Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own. Advertiser disclosure

Investing in information technology stocks

It’s a potentially lucrative market segment, but the competition is fierce.

Shannon Terrell's headshot

By

Shannon Terrell

Updated

Fact checked
Key stocks and ETFs
Pick a platform and trade

The information technology sector spans a myriad of industries, from software startups to billion-dollar hardware providers. Before you invest, know what you’re investing in and familiarize yourself with the company’s key competitors.

What are information technology stocks?

Information technology (IT) stocks belong to the IT sector, defined by The Global Industry Classification Standards 11 stock market sectors — each named for a distinct slice of the market.
The information technology sector is characterized by companies responsible for the research and development of electronic goods and services. It houses some of the most recognizable names on the market, including Apple, Amazon, Google and Microsoft.

What subcategories does it include?

The technology sector is broken down into three major industry groups:

  • Software. Companies that fall within the software industry include service providers connected to IT, data processing, search engines, systems software, home entertainment software and the Internet. Big names in this industry include Google, eBay, Amazon, PayPal and Microsoft.
  • Hardware. Providers in the hardware industry include companies that manufacture communications equipment, PCs, cell phones, electronic equipment, transformers and point-of-sale hardware. Some of the biggest players in this industry are Apple, HP, SanDisk and Motorola.
  • Semiconductors. A semiconductor is a piece of material — typically silicon — that conducts electricity across electronic circuits. Companies that manufacture semiconductors fall within this industry, including Intel, Microchip Technology and Texas Instruments.

How to invest in the information technology sector

There are two ways to invest in a stock sector: individual stocks and sector-tracking ETFs.
If you’d prefer to invest in individual companies and not the sector as a whole, stocks are your best bet. They tend to be more volatile than ETFs but can offer high-yield returns.
If you’re interested in following the entire sector, consider an ETF. ETFs are more stable than stocks and offer more exposure, but come with expense ratios that typically range from 0.03% to 2.5%.
To purchase stocks or ETFs, you’ll need a brokerage account. Here’s what to expect of the investment process:

  1. Compare platforms. With so many online brokerages to choose from, explore your platform options to find the broker best suited to your needs.
  2. Open an account. Applications for web-based brokerages can be completed online.
  3. Fund your account. Before you can begin trading, fund your account with a transfer from an external account.
  4. Pick your securities. Use a screening tool to filter your options by sector.
  5. Place an order. Once you’ve found a security you’d like to purchase, submit your order.
  6. Track your investments. Log into your brokerage account to track the progress of your investments.

What stocks are in the information technology sector?

See how the following stocks are performing, and view details like market capitalization, the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio and dividend yield.

What ETFs track the information technology sector?

Popular ETFs that track the information technology sector include:

  • Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (FTEC)
  • First Trust ISE Cloud Computing Index Fund (SKYY)
  • First Trust NASDAQ CEA Cybersecurity ETF (CIBR)
  • First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund (FXL)
  • Global X Cloud Computing ETF (CLOU)
  • iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV)
  • iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF (SOXX)
  • iShares U.S. Technology ETF (IYW)
  • Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK)
  • VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH)
  • Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT)

Why invest in the information technology sector?

There’s no way around it — information technology is an exciting space. Investing in the tech sector offers investors the opportunity to buy shares in real-world tech they use everyday. And the sector is so comprehensive that there’s plenty of room to diversify, whether you delve into hardware, software or semiconductors.
If you can afford it, you can opt for one of the tried-and-tested blue chips, like Facebook, Google, Microsoft or Amazon. The problem with these tech monoliths? Not all pay dividends.
Though some companies in the tech sector give back to their investors, some investors get into the tech industry for a different reason: growth potential.
Technology is the largest segment of the market. With a solid grasp of the company you plan to invest in and its competitors, a nimble investor has the opportunity to make money in the tech sector by investing in small companies on an upward trajectory.

What unique risks does the information technology sector face?

The excitement that punctuates the technology sector gives way to fierce competition — a competition that fuels company acquisitions. Software tends to do well in a bull market, but during an economic downturn, companies can fold overnight. The opportunity for profit in the tech sector is accompanied by volatility — and this volatility has the potential to tank investments and cripple portfolios.
The tech sector is also vulnerable to government jurisdiction, as evidenced by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation. Facebook was pulled in front of Congress, demonstrating that tech giants aren’t immune to regulation. Investors need to keep their finger on the pulse of the news to stay ahead of potentially damaging economic and political events.

How do mergers and acquisitions affect tech stocks?

