Which S&P 500 Sectors Hold the Most Cash? 💵

What We're Showing

This graphic shows the S&P 500 sectors by their corporate cash holdings as a percentage of current assets, based on data from J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

Key Takeaways

• The communication services sector leads the way, driven by significant cash holdings of Alphabet ($93 billion) and Meta ($71 billion) as of December 13, 2024.
• The real estate sector largely invests in non-current assets including properties and land, which leads its cash as a share of current assets to be higher than the majority of sectors.
• Big tech heavyweights Microsoft and Apple rank among the top 10 companies in the S&P 500 with the most cash on hand, driven by high margins and strong profitability.
• Many utilities firms prioritize redirecting cash toward dividend payments rather than retaining it on the balance sheet.