Microsoft Becomes Top Retail-Sold Stock as Trading Volumes Rise 28%
MSFT•Retail investors trimmed Microsoft’s position last week, shifting it from the second-most-bought stock in April to the second-most-sold in May and the most-sold over the past week. During the same period, retail trading volumes jumped 28% and a basket of favored tech names rallied 29%.
1. Microsoft Moves to Top Retail-Sold Stock
Microsoft shifted from the second-most-bought stock in April to the second-most-sold in May and ranked as the most-sold stock during the past week, reflecting a notable change in retail investor behavior toward one of the market’s largest software names.
2. Surge in Retail Trading Volumes
Retail trading volumes surged 28% since mid-April, boosting a basket of popular tech names by 29% over the same period and accounting for roughly 20% of total US equity trading, up from 15% a decade ago.
3. Retail Pivot to Semiconductors
As software stocks saw profit-taking, retail investors increased positions in semiconductor names; Intel shares soared and semiconductor ETFs including the iShares Semiconductor ETF and VanEck Semiconductor ETF recorded strong inflows, while memory-focused ETFs saw inflows even after quadrupling last week.
