S&P 500   4,191.98
DOW   33,426.63
QQQ   336.51
Mount Etna volcano erupts, raining ash on Catania, forcing flight suspension at local airport
Sell every Stock except ONE (Ad)
China tells tech manufacturers to stop using Micron chips, stepping up feud with United States
Stock market today: Asian shares mostly rise despite worries about US debt talks
Sell every Stock except ONE (Ad)
SpaceX launches two Saudi astronauts on private flight to space station
Civil rights groups warn tourists about Florida in wake of 'hostile' laws
Laser breakthrough could send stock soaring 2,467% (Ad)
South Korean, German leaders agree to cooperate on supply chains, North Korea
Animal rights activists protest octopus farm plans in Spain
S&P 500   4,191.98
DOW   33,426.63
QQQ   336.51
Mount Etna volcano erupts, raining ash on Catania, forcing flight suspension at local airport
Sell every Stock except ONE (Ad)
China tells tech manufacturers to stop using Micron chips, stepping up feud with United States
Stock market today: Asian shares mostly rise despite worries about US debt talks
Sell every Stock except ONE (Ad)
SpaceX launches two Saudi astronauts on private flight to space station
Civil rights groups warn tourists about Florida in wake of 'hostile' laws
Laser breakthrough could send stock soaring 2,467% (Ad)
South Korean, German leaders agree to cooperate on supply chains, North Korea
Animal rights activists protest octopus farm plans in Spain
S&P 500   4,191.98
DOW   33,426.63
QQQ   336.51
Mount Etna volcano erupts, raining ash on Catania, forcing flight suspension at local airport
Sell every Stock except ONE (Ad)
China tells tech manufacturers to stop using Micron chips, stepping up feud with United States
Stock market today: Asian shares mostly rise despite worries about US debt talks
Sell every Stock except ONE (Ad)
SpaceX launches two Saudi astronauts on private flight to space station
Civil rights groups warn tourists about Florida in wake of 'hostile' laws
Laser breakthrough could send stock soaring 2,467% (Ad)
South Korean, German leaders agree to cooperate on supply chains, North Korea
Animal rights activists protest octopus farm plans in Spain
S&P 500   4,191.98
DOW   33,426.63
QQQ   336.51
Mount Etna volcano erupts, raining ash on Catania, forcing flight suspension at local airport
Sell every Stock except ONE (Ad)
China tells tech manufacturers to stop using Micron chips, stepping up feud with United States
Stock market today: Asian shares mostly rise despite worries about US debt talks
Sell every Stock except ONE (Ad)
SpaceX launches two Saudi astronauts on private flight to space station
Civil rights groups warn tourists about Florida in wake of 'hostile' laws
Laser breakthrough could send stock soaring 2,467% (Ad)
South Korean, German leaders agree to cooperate on supply chains, North Korea
Animal rights activists protest octopus farm plans in Spain

FAANG Stocks List

Compare faang stocks and their fundamentals, performance, price, and technicals. Use this free stock comparison tool to evaluate companies based on their analyst ratings, book value, debt, dividend, MarketRank, news sentiment, price performance, profitability, and more. Enter up to ten stock symbols separated by a comma or space (ex. BAC, JPM, WFC, C, GS).

Learn more about trading FAANG stocks.

Compare Stocks - Price & Volume

CompanyCurrent Price50-Day Moving Average52-Week RangeMarket CapBetaAvg. VolumeToday's Volume
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
$175.16
+0.1%
$164.84
$124.17
$176.39
$2.76 T1.2963.65 million shs55.81 million shs
Amazon.com, Inc. stock logo
AMZN
Amazon.com
$116.25
-1.6%
$103.63
$81.43
$146.57
$1.19 T1.2666.59 million shs55.06 million shs
Alphabet Inc. stock logo
GOOG
Alphabet
$123.25
-0.2%
$107.03
$83.45
$126.48
$1.56 T1.130.03 million shs30.27 million shs
Meta Platforms, Inc. stock logo
META
Meta Platforms
$245.64
-0.5%
$218.45
$88.09
$248.69
$629.51 B1.229.01 million shs21.73 million shs
Netflix, Inc. stock logo
NFLX
Netflix
$365.36
-1.6%
$328.82
$164.28
$379.43
$162.42 B1.277.37 million shs7.86 million shs

