Survey Finds Majority of Retail Investors Invest Monthly, with Gen Z Most Active

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Nearly eight in ten retail investors are investing on a monthly basis, with younger generations leading participation rates, according to new global survey data published in eToro's latest Retail Investor Beat report.

The survey, conducted by Opinium on behalf of eToro, gathered responses from 11,000 retail investors across 13 countries. It found that 79% of respondents invest in financial markets every month, while 70% regularly monitor their portfolios.

Participation was highest among younger investors. The data showed that 87% of Generation Z respondents and 86% of millennials invest monthly, compared with 79% of Generation X and 68% of baby boomers.

Lale Akoner, Global Market Strategist at eToro, said retail investors appear more structured in their approach than in previous years. She noted that investors are "engaged, deliberate and consistent" and no longer reflect the more opportunistic image associated with 2021. According to Akoner, many individuals entered the market during periods of volatility and macroeconomic uncertainty, prompting them to follow global trends more closely and rely on technology and information to manage risk.

The findings also point to a second consecutive year of increasing diversification across asset classes. Between the fourth quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter of 2025, the proportion of investors holding commodities rose by 11 percentage points. Domestic bond holdings increased by six percentage points, while foreign bond allocations climbed by 14 percentage points. Exposure to cryptoassets and foreign equities also grew during the same period.

By contrast, allocations to domestic equities and cash declined. Akoner said investors are allocating capital with diversification "firmly in mind" and using it as a tool for risk management across a broader set of opportunities.

The report further linked investment decisions to macroeconomic developments. It noted that 49% of respondents plan to adjust their portfolios in response to a weakening US dollar. Gold ownership rose to 48%, marking a three-percentage-point increase since the second quarter of 2025.

Separately, eToro reported that around one-third of stock trading activity on its platform now takes place outside traditional market hours. The development follows the company's expansion of 24/5 trading access to all S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 stocks, after initially rolling out extended trading for 100 leading US equities in July.

Earlier data cited by eToro indicated that the company accounted for 45% of existing contracts for differences (CFD) traders in Australia, while Capital.com captured 14% of new traders, representing the largest share among brokers in that segment.