Hedge funds have reduced their exposure to Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) and the broader "Magnificent 7" group of tech stocks during the second and third quarters of 2024, according to a recent analysis by JPMorgan.
This trimming of positions comes in contrast to the bullish sentiment seen among retail investors, especially ahead of Nvidia's earnings report.
JPMorgan's analysts highlighted a cautious approach by hedge funds and active equity mutual funds toward U.S. tech stocks, particularly Nvidia.
This caution is evident in the reduction of positions following a peak in the first quarter of 2024.
"A lower Nvidia exposure may have been a factor behind Equity Long/Short hedge funds' positive performance in July despite the significant Nvidia stock price correction during that month," said JPMorgan.
The bank noted that while hedge funds had been overweight on Nvidia earlier in the year, they began reducing their positions in the second quarter, a trend that continued into the third quarter.
The lower exposure to Nvidia is said to have proved beneficial for Equity Long/Short hedge funds in July, helping them achieve positive returns even as Nvidia's stock faced downward pressure.
Meanwhile, JPMorgan says retail investors have shown strong bullishness toward Nvidia and tech stocks overall, as seen in the continued inflows into equity funds and thematic ETFs that heavily feature Nvidia.
The popularity of single-stock Nvidia ETFs, which often provide leveraged exposure, is also said to underscore this retail optimism.
JPMorgan's report highlights the contrasting strategies between institutional and retail investors in the current market environment, with hedge funds adopting a more defensive stance while retail investors continue to bet heavily on tech, particularly Nvidia.