FAANG Stocks

FAANG is an acronym coined by CNBC commentator Jim Cramer that originally referred to five of the most dominant, high-growth technology and internet companies listed on US stock markets: Facebook (now Meta), Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google (now Alphabet). These companies, along with Microsoft, were the defining mega-cap growth stocks of the 2010s, collectively driving a disproportionate share of S&P 500 returns and becoming synonymous with the global technology investment theme. The term has since evolved — sometimes expanded to MAANG (replacing Facebook with Meta and adding Microsoft) or MAMAA — reflecting corporate rebranding and the evolving composition of US tech leadership. For Indian investors on Ventura Securities with global portfolio exposure or tracking Nasdaq-linked funds and international ETFs, understanding the FAANG/MAANG stocks' business models, valuation dynamics, and regulatory risks (antitrust, data privacy, AI regulation) is essential for navigating global technology equity investments and assessing the performance drivers of US equity indices.