Individual Investors Feel Confident Thanks to Progress in Stocks and ETFs
After being cautious over the past six months, individual investors are gaining confidence in stocks, according to a survey from Investopedia.
According to the latest Investopedia Individual Investor Sentiment Survey, the percentage of respondents who were at least somewhat concerned about the stock market has dropped by 9 percentage points to its lowest level since August. One in five respondents expects a decline of 10% or more in stocks, and fears of a recession next year have faded.
However, individual investors are mostly playing defense with their investments, preferring to continue playing it safe with money market funds as an investment choice. Individual stocks and ETFs top the list of where they would put an additional $10,000. The 2024 presidential election is currently the highest concern for investors and is likely to remain a key area of uncertainty in 2024.
Bubbles and Shiny Bright Things…
While investors may feel more optimistic about riskier assets like stocks and cryptocurrencies, many see some sectors of those asset classes as becoming bubbles. AI-related stocks are the most desired, according to more than half of survey participants, followed by large-cap technology stocks and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Given the 160% rise in Bitcoin’s price so far this year and the 230% increase in Nvidia (NVDA), the top tech stock of 2023, it is not surprising that many investors feel they may have advanced significantly and too quickly.
Current Major Investor Concerns
Investors have had to climb one wall of worry after another in 2023. Stubborn inflation, aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve in the first half of the year, geopolitical uncertainty in Ukraine and the Middle East, and bank failures last spring have all been among their top concerns throughout the year. Many of these themes were evident in the most searched terms on Investopedia for 2023. However, since the beginning of November, investors have become increasingly worried about the upcoming U.S. presidential election and the political chaos that may accompany it. Elections are the highest concern for investors right now, and they are likely to remain a key area of uncertainty in 2024.
What Would You Do with an Extra $10,000?
It’s interesting to see what individual investors are doing with the money they have to invest, but it’s even more intriguing to know what they would do if they had an additional amount. This is a strong indicator of investor confidence in the future. Over the past several months, individual investors have gradually become more optimistic about individual stocks and ETFs, and along with the stock market improving from some of its best months in history, individual stocks and ETFs topped the list of where they would put that extra money. Certificates of deposit were the top choice from July to the end of October, but they are now the third choice for respondents.
Is There Any Regret in 2023?
As 2023 draws to a close, we asked our readers if they had any investment regrets from this year. With the stock market rising, the bond market recovering, and cryptocurrencies making a comeback, there have been many opportunities to capitalize on these asset classes for higher returns. However, Investopedia readers felt satisfied with their choices this year, with nearly 40% saying they have no regrets, and only 24% wishing they had allocated more money to stocks.
Methodology
Survey
This survey was conducted online for Investopedia readers living in the United States who are 18 years or older from December 5 to 9, 2023. Readers need to currently hold and manage investments to qualify. Participation in the survey is completely voluntary; the sample composition reflects the base of U.S. adult readers aged 18 and older. Age: 18-24 4% | 25-39 16% | 40-54 18% | 55-74 53% | 75+ 10% Region: South 33% | West 29% | Northeast 17% | Midwest 20% Gender: Male 82% | Female 14% | Non-binary or not listed 0% | Prefer not to answer 4% Race/Ethnicity (multiple choice): White 75% | Black or African American 5% | Hispanic, Latino or Latinx 5% | Asian 4% | Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0% | American Indian or Alaska Native 1% | Middle Eastern or North African 1% | Other background 2% | Prefer not to answer 10%.
Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reports, and interviews with industry experts. We also refer to original research from other trusted publishers when appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate and unbiased content in our editorial policy.
Leave a Reply