Q2 - 2025
Finimize Modern Investor Pulse
We asked thousands of retail investors from our million-strong global community about what they’re expecting and how they’re planning to invest in the second quarter of 2025.
The Modern Investor Pulse has repeatedly shown that retail investors favor a long-term approach, and use moments like this to refresh their thinking. This quarter’s results highlight that: with risk appetite understandably lower, investors are making changes, increasing their cash positions, and looking to alternatives and non-US stocks for opportunities.
Here’s a preview of the highlights from the Q2 Pulse
60% of retail investors think global stock markets will be higher in 12 months
44% plan to invest at least $10,000 in the next 12 months
57% believe bitcoin will be higher in 12 months, down from 67% last quarter
44% of retail investors are planning portfolio overhauls, with 59% increasing cash reserves
The Finimize Index
Retail Investor Sentiment Vs. The S&P 500
The Finimize Index tracks retail investor sentiment across our 1.1 million global community and is updated every quarter.
The first quarter saw the new president take office, with only 30% of respondants reporting that they’ve seen gains of 1-5%, and just 17% had returns above 5%. They’d perhaps bet on some of the so-called “Trump trades” – like the US dollar, cryptocurrencies, and American stocks – which, so far in 2025, haven’t lived up to their promise of late 2024. That’s coincided with investor optimism – the share of survey respondents who think global stock markets will be higher in a year’s time – dropping to 60% from 71% last quarter, maintaining the trend of closely tracking the direction of the S&P 500.
Q: Do you think global stock markets will be higher 12 months from now?
Q: Are You Planning To Take More Or Less Risk With Your Investments Over The Next Three Months Than The Past Three Months?
Portfolios shift towards cash and alternatives
Given the drop-off in retail investors’ optimism, it’s perhaps not surprising that their risk appetites have fallen too. A record-high 32% of respondents say they plan to take less investment risk in the next three months – 12 percentage points higher than last quarter.
Big tech continues to attract big bets
Nvidia topped retail investors’ lists yet again. With AI momentum seemingly unabating, it’s no surprise that 35% of respondents said they plan to invest in the chipmaker.
Respondents’ intentions to invest in other tech giants largely held steady: second to Nvidia was Apple (31%), with Microsoft (26%) usurping Amazon (24%) in third place. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway remained in fifth (21%). Tesla, meanwhile, dropped from 24% to 16%.
Get The Full Q2 2025 Report
The full report dives deep into the minds of retail investors and the trends shaping how they'll invest in the quarter ahead.