Price Performance

Company1-Day Performance7-Day Performance30-Day Performance90-Day Performance1-Year Performance
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
0.00%+1.50%+6.14%+14.82%+27.31%
Amazon.com, Inc. stock logo
AMZN
Amazon.com
0.00%+5.43%+8.69%+19.60%+8.05%
Alphabet Inc. stock logo
GOOG
Alphabet
0.00%+4.52%+16.37%+30.30%+12.75%
Meta Platforms, Inc. stock logo
META
Meta Platforms
0.00%+5.06%+15.38%+42.09%+26.92%
Netflix, Inc. stock logo
NFLX
Netflix
0.00%+7.49%+11.40%+5.00%+96.06%

MarketRank™

CompanyOverall ScoreAnalyst's OpinionShort Interest ScoreDividend StrengthESG ScoreNews and Social Media SentimentCompany OwnershipEarnings & Valuation
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
2.4646 of 5 stars
2.43.03.32.71.81.72.5
Amazon.com, Inc. stock logo
AMZN
Amazon.com
2.6292 of 5 stars
3.53.00.03.03.72.51.9
Alphabet Inc. stock logo
GOOG
Alphabet
2.197 of 5 stars
1.53.00.02.92.92.53.1
Meta Platforms, Inc. stock logo
META
Meta Platforms
2.5732 of 5 stars
2.44.00.00.02.43.33.1
Netflix, Inc. stock logo
NFLX
Netflix
2.1922 of 5 stars
2.33.00.02.81.82.52.5

Analyst Ratings

CompanyConsensus Rating ScoreConsensus RatingConsensus Price Target% Upside from Current Price
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
2.76
Moderate Buy$174.73-0.24% Downside
Amazon.com, Inc. stock logo
AMZN
Amazon.com
2.95
Moderate Buy$143.1223.12% Upside
Alphabet Inc. stock logo
GOOG
Alphabet
2.94
Moderate Buy$132.807.75% Upside
Meta Platforms, Inc. stock logo
META
Meta Platforms
2.78
Moderate Buy$245.870.09% Upside
Netflix, Inc. stock logo
NFLX
Netflix
2.57
Moderate Buy$347.78-4.81% Downside

Current Analyst Ratings

Latest FAANG Stocks Analyst Ratings

DateCompanyBrokerageActionRatingPrice TargetDetails
5/17/2023
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
Fundamental Research
Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the recommendation accuracy rating
Set Price TargetBuy$183.86
5/15/2023
Meta Platforms, Inc. stock logo
META
Meta Platforms
Loop Capital
Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the recommendation accuracy rating
UpgradeHold ➝ Buy$220.00 ➝ $320.00
5/5/2023
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
Bank of America
Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the recommendation accuracy rating
Boost Price TargetNeutral$173.00 ➝ $176.00
5/5/2023
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
Canaccord Genuity Group
Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the recommendation accuracy rating
Boost Price TargetBuy$180.00 ➝ $185.00
5/5/2023
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
Monness Crespi & Hardt
Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the recommendation accuracy rating
Boost Price TargetBuy$174.00 ➝ $188.00
5/5/2023
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
DA Davidson
Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the recommendation accuracy rating
Boost Price TargetBuy$173.00 ➝ $193.00
5/5/2023
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
Rosenblatt Securities
Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the recommendation accuracy rating
Boost Price TargetBuy$173.00 ➝ $198.00
5/5/2023
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
Needham & Company LLC
Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the recommendation accuracy rating
Boost Price TargetBuy$170.00 ➝ $195.00
5/5/2023
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
Morgan Stanley
Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the recommendation accuracy rating
Boost Price TargetOverweight$180.00 ➝ $185.00
5/5/2023
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
Piper Sandler
Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the recommendation accuracy rating
Lower Price TargetOverweight$195.00 ➝ $180.00
5/5/2023
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft
Subscribe to MarketBeat All Access for the recommendation accuracy rating
Boost Price TargetBuy$170.00 ➝ $180.00
(Data available from 5/22/2020 forward. View 10+ years of historical ratings with our analyst ratings screener.)

