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An Overview of the S&P 500
The S&P 500, a composite comprising 500 of America's leading corporations, uniquely holds 503 stocks as of May 31, 2023. This is due to certain companies, like Alphabet, offering multiple classes of shares. These businesses, recognized as leaders in their respective industries, serve as significant indicators of U.S. economic health. Earning a spot on the S&P 500 requires a company to fulfill a rigorous set of specifications.
While the S&P Global website offers a rundown of the index's ten most substantial holdings, the full list of index holdings isn't readily available for free. However, subscribers to Capital IQ Pro, the research arm of S&P, have exclusive access to this comprehensive list.
The Criteria for Inclusion in the S&P 500
Founded in 1957, the S&P 500 is among the most frequently referenced stock market indices globally. It serves as a showcase of the largest publicly traded corporations in the U.S., with a distinctive emphasis on the country's large-cap sector.
For a company to earn its place on the S&P 500, it must meet a variety of conditions, including:
- Holding a market cap of at least $12.7 billion
- Being headquartered in the U.S.
- Achieving a float-adjusted liquidity ratio (FALR) of 0.75 or more
- Showing consistent positive earnings over the past four continuous quarters
- Reporting positive earnings for its most recent quarter
- Fulfilling particular liquidity requirements
The Calculation Method for the S&P 500
The S&P 500 operates based on a free-float market capitalization-weighted index system. Here, market capitalization, which represents a company's total market value, is calculated by multiplying a company's current share price by its total number of outstanding shares. For instance, a company whose shares are trading at $100 each, with 20 million shares in circulation, would hold a market cap of $2 billion.
This system implies that the more valuable a company's shares become, the more they contribute to the S&P 500's overall return. It's not atypical for 50 to 75 of the most valuable stocks to account for three-quarters of the index's return.
It's noteworthy that the inclusion or exclusion of smaller companies doesn't significantly impact the index's overall return. However, changes to even a single one of the largest stocks can cause substantial fluctuation.
Understanding Sector Weights in the S&P 500
A keen awareness of the S&P's sector weightings is vital. This is because even if smaller sectors are significantly over or underperforming, they may not materially impact the overall index's value.
Consider this example: if oil prices surge, leading to increased profits for the energy sector, those stocks account for only around 4% of the S&P 500. Therefore, a boom in oil stocks won't necessarily uplift the S&P 500, especially if the more heavily weighted information technology sector is concurrently underperforming.
The precise weightings of the top 25 components are not directly available from S&P. Instead, the following weightings, derived from the SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF (SPY), provide a reliable proxy. As the oldest ETF tracking the S&P 500, SPY held $411.8 billion in assets under management as of June 27.
The S&P 500's Top Holdings Unveiled
Although the S&P 500 is typically composed of 500 companies, it comprised 503 stocks as of May 31, 2023. This is because certain companies, like Alphabet, issue multiple classes of shares.
As of June 27, 2023, the top 10 holdings and their respective weightings in the index included:
- Apple (AAPL): 7.61%
- Microsoft (MSFT): 6.80%
- Amazon (AMZN): 3.15%
- NVIDIA (NVDA): 2.83%
- Alphabet Class A (GOOGL): 1.92%
- Tesla (TSLA): 1.84%
- Meta Platforms (META), formerly Facebook, Class A: 1.74%
- Alphabet Class C (GOOG): 1.66%
- Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B): 1.64%
- UnitedHealth Group (UNH): 1.23%
Investment Strategies for the S&P 500
The S&P 500, being an index, isn't directly purchasable by investors. However, shares of ETFs that mirror the index can be acquired. A popular option is the SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF (SPY) offered by State Street Global Advisors.
The S&P 500 represents an opportunity to invest in some of the world's most recognized companies, with the majority of the top 10 being tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Google. To get investment exposure to these companies, you can either buy individual stocks or invest in a fund that tracks the S&P 500 overall.
Conclusion
The S&P 500 provides a wide-angle view of the American economic landscape, spotlighting the country's largest and most influential corporations. From understanding the meticulous criteria for inclusion to the methods of its calculation and sector weighting, investors can gain valuable insights into the functioning and composition of the index.
While the S&P 500 isn't directly investable, investors can participate in its performance through ETFs like SPY that mirror the index. It's an opportunity to invest in some of the most prestigious companies worldwide, many of which are tech titans. Regardless of whether investors buy individual stocks or invest in a fund tracking the S&P 500, understanding this potent market barometer is crucial for making informed investment decisions.
