The US companies that make the most investments
The industries that are invested in the most by top US companies
The most commonly-asked questions about investing
The most searched investment questions in the United States
The most searched investment questions in every state
[site-breadcrumb]
When looking for viable investment opportunities, many of us might consider some of the biggest and most well-known companies in the hopes of a safe investment with reliable returns. What we might not consider is how active these companies are in investing in other businesses and industries, potentially boosting their profits and increasing the value of your stake in them.
Of course, no investment is 100% safe, and many of these companies will at one point or another exit from an unfavourable investment. Just like regular retail investing, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
However, by looking at the industries that these companies are investing most heavily in, we can learn which sectors are the most important to their future growth, as well as where their financial analysts see the most potential profit.
With this in mind, we’ve looked at 50 of the largest US companies to assess how active they are in finding new investment opportunities, and what industries they’re targeting the most.
Big investors
The US companies that make the most investments
Here you can see how many investments have been made by 50 of the largest companies in the United States. You can also see which industry each company invested in the most, as well as the total number of investments in that industry.
1. Cisco – Number of Investments: 214
The company that has made the most investments is multinational technology conglomerate Cisco, with 214. Based in San Jose, California, Cisco develops and manufactures hardware, software and a multitude of other technology products, and is one of the leading tech companies in Silicon Valley. The industry that Cisco has invested in most heavily is software, having made 74 separate investments in the sector.
2. Morgan Stanley – Number of Investments: 206
Morgan Stanley is the second most prolific investor with a total of 206 investments. This investment and financial services company is one the biggest in the industry, and has also focused on investments in software, pumping its money into 38 different companies in the sector.
3. Microsoft – Number of Investments: 163
In third place is tech giant Microsoft with 163 investments. Again, the sector in which this company has invested most heavily in is software, with a total of 50 investments in the sector.
As the owner of the Xbox video gaming brand, Microsoft has also been putting a lot of effort into acquiring new third party studios, bringing them in-house to cement their dominance of the market. The most notable of these was the 2021 acquisition of Activision Blizzard in a deal worth an eye-watering $68.7 billion, dwarfing their previous biggest spend when acquiring Zenimax Media for $7.5 billion in 2020.
Big investors
The industries that are invested in the most by top US companies
Looking at it from another angle, we’ve calculated the total number of investments that each industry received from the 50 companies we looked at, singling out the top 20 that received the most investments. We’ve also highlighted which company made the most investments in each industry, revealing the most active investors in every sector.
1. Software – Number of Investments: 389
Having been the most heavily invested-in industry for all of our top three biggest investing companies, it should come as no surprise that software is the sector seeing the largest number of investments. With 389 individual investments, the software sector has more than double the number of any other industry.
2. Information Technology – Number of Investments: 174
The information technology sector saw the second-largest number of investments at 174, reinforcing the view that digital technologies are the most lucrative area of investment at the moment.
3. Internet – Number of Investments: 172
The internet industry takes third place with 172 individual investments, just trailing behind information technology. As we become ever-more reliant on technology for business, communication and socialising, having reliable and fast internet connections is more important than ever.
Big investors
The most commonly-asked questions about investing
If you’ve taken inspiration from the prolific investing seen by the biggest companies in the US, and want to start investing yourself, you’ll probably have a few questions. While doing plenty of research is an inescapable part of getting started, from checking broker reviews to assessing the amount of risk you’re willing to take, we thought it would be helpful to look at some of the most common questions asked by people about the world of investing.
We’ve found the most-searched investing-related queries and questions in the country and we’ll be addressing the top few one at a time. So read on for answers to some of the hottest investment questions out there.
Big investors
The most searched investment questions in the United States
The Most Sought-After Investment Topics Ranked by Search Volume
This analysis highlights the specific investment areas generating the greatest public curiosity. We have organized them based on search frequency over the past year and will offer a detailed look at the five most popular topics.
1. Query: “investing in stocks” – Monthly Searches: 552,600
Stock market participation represents the most conventional investment method, involving the purchase of ownership portions in publicly traded corporations. Ideally, these holdings appreciate over time, resulting in the investor possessing assets exceeding their initial capital outlay. Furthermore, shareholders might qualify for dividend payments, which are distributed according to corporate profitability and the extent of their ownership, thereby establishing a potential passive revenue flow while retaining the underlying assets.
Acquiring stocks typically occurs through two primary channels: purchasing directly from the corporation or utilizing a digital brokerage service. The latter approach is predominantly favored by individual investors and provides the most accessible entry point for those new to the financial markets.