Sales & Book Value

CompanyAnnual RevenuePrice/SalesCashflowPrice/CashBook ValuePrice/Book
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
$394.33B6.99$6.98 per share25.11$3.95 per share44.34
Amazon.com, Inc. stock logo
AMZN
Amazon.com
$513.98B2.32$4.73 per share24.59$15.06 per share7.72
Alphabet Inc. stock logo
GOOG
Alphabet
$282.84B5.53$5.91 per share20.84$20.55 per share6.00
Meta Platforms, Inc. stock logo
META
Meta Platforms
$116.61B5.40$13.53 per share18.16$48.70 per share5.04
Netflix, Inc. stock logo
NFLX
Netflix
$31.62B5.14$41.66 per share8.77$49.10 per share7.44

Profitability & Earnings

CompanyNet IncomeEPSTrailing P/E RatioForward P/E RatioP/E GrowthNet MarginsReturn on Equity (ROE)Return on Assets (ROA)Next Earnings Date
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
$99.80B$5.8929.7426.382.3424.49%165.72%27.58%7/27/2023 (Estimated)
Amazon.com, Inc. stock logo
AMZN
Amazon.com
-$2.72B$0.42276.7949.054.110.82%5.85%1.88%7/27/2023 (Estimated)
Alphabet Inc. stock logo
GOOG
Alphabet
$59.97B$4.4927.4519.721.5720.58%22.84%16.18%7/25/2023 (Estimated)
Meta Platforms, Inc. stock logo
META
Meta Platforms
$23.20B$8.0630.4816.601.0518.27%20.67%14.39%7/26/2023 (Estimated)
Netflix, Inc. stock logo
NFLX
Netflix
$4.49B$9.3039.2925.091.4813.16%20.43%8.75%7/18/2023 (Estimated)

Latest FAANG Stocks Earnings

DateQuarterCompanyConsensus EstimateReported EPSBeat/MissGap EPSRevenue EstimateActual RevenueDetails
5/4/2023Q2 2023
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
$1.44$1.52+$0.08$1.52$92.84 billion$94.84 billion    
4/27/2023Q1 23
Amazon.com, Inc. stock logo
AMZN
Amazon.com
$0.22$0.31+$0.09$0.31$124.57 billion$127.36 billion    
4/25/2023Q1 2023
Alphabet Inc. stock logo
GOOG
Alphabet
$1.06$1.17+$0.11$1.17$68.80 billion$69.79 billion    
4/18/2023Q1 23
Netflix, Inc. stock logo
NFLX
Netflix
$2.83$2.88+$0.05$2.88$8.18 billion$8.16 billion    

Dividends

CompanyAnnual PayoutDividend Yield3-Year Dividend GrowthPayout RatioYears of Consecutive Growth
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
$0.960.55%+6.19%16.30%12 Years
Amazon.com, Inc. stock logo
AMZN
Amazon.com
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Alphabet Inc. stock logo
GOOG
Alphabet
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Meta Platforms, Inc. stock logo
META
Meta Platforms
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Netflix, Inc. stock logo
NFLX
Netflix
N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A

Latest FAANG Stocks Dividends

AnnouncementCompanyPeriodAmountYieldEx-Dividend DateRecord DatePayable Date
5/4/2023
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
quarterly$0.240.58%5/12/20235/15/20235/18/2023
(Data available from 1/1/2013 forward)

Debt

CompanyDebt-to-Equity RatioCurrent RatioQuick Ratio
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
1.56
0.94
0.88
Amazon.com, Inc. stock logo
AMZN
Amazon.com
0.43
0.92
0.69
Alphabet Inc. stock logo
GOOG
Alphabet
0.05
2.35
2.32
Meta Platforms, Inc. stock logo
META
Meta Platforms
0.08
2.07
2.07
Netflix, Inc. stock logo
NFLX
Netflix
0.64
1.26
1.26

Ownership

Institutional Ownership

CompanyInstitutional Ownership
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
57.60%
Amazon.com, Inc. stock logo
AMZN
Amazon.com
57.64%
Alphabet Inc. stock logo
GOOG
Alphabet
28.69%
Meta Platforms, Inc. stock logo
META
Meta Platforms
60.92%
Netflix, Inc. stock logo
NFLX
Netflix
77.26%

