25% | $18.40 | 22.79 | 8.53% |
| ALL | Allstate | Financials | 82.68% | 2,127 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.80% | 0.57% | $55.10 | 5.58 | 2.52% |
| GOOGL | Alphabet Inc. (Class A) | Communication Services | 80.85% | 7,185 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.09% | 0.57% | $3610.71 | 27.61 | 1.26% |
| GOOG | Alphabet Inc. (Class C) | Communication Services | 60.95% | 6,178 | Vanguard Group Inc | 7.74% | 6.64% | $3608.54 | 27.62 | N/A |
| MO | Altria | Consumer Staples | 63.60% | 2,860 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.63% | 0.12% | $111.65 | 16.14 | 2.79% |
| AMZN | Amazon | Consumer Discretionary | 67.24% | 7,665 | Vanguard Group Inc | 7.88% | 9.08% | $2287.83 | 29.77 | 0.90% |
| AMCR | Amcor | Materials | 69.97% | 1,004 | Blackrock Inc. | 6.86% | 0.29% | $20.00 | 32.54 | 6.16% |
| AEE | Ameren | Utilities | 85.56% | 1,172 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.90% | 0.31% | $30.83 | 20.84 | 3.42% |
| AEP | American Electric Power | Utilities | 84.88% | 2,277 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.58% | 0.25% | $71.32 | 19.80 | 3.45% |
| AXP | American Express | Financials | 64.81% | 3,742 | Berkshire Hathaway, Inc | 22.08% | 22.23% | $207.34 | 19.57 | 1.61% |
| AIG | American International Group | Financials | 99.29% | 1,547 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.63% | 0.34% | $42.48 | 14.50 | 2.13% |
| AMT | American Tower | Real Estate | 96.12% | 2,410 | Vanguard Group Inc | 13.68% | 0.16% | $88.29 | 34.99 | 1.66% |
| AWK | American Water Works | Utilities | 99.50% | 1,635 | Vanguard Group Inc | 13.27% | 0.25% | $26.84 | 24.16 | 6.20% |
| AMP | Ameriprise Financial | Financials | 89.92% | 1,869 | Vanguard Group Inc | 13.44% | 0.19% | $43.19 | 12.82 | 4.18% |
| AME | Ametek | Industrials | 92.09% | 1,535 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.87% | 0.40% | $51.10 | 34.74 | 1.19% |
| AMGN | Amgen | Health Care | 85.20% | 3,879 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.17% | 0.21% | $199.20 | 25.97 | 2.69% |
| APH | Amphenol | Information Technology | 97.88% | 2,674 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.30% | 0.55% | $162.10 | 39.48 | 1.54% |
| ADI | Analog Devices | Information Technology | 93.46% | 2,601 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.42% | 0.24% | $154.18 | 57.84 | 1.88% |
| AON | Aon | Financials | 88.75% | 1,733 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.41% | 2.85% | $73.21 | 20.00 | 1.04% |
| APA | APA Corporation | Energy | 99.31% | 969 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.27% | 0.44% | $11.69 | 7.82 | 11.92% |
| APO | Apollo Global Management | Financials | 68.00% | 1,623 | Vanguard Group Inc | 8.26% | 26.99% | $63.09 | 19.62 | 5.22% |
| AAPL | Apple Inc. | Information Technology | 65.20% | 7,519 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.72% | 1.64% | $3784.13 | 32.59 | 0.91% |
| AMAT | Applied Materials | Information Technology | 85.52% | 3,445 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.67% | 0.33% | $257.72 | 33.34 | 1.86% |
| APP | AppLovin | Information Technology | 81.17% | 2,118 | Vanguard Group Inc | 8.18% | 18.76% | $169.70 | 50.01 | 4.92% |
| APTV | Aptiv | Consumer Discretionary | 100.00% | 1,124 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.65% | 0.41% | $15.71 | 96.93 | 3.91% |
| ACGL | Arch Capital Group | Financials | 94.05% | 1,303 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.60% | 3.27% | $35.25 | 8.38 | 1.83% |
| ADM | Archer-Daniels-Midland | Consumer Staples | 87.98% | 1,401 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.30% | 0.68% | $32.45 | 30.24 | 3.62% |
| ARES | Ares Management | Financials | 89.40% | 1,145 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.79% | 11.16% | $36.40 | 64.33 | 5.15% |
| ANET | Arista Networks | Information Technology | 70.78% | 2,751 | Vanguard Group Inc | 8.05% | 18.00% | $167.35 | 48.32 | 1.24% |
| AJG | Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | Financials | 93.56% | 1,731 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.21% | 0.92% | $58.65 | 39.67 | 2.17% |
| AIZ | Assurant | Financials | 97.53% | 824 | Vanguard Group Inc | 13.37% | 0.63% | $11.16 | 13.17 | 2.39% |
| T | AT&T | Communication Services | 67.78% | 3,548 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.49% | 0.08% | $203.04 | 9.42 | 1.60% |
