Stocks

Market Rebalance Targets Concentration Risk in Leading Indexes

Published December 15, 2023

The imminent rebalance of the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 indexes signals a move to address the ongoing concern of concentration risk in these leading market measures. This issue stems from the outsized influence of a handful of technology behemoths. Notably, five pivotal companies - Apple, Microsoft MSFT, Amazon, Nvidia NVDA, and Alphabet - collectively command approximately 25% of the S&P 500's weight. The situation is even more pronounced in the Nasdaq-100, where these five, along with an additional company, account for about 40% of the index's valuation. As these technology giants have expanded their market capitalizations, their sway over index movements has intensified, raising caution among investors and index committees alike.

Microsoft Corporation: A Tech Titan's Profile

MSFT, better known as Microsoft Corporation, stands as a cornerstone in the technology sector. As an American multinational technology entity, Microsoft has asserted its dominance with a vast array of products and services. Its repertoire includes the ubiquitous Microsoft Windows operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, and widely-used internet browsers like Internet Explorer and Edge. The company does not stop at software; it also delivers hardware innovations through Xbox video game consoles and Microsoft Surface touchscreen PCs. Spectacularly ranking No. 21 on 2020's Fortune 500 list and holding the title of the largest software maker by revenue as of 2016, Microsoft's legacy is storied and its market influence profound.

Nvidia Corporation: Pioneering GPU Innovation

Nvidia Corporation NVDA has carved its niche by specializing in cutting-edge graphics processing units (GPUs) for gaming and professional applications, along with system on a chip units (SoCs) for diverse sectors including mobile computing and automotive. Domiciled in Delaware with headquarters in Santa Clara, California, Nvidia has been pivotal to driving technology in these industries forward, underlining the company's position as a major player within the tech market.

investment, technology, indexes