Insider Ownership

CompanyInsider Ownership
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
0.06%
Amazon.com, Inc. stock logo
AMZN
Amazon.com
12.30%
Alphabet Inc. stock logo
GOOG
Alphabet
12.99%
Meta Platforms, Inc. stock logo
META
Meta Platforms
13.75%
Netflix, Inc. stock logo
NFLX
Netflix
2.45%

Miscellaneous

CompanyEmployeesShares OutstandingFree FloatOptionable
Apple Inc. stock logo
AAPL
Apple
164,00015.73 billion15.72 billionOptionable
Amazon.com, Inc. stock logo
AMZN
Amazon.com
1,541,00010.26 billion9.00 billionOptionable
Alphabet Inc. stock logo
GOOG
Alphabet
156,50012.70 billion11.05 billionOptionable
Meta Platforms, Inc. stock logo
META
Meta Platforms
86,4822.56 billion2.21 billionOptionable
Netflix, Inc. stock logo
NFLX
Netflix
12,800444.54 million433.65 millionOptionable

FAANG Stocks Headlines

SourceHeadline
Netflixs Diplomat keeps up string of No. 1 original showsNetflix's 'Diplomat' keeps up string of No. 1 original shows
msn.com - May 21 at 1:05 PM
How to Find the Next Apple, Microsoft, or NetflixHow to Find the Next Apple, Microsoft, or Netflix
investorplace.com - May 21 at 9:07 AM
7 Cheaper Netflix Alternatives You Should Try7 Cheaper Netflix Alternatives You Should Try
finance.yahoo.com - May 21 at 8:05 AM
10 Great Movies That Will Disappear From Netflix At The End Of May10 Great Movies That Will Disappear From Netflix At The End Of May
forbes.com - May 20 at 8:26 PM
Heres What You Shouldnt Invest in, According to Ramit SethiHere's What You Shouldn't Invest in, According to Ramit Sethi
finance.yahoo.com - May 20 at 10:25 AM
Netflixs Ad Business Is a Huge Hit: Time to Buy the Stock?Netflix's Ad Business Is a Huge Hit: Time to Buy the Stock?
finance.yahoo.com - May 20 at 10:25 AM
Analysts Are Bullish on Top Technology Stocks: Netflix (NFLX), Splunk (SPLK)Analysts Are Bullish on Top Technology Stocks: Netflix (NFLX), Splunk (SPLK)
markets.businessinsider.com - May 19 at 8:16 PM
Netflix shares hit best close since 2022 as Wall Street remains bullish on ad growthNetflix shares hit best close since 2022 as Wall Street remains bullish on ad growth
aol.com - May 19 at 3:15 PM
Netflix presents first look at Prince William and Kate Middleton on ‘The Crown’ Season 6Netflix presents first look at Prince William and Kate Middleton on ‘The Crown’ Season 6
msn.com - May 19 at 3:15 PM
Whats Going On With Netflixs Stock Today?What's Going On With Netflix's Stock Today?
msn.com - May 19 at 3:15 PM
Wedbush Reiterates Netflix (NFLX) Outperform RecommendationWedbush Reiterates Netflix (NFLX) Outperform Recommendation
msn.com - May 19 at 3:15 PM
Netflix stock hits best close since 2022 as Wall Street remains bullish on ad growthNetflix stock hits best close since 2022 as Wall Street remains bullish on ad growth
finance.yahoo.com - May 19 at 3:15 PM
Waddell & Associates LLC Has $458,000 Stock Position in Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)Waddell & Associates LLC Has $458,000 Stock Position in Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX)
marketbeat.com - May 19 at 2:51 PM
Netflixs XO, Kitty ending explainedNetflix's XO, Kitty ending explained
msn.com - May 19 at 10:15 AM
Netflix boosts ad-supported tier with new product, measurement optionsNetflix boosts ad-supported tier with new product, measurement options
marketingdive.com - May 19 at 10:15 AM
Stocks to Watch Thursday: PacWest, Micron, Cisco, Walmart, NetflixStocks to Watch Thursday: PacWest, Micron, Cisco, Walmart, Netflix
wsj.com - May 19 at 5:12 AM
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) Makes an Attempt to Woo AdvertisersNetflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) Makes an Attempt to Woo Advertisers
msn.com - May 19 at 5:12 AM
Netflix, Amazon Addiction Turns Into ‘Digital Deficit’ for Japan and Hassle for the YenNetflix, Amazon Addiction Turns Into ‘Digital Deficit’ for Japan and Hassle for the Yen
finance.yahoo.com - May 19 at 5:12 AM
Netflix draws 5 million people to ad-tier in first 200 daysNetflix draws 5 million people to ad-tier in first 200 days
msn.com - May 18 at 6:17 PM
Netflix shares surge as streamer wows ad communityNetflix shares surge as streamer wows ad community
msn.com - May 18 at 6:17 PM
Rebels Edge Today: $NFLX, $TTWO, And The Miami HeatRebel's Edge Today: $NFLX, $TTWO, And The Miami Heat
msn.com - May 18 at 6:17 PM
Netflix Stock Surges on Reach of Ad-Supported VersionNetflix Stock Surges on Reach of Ad-Supported Version
schaeffersresearch.com - May 18 at 6:17 PM
Why Is Netflix (NFLX) Up 5.2% Since Last Earnings Report?Why Is Netflix (NFLX) Up 5.2% Since Last Earnings Report?
finance.yahoo.com - May 18 at 6:17 PM
Netflix’s Ad-Supported Tier Has Almost 5 Million UsersNetflix’s Ad-Supported Tier Has Almost 5 Million Users
thurrott.com - May 18 at 1:17 PM