| ATO | Atmos Energy | Utilities | 100.00% | 1,332 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.71% | 0.40% | $30.61 | 24.09 | 2.77% |
| ADSK | Autodesk | Information Technology | 95.77% | 2,075 | Blackrock Inc. | 10.42% | 0.21% | $55.33 | 50.00 | 3.02% |
| ADP | Automatic Data Processing | Industrials | 86.51% | 3,073 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.33% | 0.16% | $91.51 | 21.73 | 2.77% |
| AZO | AutoZone | Consumer Discretionary | 94.42% | 1,854 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.84% | 0.25% | $60.56 | 25.38 | 2.17% |
| AVB | AvalonBay Communities | Real Estate | 100.00% | 1,141 | Vanguard Group Inc | 16.25% | 0.41% | $25.19 | 24.04 | 5.12% |
| AVY | Avery Dennison | Materials | 98.64% | 1,126 | Vanguard Group Inc | 13.59% | 0.84% | $13.81 | 20.46 | 3.17% |
| AXON | Axon Enterprise | Industrials | 85.84% | 1,580 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.65% | 4.38% | $46.15 | 385.24 | 3.70% |
| BKR | Baker Hughes | Energy | 100.00% | 1,443 | Vanguard Group Inc | 14.67% | 0.13% | $59.11 | 23.00 | 3.29% |
| BALL | Ball Corporation | Materials | 89.31% | 1,028 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.83% | 0.31% | $16.76 | 18.95 | 1.96% |
| BAC | Bank of America | Financials | 71.17% | 4,439 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.07% | 7.33% | $355.19 | 12.77 | 1.40% |
| BAX | Baxter International | Health Care | 100.00% | 1,023 | Blackrock Inc. | 16.48% | 0.43% | $9.10 | N/A | 12.47% |
| BDX | Becton Dickinson | Health Care | 96.13% | 2,022 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.88% | 0.40% | $60.55 | 27.31 | 5.80% |
| BRK.B | Berkshire Hathaway | Financials | 66.28% | 5,836 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.31% | 0.39% | $1076.47 | 16.08 | 0.88% |
| BBY | Best Buy | Consumer Discretionary | 100.00% | 1,290 | Blackrock Inc. | 12.46% | 7.55% | $14.01 | 22.01 | 13.43% |
| TECH | Bio-Techne | Health Care | 100.00% | 811 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.38% | 0.29% | $8.43 | 101.68 | 8.24% |
| BIIB | Biogen | Health Care | 98.02% | 1,435 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.89% | 0.17% | $27.13 | 21.06 | 4.00% |
| BLK | BlackRock | Financials | 82.58% | 3,084 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.04% | 1.97% | $148.61 | 27.03 | 0.97% |
| BX | Blackstone Inc. | Financials | 70.32% | 2,810 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.66% | 0.97% | $135.75 | 28.45 | 1.75% |
| BK | BNY Mellon | Financials | 87.91% | 2,260 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.38% | 0.24% | $80.36 | 15.57 | 1.40% |
| BA | Boeing | Industrials | 73.90% | 2,998 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.04% | 0.08% | $181.50 | 93.57 | 1.74% |
| BKNG | Booking Holdings | Consumer Discretionary | 100.00% | 2,928 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.47% | 0.20% | $146.68 | 27.47 | 2.59% |
| BSX | Boston Scientific | Health Care | 94.92% | 2,514 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.41% | 0.20% | $105.88 | 36.78 | 1.80% |
| BMY | Bristol Myers Squibb | Health Care | 83.08% | 3,157 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.76% | 0.10% | $122.78 | 17.42 | 1.56% |
| AVGO | Broadcom Inc. | Information Technology | 79.44% | 5,972 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.18% | 1.96% | $1566.75 | 69.42 | 1.19% |
| BR | Broadridge Financial Solutions | Industrials | 94.91% | 1,553 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.89% | 0.49% | $22.99 | 21.78 | 2.62% |
| BRO | Brown & Brown | Financials | 82.66% | 1,226 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.06% | 13.09% | $25.09 | 23.26 | 6.30% |
| BF.B | Brown–Forman | Consumer Staples | 76.96% | 904 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.28% | 2.94% | $11.70 | 14.77 | 16.56% |
| BLDR | Builders FirstSource | Industrials | 96.95% | 1,077 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.19% | 2.62% | $10.30 | 23.94 | 5.74% |
| BG | Bunge Global SA | Consumer Staples | 76.82% | 971 | Glencore Plc | 16.95% | 17.76% | $22.58 | 23.62 | 3.48% |
| BXP | BXP Inc. | Real Estate | 100.00% | 905 | Vanguard Group Inc | 15.15% | 0.41% | $9.37 | 30.43 | 9.85% |
| CHRW | C.H. Robinson | Industrials | 100.00% | 1,135 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.28% | 0.81% | $21.31 | 37.19 | 7.13% |
| CDNS | Cadence Design Systems | Information Technology | 90.09% | 2,096 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.99% | 0.30% | $81.92 | 72.96 | 2.09% |
