Hedge Funds Bet Big On S&P 500: SPY, IVV Dominate Q3 Buys - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Core Insights - Hedge funds increased their exposure to the U.S. equity market in Q3, significantly investing in S&P 500 ETFs, indicating a shift towards diversified market exposure rather than focusing on individual stocks [1][2][4] - The amount invested in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was comparable to investments in major tech stocks, reflecting a balanced approach [2][3] - S&P 500 ETFs saw substantial net inflows in Q3, with IVV attracting approximately $30 billion, highlighting a trend towards index-centric safety amid stretched valuations [3][4] Hedge Fund Behavior - Major hedge funds, including Goldman Sachs, increased their allocations to IVV, suggesting a strong institutional preference for index exposure [4] - Despite ongoing interest in high-profile tech stocks like Nvidia and Amazon, the overall trend indicates a preference for broad-market investments to complement high-beta tech positions [4][5] Market Trends - The consistency between hedge fund purchases and ETF market flows suggests that institutional investors are broadening their strategies rather than retreating [5] - If the trend continues into Q4, IVV and SPY may benefit significantly from institutional repositioning, especially if the soft-landing narrative gains traction [5]