New MarketBeat Followers Over Time

Media Sentiment Over Time

Top Headlines

All Headlines

Company Descriptions

Apple logo

Apple

NASDAQ:AAPL
Apple, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables and accessories, and other varieties of related services. It operates through the following geographical segments: Americas, Europe, Greater China, Japan, and Rest of Asia Pacific. The Americas segment includes North and South America. The Europe segment consists of European countries, as well as India, the Middle East, and Africa. The Greater China segment comprises China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The Rest of Asia Pacific segment includes Australia and Asian countries. Its products and services include iPhone, Mac, iPad, AirPods, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Beats products, AppleCare, iCloud, digital content stores, streaming, and licensing services. The company was founded by Steven Paul Jobs, Ronald Gerald Wayne, and Stephen G. Wozniak in April 1976 and is headquartered in Cupertino, CA.
Amazon.com logo

Amazon.com

NASDAQ:AMZN
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational technology company, which engages in the provision of online retail shopping services. It operates through the following segments: North America, International, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The North America segment is involved in the retail sales of consumer products including from sellers and subscriptions through North America-focused online and physical stores. It also includes export sales from online stores. The International segment focuses on the amounts earned from retail sales of consumer products including from sellers and subscriptions through internationally-focused online stores. The AWS segment consists of global sales of compute, storage, database, and other services for start-ups, enterprises, government agencies, and academic institutions. The company was founded by Jeffrey P. Bezos in July 1994 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA.
Alphabet logo

Alphabet

NASDAQ:GOOG
Alphabet, Inc. engages in the business of delivering online advertising, cloud-based solutions that provide enterprise customers with infrastructure and platform services, the provision of communication and collaboration tools, and sales of other products and services such as apps and in-app purchases, hardware, and subscription-based products. It operates under the Google Services and Google Cloud segments. The Google Services segment includes ads, Android, Chrome, hardware, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Google Photos, Google Play, Search, and YouTube. The Google Cloud segment offers Google Cloud Platform and Google Workspace. The company was founded by Lawrence E. Page and Sergey Mikhaylovich Brin on October 2, 2015 and is headquartered in Mountain View, CA.
Meta Platforms logo

Meta Platforms

NASDAQ:META
Meta Platforms, Inc., engages in the development of social media applications. It builds technology that helps people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. It operates through the Family of Apps (FoA) and Reality Labs (RL) segments. The FoA segment consists of Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and other services. The RL segment includes augmented and virtual reality related consumer hardware, software, and content. The company was founded by Mark Elliot Zuckerberg, Dustin Moskovitz, Chris R. Hughes, Andrew McCollum, and Eduardo P. Saverin on February 4, 2004, and is headquartered in Menlo Park, CA.
Netflix logo

Netflix

NASDAQ:NFLX
Netflix, Inc. engages in providing entertainment services. It also offers a broad set of activities for leisure time, entertainment video, video gaming, and other sources of entertainment. It operates through the United States and International geographic segments. The company was founded by Marc Randolph and Wilmot Reed Hastings on August 29, 1997 and is headquartered in Los Gatos, CA.