| CPT | Camden Property Trust | Real Estate | 100.00% | 840 | Vanguard Group Inc | 16.30% | 1.49% | $11.33 | 30.09 | 6.19% |
| CPB | Campbell Soup Company | Consumer Staples | 62.46% | 853 | Blackrock Inc. | 8.34% | 33.61% | $7.69 | 13.30 | 22.58% |
| COF | Capital One | Financials | 88.56% | 2,700 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.15% | 1.87% | $116.74 | 55.87 | 1.31% |
| CAH | Cardinal Health | Health Care | 90.49% | 1,865 | Vanguard Group Inc | 13.36% | 0.26% | $51.25 | 31.34 | 2.45% |
| CCL | Carnival | Consumer Discretionary | 71.40% | 1,489 | Vanguard Group Inc | 10.34% | 7.84% | $35.72 | 12.77 | 3.56% |
| CARR | Carrier Global | Industrials | 91.13% | 1,983 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.09% | 6.15% | $48.77 | 34.53 | 2.74% |
| CVNA | Carvana | Consumer Discretionary | 100.00% | 1,165 | Price (T.Rowe) Associates Inc | 12.42% | 2.13% | $69.62 | 37.60 | 12.10% |
| CAT | Caterpillar Inc. | Industrials | 72.60% | 4,261 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.97% | 0.23% | $318.65 | 36.24 | 2.15% |
| CBOE | Cboe Global Markets | Financials | 89.36% | 1,326 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.61% | 0.24% | $31.53 | 28.91 | 2.98% |
| CBRE | CBRE Group | Real Estate | 99.15% | 1,547 | Vanguard Group Inc | 16.20% | 0.64% | $40.72 | 35.63 | 1.63% |
| CDW | CDW | Information Technology | 97.95% | 1,158 | Vanguard Group Inc | 13.52% | 0.39% | $16.07 | 15.27 | 4.44% |
| COR | Cencora | Health Care | 96.89% | 1,973 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.14% | 4.22% | $69.73 | 43.08 | 3.13% |
| CNC | Centene Corporation | Health Care | 98.35% | 1,283 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.59% | 0.67% | $21.47 | N/A | 3.35% |
| CNP | CenterPoint Energy | Utilities | 100.00% | 1,072 | Capital International Investors | 13.18% | 0.23% | $28.47 | 27.26 | 7.08% |
| CF | CF Industries | Materials | 100.00% | 1,168 | Vanguard Group Inc | 12.73% | 0.67% | $18.06 | 12.91 | 8.82% |
| CRL | Charles River Laboratories | Health Care | 100.00% | 824 | Vanguard Group Inc | 11.96% | 1.10% | $8.59 | N/A | 6.90% |
| SCHW | Charles Schwab Corporation | Financials | 84.89% | 2,926 | Vanguard Group Inc | 8.59% | 6.29% | $169.22 | 20.48 | 0.82% |
| CHTR | Charter Communications | Communication Services | 81.72% | 1,152 | Dodge & Cox Inc. | 11.54% | 36.22% | $30.05 | 6.41 | 26.19% |
| CVX | Chevron Corporation | Energy | 67.91% | 4,699 | Vanguard Group Inc | 9.17% | 6.60% | $379.76 | 28.65 | 1.17% |
High institutional ownership typically signifies that large financial entities (like mutual funds, pension funds, and hedge funds) have strong conviction in a company's fundamentals and future prospects. It implies a vote of confidence from the "smart money."
Typically, large-cap, established companies in the S&P 500 feature the highest institutional ownership percentages, often exceeding 80%. See our data table above for the exact 2026 figures.
Generally, yes. It indicates professional endorsement and provides stock stability. However, extremely high ownership (e.g., >90%) can lead to heightened volatility if multiple institutions decide to sell simultaneously ("crowded trade").
Hedge funds frequently target technology, healthcare, and consumer discretionary sectors, seeking high-growth opportunities or mispriced assets. Look at the "Top Holder" column in our table to see major institutional players.
In the modern U.S. stock market, institutions collectively own approximately 70-80% of the market value of publicly traded companies, a figure that continues to remain strong in 2026.
Data for this 2026 study was sourced directly from public financial APIs including Yahoo Finance. Our analysis encompasses top US equities, evaluating institutional percentages, top holders, and relevant valuation metrics. We prioritize verifiable, null-over-fake data processing. Invalid ownership percentages were bounded to standard constraints (0-100% for institutions, 0-80% for insiders).
The information provided in this study is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Westmount Research is not a registered investment advisor. Always conduct your own due diligence before making investment decisions.
Westmount Fundamentals. "Institutional Ownership: Most & Least Owned Stocks 2026." westmountfundamentals.com/institutional-ownership, 2026.