VMware Inc.’s (VMW) stock has climbed by more than 22 percent in 2018, and hedge funds were adding the stock to their portfolios at a furious pace in the second quarter.  During the quarter, the stock rose to number 31 of the top 100 stocks on the WhaleWisdom Heat Map. Additionally, it was added to the WhaleWisdom WhaleIndex 100 on August 15.

Walt Disney Co.’s (DIS) stock has surged since the middle of June by more than 13 percent, as investors begin to focus on the company’s direct to consumer streaming media future. Hedge Funds were buying shares of Disney during the second quarter making the stock the third hottest stock among the 150 hedge funds WhaleWisdom tracks for its heat map. As a result, WhaleWisdom added the stock to its WhaleIndex 100.

Gentherm Inc.’s (THRM) stock has surged by more than 43 percent in 2018, and nearly 28 percent since being added to the WhaleWisdom 100 Index on May 16. Hedge Funds were adding shares of the stock to their portfolio’s throughout the first quarter.

MasterCard Inc. (MA) and Visa Inc. (V)  have been all-star performers in 2018, with the two stocks up by 37 percent and 24 percent, respectively. One never would have guessed either stock was having a good year, based on hedge fund activity in the first quarter. According to the WhaleWisdom Heat Map, both stocks were in the bottom half of the top 100 stocks.

Netflix Inc. (NFLX) stock has jumped by over 100 percent in 2018 while rising by nearly four times since 2015. The move in the stock is likely well deserved considering the whole media landscape is in a tectonic shift trying to play catch up to Netflix’s revolutionary approach to content and its delivery. However, what may be most interesting is that during the first quarter hedge funds and institutions were selling the soaring stock.