Mergers and acquisitions can occur in any sector but are especially common in the tech industry. Mergers can trigger volatility within the sector, both for the companies affected and for competitors.
If you own stock in a company that’s acquired by another company, one of three things may happen to your shares:

  • All-cash deal. Your shares disappear from your account and you’re reimbursed with cash.
  • All-stock deal. Your shares disappear from your account in exchange for shares of the purchasing company.
  • Combination deal. Your shares disappear from your account and you receive a combination of cash and stock of the purchasing company.

When acquisitions occur, the companies announce the deal and shareholders can vote to approve the deal. Acquiring companies are typically willing to pay more than the asset’s current market price to encourage shareholders to approve the deal. Once approved, regulators clear the deal.
What does this look like in real life? Back in 2016, AT&T acquired Time Warner. Time Warner shareholders were offered a combination deal valued at $107.50 per share. In exchange for their Time Warner stock, shareholders were given $53.75 cash and $53.75 in AT&T stock.
If you receive stock of the purchasing company during an acquisition, you’re not required to keep it. Shareholders can sell their shares at any time.

Compare stock trading platforms

These accounts let you invest in stocks and ETFs that track the technology sector.

12 of 12 results
Finder Score Available asset types Stock trade fee Minimum deposit Cash sweep APY bullet point infobox
Finder score
9 Excellent
Stocks, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Alternatives
$0
$0
0.01%
Get up to $1,000 in stock when you open and fund a new account. T&Cs apply.
Trade stocks, ETFs, and options with zero commissions, invest in IPOs or automate your portfolio, with exclusive perks available through SoFi Plus.
Important information
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees. Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org). There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event. Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see https://www.sofi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information SoFi Plus members can schedule an unlimited number of appointments with a financial planner during periods in which the SoFi Plus member meets the eligibility criteria set forth in section 10(a) of the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions. SoFi members who are not members of SoFi Plus can schedule one (1) appointment with a financial planner. The ability to schedule appointments is subject to financial planner availability. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this benefit at any time with or without notice. Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. Probability percentage is subject to decrease Robo Advisor: Automated investing is offered through SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. 0.25% fee is based on your account value. The wrap program fee may cost more or less than purchasing brokerage, custodial, and record keeping services separately. Terms and conditions apply*. For 401k rollovers, existing SoFi IRA members must complete 401k rollovers via this link For SoFi members without a SoFi IRA, a SoFi IRA must first be opened, and 401k rollover must be completed utilizing Capitalize via this link. SoFi and Capitalize will charge no additional fees to process a 401(k) rollover to a SoFi IRA. SoFi is not liable for any costs incurred from the existing 401k provider for rollover. Please check with your 401k provider for any fees or costs associated with the rollover. For IRA contributions, only deposits made via ACH and cash transfer from SoFi Bank accounts are eligible for the match. Click here for the 1% Match terms and conditions.
Go to site More info
Finder score
8.2 Great
Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, CDs
$0.01
$250
2.83%
Leverage powerful trading tools and low margin rates to trade stocks, options, ETFs, mutual funds and bonds.
Go to site More info
Finder score
9.4 Excellent
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures, Event contracts, High-yield cash account
$0
$0
3.75%
Get a free stock when you successfully sign up and link your bank account. T&Cs apply.
Trade stocks, options, crypto and more, with advanced trading tools, fractional shares and exclusive perks for Gold members.
Go to site More info
Webull logo
Finder score
9.4 Excellent
Webull
Finder score
9.4 Excellent
Stocks, Bonds, Options, ETFs, Futures, Money market funds
$0
$0
3.85%
Deposit or transfer $100,000+ to earn a 4% Match Bonus, or $2,000+ to earn a 3% Match Bonus. Plus: Get a $100 transfer fee reimbursement on your first brokerage transfer of $2,000 or more. T&Cs apply.
Trade stocks, ETFs and equity options commission-free, with access to futures, advanced charting tools, a robo-advisor and event trading powered by Kalshi.
Go to site More info
Interactive Brokers logo
Finder score
9.2 Excellent
Interactive Brokers GlobalTrader
Finder score
9.2 Excellent
Stocks, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
$0
$0
3.83% Lite
4.83% Pro
Trade in a simulated trading environment and access a wide range of tradable assets.
Go to site More info
eToro logo
Finder score
8.2 Great
eToro
Finder score
8.2 Great
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Investments
$0
$0
3.75%
No commission stock, ETF and options trades, with 3.9% interest on your options account balance and no options contract fees. See full disclosure.
Important information
eToro securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (‘the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Investing involves risk, and content is provided for educational purposes only, does not imply a recommendation, and is not a guarantee of future performance. Finder is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the BD.
Go to site More info
Public logo
Finder score
9 Excellent
Public.com
Finder score
9 Excellent
Stocks, Bonds, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Investments, Retirement, Treasury Bills, High-yield cash account
$0
$0
3.8%
Get up to $10,000 and transfer fees covered when you move your portfolio to Public. T&Cs apply.
Build a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, ETFs and crypto, with a high-yield cash account and options contract rebates.
Important information
*Yield as of 04/09/2025. Learn more.
Go to site More info
Acorns logo
Finder score
8 Great
Acorns
Finder score
8 Great
Stocks, ETFs
$0
$0
N/A
Get a $20 bonus when you set up an account and make your first recurring investment (min. $5). T&Cs apply.
Automate investing with recurring contributions starting at $5 and invest spare change from everyday purchases.
Go to site More info
Stash Investments LLC logo
Finder score
7.4 Great
Stash
Finder score
7.4 Great
Stocks, ETFs
$0
$0
0.1%
Get $5 when you sign up and deposit $5. T&Cs apply.
Bank, automate your portfolio or invest in individual stocks and ETFs for as low as $3 per month.
Important information
Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investment LLC, a SEC registered investment advisor. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value. Holdings and performance are hypothetical. *Offer is subject to T&Cs
Go to site More info
Wealthfront logo
Finder score
9 Excellent
Wealthfront
Finder score
9 Excellent
Stocks, ETFs, High-yield cash account
$0
$500
3.75%
Get a $50 bonus when you sign up and fund a taxable automated investing account with at least $500. T&Cs apply.
Automate your stock and bond portfolio or trade individual stocks for as little as $1 apiece. Plus, earn 3.50% APY on your cash.
Go to site More info
JPMorgan logo
Finder score
7.2 Great
J.P. Morgan Personal Advisors
Finder score
7.2 Great
Mutual funds, ETFs
$0
$25,000
N/A
Financial planning, advice and portfolio management. T&Cs apply.
Get ongoing access to an advisory team with personalized financial planning and expert-built portfolios. Provider terms & conditions apply
Important information
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE.
More info
M1 Finance logo
Finder score
8.2 Great
M1 Finance
Finder score
8.2 Great
Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
$0
$100
4.00%
Build a custom portfolio of stocks and ETFs with automatic rebalancing. Plus, earn 4.00% APY with a high-yield cash account.
Important information
M1 Finance, LLC does not charge commission, trading, or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. You may still be charged other fees such as M1’s platform fee, regulatory fees, account closure fees, or ADR fees. For a complete list of fees M1 may charge visit M1 Fee Schedule. M1 is not a bank. M1 Spend is a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of M1 Holdings Inc.. M1 High –Yield Savings Accounts are furnished by B2 Bank, NA, Member FDIC. Obtaining stated APY (annual percentage yield) with the M1 High-Yield Savings Account does not require a minimum account balance. Stated APY is accrued on account balance. APY is solely determined by M1 Spend LLC and its partner banks, and will include account fees that will reduce earnings. Rates are subject to change without notice. M1 High-Yield Savings Account is a separate offering from, and not linked to, the M1 High-Yield Cash Account offered by M1 Finance, LLC. M1 is not a bank.
More info
loading
Showing 12 of 12 results