Key Points

  • The 5 FAANG stocks are Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook), Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Alphabet (formerly Google).
  • FAANG is an acronym coined by CNBC's Jim Cramer back in 2013, when they were at the pinnacle of tech growth.
  • Will FAANG stocks still outperform in a rising interest rate environment?

Ready to learn how to invest in FAANG stocks?

What is FAANG, anyway? 

No, they aren't stocks for vampires. FAANG is an acronym representing five of the most successful companies over the last decade: Meta Platforms Inc. (NYSE: META)Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)Amazon.com Inc. (NYSE: AMZN)Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG).

Facebook and Google may have officially changed their company names. Still, FAANG remains a popular acronym for tech stock investors looking to boost their portfolio with some of the biggest winners since the Great Financial Crisis. But what does the future hold for these former market champions?

What Does FAANG Stand for?

The FAANG stocks have changed over time. In some instances, FAANG didn't include Apple! Even when considering the five companies under the umbrella, FAANG is outdated. Old acronyms die hard and FAANG remains a popular way to group these five massive components of the U.S. stock market.

The five FAANG companies originated as::

  • Facebook (now Meta Platforms)
  • Amazon
  • Apple
  • Netflix
  • Google (now Alphabet)

These five stocks were the pinnacle of the tech industry during the bull market that followed the 2008 financial crisis, starting with Facebook's IPO in 2012. FAANG was a coin termed on CNBC broadcasts, popularized by Jim Cramer on his "Mad Money" TV show back in 2013. At the time, all 5 FAANG stocks showed exceptional growth potential through their utilization of innovative technology.

what are faang stocks

Overview of FAANG Stocks

As mentioned above, the FAANG meaning originated on financial TV back in 2013 when all five firms were primed for outsized growth. Despite all five companies in the tech sector, all five have very different business models and goals. 

Recent iterations of the acronym have expanded to include companies like Microsoft Inc. (NYSE: MSFT)

Why no Microsoft? At the time, financial pundits didn't believe Microsoft had the same prospect as the other five companies because the cloud wasn't a central theme of tech growth. In retrospect, Microsoft's exclusion from the tech sector totem pole seems like a mistake, as it's outperformed every FAANG stock but Apple since the start of 2018.

Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook)

Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook in 2004 as a college networking site and grew into the first social media power. Facebook went public in 2012 and the stock was a winner immediately, going from $20 a share to over $200 a share in just six years. Facebook dove headfirst into the metaverse to begin its second decade as a public company, rebranding itself as Meta Platforms and changing its stock ticker to META. The stock reached an all-time high of $377 in early September of 2021 but led the tumble of tech stocks toward the end of the year. By November 2022, the stock had dipped below $100. 

Amazon

Amazon began as an online bookseller during the 1990s internet boom and grew into the largest online retailer the world had ever seen. Additionally, the stock has been one of the biggest success stories in the history of markets. Amazon reached a split-adjusted all-time high at $184 in September of 2021, marking a gain of over 260,000% since its 1997 IPO. Today, Amazon has its hands in far more industries than just retail, such as its Amazon Web Services platform and Prime Video streaming service.

Apple

One of the blue chips of the U.S. stock market, Apple is also the oldest member of the FAANG gang. Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and had immediate success, going public just four years later, on December 12, 1980. Today, almost everyone uses or knows someone who uses Apple products, such as the iPhone or iPod. Like most high-flying tech stocks, Apple reached its all-time high closing price at the end of 2021 and has since dropped, but not nearly as much as the rest of its FAANG brethren.

Netflix

Today, Netflix is one of the dominant streaming services, with hit shows like "Stranger Things" and "Squid Game." However, the company began in 1997 as a rival to movie rental stores like Blockbuster. Instead of streaming, Netflix would mail movies to its customers to watch at home, who would then return them via mail. Netflix began streaming in 2007 and today has customers in over 190 countries. The stock had its IPO in 2002 on NASDAQ and has been one of the more volatile FAANG stocks, especially since 2015. It reached its all-time high of $691 in November 2021.

Alphabet (formerly Google)

More than 70% of internet searches happen on Google, the online search behemoth founded by Sergey Brin and Larry Page in 1998. Brin and Page revolutionized how online search produced results by ranking websites using a particular set of factors. 

