Investor Sentiment

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Timely and actionable investor sentiment insights to strengthen your decision-making.

Investor Sentiment Index

Measuring risk sentiment amongst sophisticated investors.

The Addepar Investor Sentiment Index is a transactions-based index of high- and ultra-high-net-worth (U/HNW) investor sentiment derived from U.S. equity transactions captured on the Addepar platform.

Traditional investor sentiment readings are typically derived from survey results, which don’t always represent real investment choices. However, the Addepar Investor Sentiment Index is based on the anonymized and aggregated data of actual transactions and offers a more accurate view of investment activity.

The Addepar Investor Sentiment Index:

  • Provides a monthly reading of investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral

  • Measures stock market sentiment across 10,000+ investment portfolios, each valued at more $10 million in total assets

  • Offers a unique look into how sophisticated investors are thinking about their risk and adjusting their portfolios 


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Monthly Investor Sentiment Index

April 2023

March 2023

February 2023

January 2023

December 2022

November 2022

October 2022

September 2022

August 2022

July 2022

June 2022

May 2022

ISI Reading

The index is calculated as the relative share of individual investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral in a monthly time frame producing a reading between -100 and 100.  

Download April report

Download ISI time series

ISI Activity

The activity represents the index components such that “buying” - “selling” will net to the ISI. Dotted lines represent the historical average for each component.

April 2023

Key Observations

  • The April headline sentiment was bearish at -2.8.
  • Net trading hit historical lows as investors remained neutral in volatile markets.
  • Investors continued their negative tilt away from financial services and technology.
  • ISI Reading

    The index is calculated as the relative share of individual investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral in a monthly time frame producing a reading between -100 and 100.  

    Download March report

    Download ISI time series

    ISI Activity

    The activity represents the index components such that “buying” - “selling” will net to the ISI. Dotted lines represent the historical average for each component.

    March 2023

    Key Observations

  • The March headline sentiment was moderately bearish at -2.0.
  • Net trading activity continued to be muted despite a rally in equity markets.
  • Investors rotated into consumer defensive and out of both technology and financial services.
  • ISI Reading

    The index is calculated as the relative share of individual investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral in a monthly time frame producing a reading between -100 and 100.  

    Download February report

    Download ISI time series

    ISI Activity

    The activity represents the index components such that “buying” - “selling” will net to the ISI. Dotted lines represent the historical average for each component.

    February 2023

    Key Observations

  • The February headline sentiment was moderately bearish at -2.2.
  • Net trading activity reached historic lows as investors stayed on the sidelines in volatile markets.
  • Investors rotated into consumer cyclicals while rotating out of consumer defensive and industrials.
  • ISI Reading

    The index is calculated as the relative share of individual investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral in a monthly time frame producing a reading between -100 and 100.  

    Download January report

    Download ISI time series

    ISI Activity

    The activity represents the index components such that “buying” - “selling” will net to the ISI. Dotted lines represent the historical average for each component.

    January 2023

    Key Observations

  • The January headline sentiment was slightly bullish at 0.6.
  • Net trading activity was near historic lows with investors staying on the sidelines as markets rallied.
  • Investors rotated into communication services and consumer cyclicals while rotating out of technology.
  • ISI Reading

    The index is calculated as the relative share of individual investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral in a monthly time frame producing a reading between -100 and 100.  

    Download December report

    Download ISI time series

    ISI Activity

    The activity represents the index components such that “buying” - “selling” will net to the ISI. Dotted lines represent the historical average for each component.

    December 2022

    Key Observations

  • The December headline sentiment reading was very bearish at -7.8.
  • Buying activity was well below historic norms driving the headline gauge.
  • Investors rotated into utilities while rotating out of technology, financial services and consumer cyclical sectors.
  • ISI Reading

    The index is calculated as the relative share of individual investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral in a monthly time frame producing a reading between -100 and 100.  

    Download November report

    Download ISI time series

    ISI Activity

    The activity represents the index components such that “buying” - “selling” will net to the ISI. Dotted lines represent the historical average for each component.

    November 2022

    Key Observations

  • The November headline sentiment reading was bearish at -2.5.
  • Similar to the previous month, markets rallied and the number of portfolios selling equities outpaced the number of portfolios purchasing equities.
  • Investors rotated into consumer defensive and financial services while rotating out of communication services and consumer cyclical sectors.
  • ISI Reading

    The index is calculated as the relative share of individual investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral in a monthly time frame producing a reading between -100 and 100.  

    Download October report

    Download ISI time series

    ISI Activity

    The activity represents the index components such that “buying” - “selling” will net to the ISI. Dotted lines represent the historical average for each component.

    October 2022

    Key Observations

  • The October headline sentiment reading was bearish at -3.6.
  • Consistent with historical trend, the percentage of portfolio selling equities increased as markets rallied during the month.
  • Investors rotated into healthcare and technology and out of financial services.
  • ISI Reading

    The index is calculated as the relative share of individual investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral in a monthly time frame producing a reading between -100 and 100.  

    Download September report

    Download ISI time series

    ISI Activity

    The activity represents the index components such that “buying” - “selling” will net to the ISI. Dotted lines represent the historical average for each component.

    September 2022

    Key Observations

  • September headline sentiment reading was bearish at -1.3.
  • As markets sharply sold-off in September, the percentage of investors trading was significantly below historical levels.
  • Investors rotated into defensive sectors including consumer defensive and healthcare while rotating out of financial services and technology.
  • ISI Reading

    The index is calculated as the relative share of individual investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral in a monthly time frame producing a reading between -100 and 100.  

    Download August report

    Download ISI time series

    ISI Activity

    The activity represents the index components such that “buying” - “selling” will net to the ISI. Dotted lines represent the historical average for each component.

    August 2022

    Key Observations

  • August's headline sentiment reading was bearish at -3.6.
  • August, a seasonally low trading month historically, saw higher than expected investor participation.
  • Investors rotated into energy, industrials, and basic materials while rotating out of healthcare, communications, and technology.
  • ISI Reading

    The index is calculated as the relative share of individual investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral in a monthly time frame producing a reading between -100 and 100.  

    Download July report

    ISI Activity

    The activity represents the index components such that “buying” - “selling” will net to the ISI. Dotted lines represent the historical average for each component.

    July 2022

    Key Observations

  • July's headline sentiment reading was modestly bullish at .5, quite similar to May and June's readings.
  • Trading volumes for the 4th month in a row continued to remain low relative to history.
  • Investors rotated into healthcare and energy and out of industrials.
  • ISI Reading

    The index is calculated as the relative share of individual investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral in a monthly time frame producing a reading between -100 and 100.  

    Download June report

    Download ISI time series

    ISI Activity

    The activity represents the index components such that “buying” - “selling” will net to the ISI. Dotted lines represent the historical average for each component.

    June 2022

    Key Observations

  • June's headline sentiment reading was modestly bullish at .7, quite similar to May's reading.
  • Investors bought energy, communications, and consumer cyclical sectors this month.
  • Trading volumes for the 3rd month in a row continued to remain low relative to history.
  • ISI Reading

    The index is calculated as the relative share of individual investors that are net buyers of U.S. equity securities versus those that are net sellers or net neutral in a monthly time frame producing a reading between -100 and 100.  

    Download May report

    Download ISI time series

    ISI Activity

    The activity represents the index components such that “buying” - “selling” will net to the ISI. Dotted lines represent the historical average for each component.

    May 2022

    Key Observations

  • May’s headline sentiment reading was modestly bullish at 0.5 following bearish reads in March and April.
  • Trading volumes continued to remain low relative to history.
  • Investors rotated into technology and utilities and out of financial services and communications sectors.
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