What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 147 key metrics we collected directly from 18+ brokers and assessed each provider’s performance based on nine different categories, weighing each metric based on the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts. We then scored and ranked each provider to determine the best brokerage accounts.

We update our best picks as products change, disappear or emerge in the market. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our best provider lists reflect the most competitive available.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

Bottom line

The information technology sector offers investors the opportunity to back the hardware and software they use everyday. It’s an exciting field but it’s prone to volatility — especially during a down market.
Explore trading platforms for the account best suited to your investment needs.

Frequently asked questions

Paid non-client promotion. Finder does not invest money with providers on this page. If a brand is a referral partner, we're paid when you click or tap through to, open an account with or provide your contact information to the provider. Partnerships are not a recommendation for you to invest with any one company. Learn more about how we make money.

Finder is not an advisor or brokerage service. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation to invest with any one company, trade specific stocks or fund specific investments. All editorial opinions are our own.

Shannon Terrell's headshot
Editor

Shannon Terrell is a lead writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet and a former editor at Finder, specializing in personal finance. Her writing and analysis on investing and banking has been featured in Bloomberg, Global News, Yahoo Finance, GoBankingRates and Black Enterprise. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and English literature from the University of Toronto Mississauga. See full bio

's expertise
has written 74 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Share trading
  • Robo-advisors
  • Merchant services
More resources on Finder

Ask a question

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

More guides on Finder

Go to site