Will Apple Take Down Microsoft In Pro Popularity? (AAPL, MSFT, XOM, JNJ, IBM, CSCO, INTC, GOOG)

Apple (AAPL) surpassed Microsoft (MSFT) in market capitalization for the first time in May, but the latter still had an edge in terms of Pro popularity at the end of the second quarter. However, as Microsoft struggles to get back into positive territory for the year, Apple has now rallied by more than 40% in 2010 to above the $300 mark, and with the deadline for end-of-Q3 regulatory filings nearing, we may soon see the one-time underdog dethrone the software giant as the Pros favorite tech stock.

At the end of Q2, 671 13F-filing asset managers held Apple among their top-15 U.S.-listed equity holdings. Among them were Goldman Sachs, John Griffin’s Blue Ridge Capital, Stephen Mandel’s Lone Pine Capital, and Soros Fund Management. Meanwhile, Microsoft was among the top-15 holdings of 690 Pros at the end of Q2.

A look at the Pros’ favorite stocks across all sectors at the end of Q2 shows that Microsoft and Apple were both in the top five, trailing energy giant ExxonMobil (XOM) and healthcare and consumer products firm Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). IBM (IBM) ranked sixth in Pro popularity following the latest regulatory filings, and Cisco Systems (CSCO), Intel (INTC), and Google (GOOG) all cracked the top-15.

Investors won’t be sure where the Pros stand now until mid-month, when the deadline for end-of-Q3 filings hits. At tickerspy.com, investors can see which stocks are favored by Wall Street’s top money managers, and which firms were buying and selling.

Pro portfolio performance is based on institutions’ top-15 holdings as disclosed in quarter-end filings with the SEC. Pro performance does not take into account additional holdings beyond the top 15 nor does it include positions that are not required to be disclosed by the SEC. As such, Pro portfolio performance should be considered an approximation and not a precise record of how an institution has performed over time.

Tags: AAPL, CSCO, GOOG, IBM, INTC, JNJ, MSFT, XOM