Top 10 Most Popular Stocks of January | Saxo Bank

1. ASML Holding

The Dutch semiconductor manufacturer hsas proven a popular stock in January and throughout 2022, as the company's position as the world's only producer of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) machines came in handy during a time of soaring global demand. ASML's stock jumped more than 20% in January alone, despite a major fire at its Berlin factory, which helps to explain why our clients traded this in droves.

2. Tesla Inc.

Tesla, the world's largest manufacturer of electric cars, has proven to be one of the most popular stocks of the decade, and 2022 has proven no different. However, bucking previous trends, Tesla stock nosedived throughout January, as worsening supply chain issues continued to batter the auto industry.

3. Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft, the US computing and software giant that remains one of the most valuable companies in the world, has consistently been a popular stock pick for traders and dividend hunters alike. Its stock had a wobbly January, with chip shortages pummeling its price in the first half of the month before announcing unexpectedly large quarterly earnings of $51.73 billion, as well as its high-profile purchase of Activision Blizzard, helped push the share price back into growth territory.

4. Shell PLC

The fossil fuel company Shell, which recently dismantled its joint London-Amsterdam listing to exist solely on the LSE, was another popular pick for January. Its share price surged throughout the month thanks to falling debt levels and soaring energy prices. However, as energy markets face months of turmoil, whether this growth will continue is anything but certain.

5. Apple Inc.

Apple, the maker of the iPhone and just about every other device in your home experienced a very good 2021 indeed. Its share price jumped 23% last year, thanks to stronger-than-expect earnings. 2022 has also gotten off to a good start for the company, with news that it would be expanding its merchant in-store payment architecture and making big investments in augmented reality helping to drive up the share price.

6. Philips (Royal)

The Dutch electronics and health tech conglomerate Philips proved to be a popular pick for January 2022 for a number of reasons. The month got off to an abysmal start for the company, with its share price diving as supply chain shortages began to make themselves felt. However, a number of major partnerships with hospitals and medical suppliers helped fuel a major stock price rally in the closing days of January.

7. Nvidia Corp.

Nvidia, one of the world's largest chipmakers, has had a tumultuous January. The share price entered a bear market in the first half of the month, following news that its attempt to acquire the UK semiconductor company Arm Ltd. has collapsed due to regulatory issues. Nonetheless, the emergence of new deals for Nvidia to create much of the software for the Metaverse helped give the share price a much-needed boost.

8. Novo Nordisk B A/S

The Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk proved to be a popular pick in January, probably due to its unexpectedly upbeat earnings outlook released that month, as well as stock revenues for Q4 2021. As demand continues to soar for its new obesity treatment drug Wegovy, which recently got FDA approval, Novo Nordisk could have a busy 2022 ahead.

9. ArcelorMittal

The Luxembourg-based steel and mining conglomerate ArcelorMittal saw some impressive stock price jumps in 2021, while 2022 has proven to be more measured so far. Buoyed by soaring demand for steel and widespread shortages in 2021, its stock price slumped in January when it became clear that China would be significantly expanding its own steel exports, undermining ArcelorMittal's European market share.

10. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd

Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce titan, had a worse 2021 than most, with its share price losing more than half of its value throughout the year. While still a popular stock pick, 2022 has not been much better, with the Alibaba share price staying mostly flat. As rumours swirl that SoftBank is looking to sell its stake in the troubled company, 2022 looks set to be an uncertain one for Alibaba.

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