Among the top 10 U.S. stocks held by overseas individual investors, the one with the highest stock price increase in 2024 was Palantir Technologies. The other stocks also recorded returns of double digits.
According to the Korea Securities Depository on Jan. 1, 2025, as of Dec. 30, 2024, domestic investors held $2.35281 billion (approximately 3.46 trillion won) worth of Palantir shares. This was the eighth-largest holding among U.S. stocks. Palantir's stock price surged by 356.15%, jumping from $16.58 at the beginning of last year to $75.63 by year-end.
Palantir was founded in 2003 by PayPal founder Peter Thiel. It provides artificial intelligence (AI)-based big data analytics and security software services. Its primary clients are government agencies, including the U.S. military, Israeli military, and Ukrainian military, and it is expanding its business into the private sector.
Palantir's stock price climbed as it exceeded market expectations. It was included in the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 index in September 2024 and subsequently transferred to the technology-focused Nasdaq market in November, contributing to its upward momentum.
The second stock with the highest price increase was quantum computing corporation IonQ. IonQ recorded a stock price increase of 243.5% over the past year. Domestic investors hold $2.84266 billion (approximately 4.18 trillion won) worth of IonQ shares, which is over 30% of IonQ's market capitalization.
Nvidia, leading the AI semiconductor industry, also achieved a stock price increase of 178.78% over the past year. Domestic investors hold $12.2 billion (approximately 179 trillion won) worth of Nvidia shares, the second-largest holding among U.S. stocks.
Tesla, which overseas individual investors hold the most, saw a stock price increase of 62.56% throughout the year. Domestic investors own $24.5 billion (approximately 360 trillion won) worth of Tesla shares.
Tesla's stock price made a sluggish transition; however, it skyrocketed after the victory of Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, on Nov. 5, 2024, setting a new all-time high. Elon Musk, Tesla's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), is considered one of Trump's closest associates.
Additionally, stocks like ▲Apple 34.9% ▲Microsoft 13.65% ▲TQQQ (three times leveraged Nasdaq 100 index) 64.41% ▲Alphabet (Google) 36.46% ▲QQQ (Nasdaq 100 index tracker) 26.99% ▲TSLL (two times leveraged Tesla stock) 91.85% all showed an upward trend, demonstrating investments made by domestic investors in U.S. stocks.