For those seeking deeper knowledge about stock market investment, it is advisable to consult reputable financial resources and engage with experienced investors to clarify any uncertainties.
2. Query: “best investment apps” – Monthly Searches: 409,900
Given the ubiquity of smartphones in modern life, mobile applications for trading have surged in popularity. They provide the convenience of constant portfolio monitoring and management directly from a personal device.
The market hosts numerous applications, with nearly every established brokerage firm providing its own proprietary mobile platform. However, these apps differ significantly in quality, functionality, and user experience, depending on an individual’s specific investment requirements.
Identifying the optimal mobile platform necessitates evaluating various criteria. Certain applications prioritize user-friendliness, featuring intuitive tools that facilitate rapid transactions. Conversely, others may provide comprehensive analytical data, enabling more informed decision-making regarding available assets.
It is also crucial to recognize that brokerage platforms differ in the investment products they offer. Therefore, clarifying personal investment objectives before committing to a specific app is beneficial. Prospective users should also weigh the advantages of premium, subscription-based services against those of complimentary platforms, the latter often being an attractive starting point for beginners.
3. Query: “investing in cryptocurrency” – Monthly Searches: 389,900
Digital currencies have become a ubiquitous topic, heavily promoted across various media channels, from online platforms to major televised events. These assets are characterized by significant price fluctuations, high-profile endorsements, and their foundation in decentralized ledger systems.
Cryptocurrencies have polarized professional opinion within the financial sector. For those comfortable with substantial risk, they represent a novel and exciting frontier at the forefront of technological progress. However, numerous conventional investors remain cautious, citing the market’s lack of regulation and the speculative nature of digital asset valuation.
Consequently, cryptocurrency investment options are not universally available through all financial intermediaries, which may restrict platform choices for interested individuals. As with any financial undertaking, comprehensive research into specific digital tokens and a clear understanding of the inherent risks are essential prerequisites.
4. Query: “esg investing” – Monthly Searches: 381,000
ESG, an acronym for Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria, defines an investment philosophy centered on supporting corporations committed to responsible practices and sustainable objectives, rather than prioritizing profit exclusively. This conscientious approach to finance is gaining substantial traction, particularly among younger demographics focused on environmental preservation and fostering a more sustainable future.
Beyond its ethical dimension, this strategy can also offer financial prudence. The global challenges that ESG-focused companies aim to address will inevitably require solutions, suggesting that investing in their success could yield considerable long-term returns.
Many brokerage platforms now provide specialized funds and exchange-traded products that adhere to ESG principles, or offer screening tools to identify companies with strong sustainability ratings. This accessibility allows individual investors to participate in impact investing without the need for exhaustive individual company analysis. The most suitable platforms for this approach typically offer a diverse selection of funds catering to varying risk tolerances and return expectations.
5. Query: “investing reddit” – Monthly Searches: 342,200
Digital forums and social news platforms serve as dynamic spaces where individuals with shared interests convene for discussion. Participants utilize these communities to exchange viewpoints, solicit advice from a broad audience, or engage in lighthearted interaction and content sharing.
Within the financial realm, these online communities offer invaluable opportunities for novice investors. They provide insights into common challenges encountered by others, facilitate access to real-time market discussions, and foster a sense of belonging among a network of peers.
Nevertheless, while these platforms can stimulate engaging conversation and generate ideas, the information shared is not always verified for accuracy. It is therefore prudent to corroborate any financial insights obtained from such sources with information from established and trustworthy financial authorities.
Big investors
The most searched investment questions in every state
We’ve also looked at the most frequently searched investing queries in every US state, so you can see what people are asking where you live. From the best investment apps to ESG investing, if you’ve searched for these terms then you’re certainly not alone.
Big investors
Methodology
We wanted to find out which of the biggest companies in the USA are the most prolific investors, as well as which industries receive the majority of these investments. To do this, we took the largest companies in the USA in March 2022 from Companies Market Cap, and used data from Crunchbase to find out how many investments each company has made, broken down by industry.
Several companies either has no data or had very few investments, so we skipped any company with fewer than 2 listed investments. We took data from the top 50 companies for which sufficient data was available and ranked them by the number of investments made.
We also calculated how many investments were made into each industry, revealing the top 20 and ranking them accordingly. This also meant we could highlight the company that made the most investments in each industry.
In addition to this, we also conducted research into the most commonly searched queries about investing in the USA using March 2022 data from Google’s Keyword Planner. We provided answers and information for the top 5 queries nationally, while also highlighting the top question in every state. The bulk of the search terms analysed were found using information from Answer The Public.