Google went public in 2004 and trades with two public share classes: GOOG (Class A shares) and GOOGL (Class C shares). The company rebranded as Alphabet Inc. in 2015, but most revenue still comes from Google advertising services.

How to Buy FAANG Stocks

Buying FAANG stocks is easy since they've been some of the top-rated tech stocks over the last decade. However, consider planning your trades and have goals for your investments.

Step 1: Open a brokerage account.

Check out the features and tools various brokerage firms offer and choose the one that best fits your needs.

Step 2: Fund your account.

How much capital will you devote toward your FAANG stock investments? Buying individual stocks is always risky, especially in the tech sector. Be sure to limit your exposure to any particular stock or group of stocks if you want to build a diverse portfolio.

Step 3: Determine which FAANG stocks to buy.

Which FAANG stocks are choices for your portfolio? You can buy all five in equal proportions, but you don't have to. Buy the stocks you feel most confident about or equally weight your holdings across all five. Another option would be a FAANG ETF, which provides exposure to all five companies through a single security.

Step 4: Plan your trades.

Are you trading for the short term or investing for the long term? Know how long you want to hold your positions and your profit goals and loss limits for each stock.

Step 5: Open your positions.

With your account funded and trades planned, it's time to buy stocks. Look them up on your broker's website or app and open the positions you laid out in your investment plan.

FAANG Stock Performance

FAANG stocks gained notoriety during the mid-2010s because they were some of the most successful investments. Once Facebook debuted in 2012, the five FAANG stocks often outpaced the market, and many investors recalled the acronym bestowed on the group by Cramer. 

The older stocks like Amazon and Apple have all suffered significant declines, but the FAANG group looked impervious to long drawdowns. However, 2022 was the worst year in a decade for this group. Facebook suffered the worst, but all five companies saw their stocks decline by 30%, even the group's stalwart Apple. The outlook for the FAANG group remains murky, considering current inflation levels and the reversal of cheap money policies.

Where Do FAANG Stocks Trade?

The FAANG stocks all trade on the NASDAQ Exchange, and locating shares is never a problem. Every major American broker will have access to FAANG stocks; trade execution will be quick and smooth.

Are FAANG Companies a Good Investment?

FAANG stocks have been a terrific investment if you began buying shares shortly after the origination of the acronym. But now this group is entering an unfamiliar economic environment, especially Meta Platforms, which has never traded publicly during rising interest rates. The tech sector is expecting layoffs and could hit if the U.S. enters a recession in 2023, so the outlook for the FAANG group is cloudier than in years past, just like the broader tech sector.

Can You Invest in a FAANG ETF?

Yes, you can invest in a FAANG ETF from Direxion, but there are a few important caveats to discuss. First, the securities offered by Direxion that track FAANG stocks are leveraged, meaning they outperform when FAANG stocks do well and underperform when they do poorly. 

Leveraged ETFs also have complex structures and often shift away from their targeted index over time, resulting in tracking errors. Use caution when investing in these FAANG ETFs (or any ETF or security that uses leverage).

Future of FAANG Stocks

Four of the five companies in the FAANG group have all been public for 15+ years, but this type of market environment is unique for all of them. This group of stocks never traded during a period of high inflation and rising interest rates. Matching the gains produced through the pandemic period will be difficult and these stocks could underperform the market if inflation and high rates prove stickier than anticipated.

However, all five companies have substantial footprints in their industry and certainly aren't in mortal danger. The outlook may be uncertain due to economic conditions beyond the control of these firms, but they'll be a mainstay in millions of portfolios for a long time to come.

FAANG Stocks Led the Way but Market Tides Are Shifting

FAANG is an acronym coined by financial pundits to group Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google in 2013. At the time, these stocks were the darlings of the tech sector and their growth in the decade following Facebook's IPO was nothing short of remarkable. But nothing lasts forever in markets, and all five companies saw their impressive runs cut short as tech melted down toward the end of 2021.

We'll likely still use FAANG's products many years from now. One of the problems of concentrated sector investing (like investing in FAANG stocks) is when economic conditions change. Low borrowing costs and minimal inflation boosted tech giants, but those factors are changing quickly. The stocks themselves will be fine but will FAANG still be synonymous with impressive outperformance in the coming decade?

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