Shocking But True: 90% of People Lose Money in Stocks (2024)

Shocking But True: 90% of People Lose Money in Stocks (2)

It’s a shocking statistic — approximately 90% of retail investors lose money in the stock market over the long run. With the rise of commission-free trading apps like Robinhood, more people than ever are trying their hand at stock picking. Unfortunately, the vast majority are learning the hard way that investing is harder than it looks.

In this article, we’ll uncover the sobering data on retail investor performance. We’ll analyze the main reasons most stock pickers fail to generate consistent profits. And we’ll share research-backed tips on how you can beat the odds and join the elite group of successful investors.

Here’s a preview of what you’ll learn:

  • Staggering data reveals 90% of retail investors underperform the broader market
  • Lack of patience and undisciplined trading behaviors cause most losses
  • Insufficient market knowledge and overconfidence lead to costly mistakes
  • Tips from famous investors on how to achieve long-term success

Read on to get the full story! This in-depth guide will illuminate why investing trips up most amateurs. And you’ll learn how to avoid critical errors that drain portfolio returns.

Numerous studies demonstrate that retail investors as a group significantly underperform the market over multi-year periods. For example, a 2012 study by Barclays Bank found that over a five-year period, the average retail investor earned annual returns of just 2.3%, compared to 7.3% for the S&P 500 index.

A Vanguard report came to a similar conclusion. Looking at data from 2001 to 2016, Vanguard determined that the average retail investor gained a yearly return of just 4.3%. The S&P 500 returned 7.7% per year over the same period.

A frequently cited report by market research firm Dalbar calculated that from 1995 to 2015, the average equity mutual fund investor earned just 5.2% annually versus 9.9% for the S&P 500. After adjusting for inflation, most investors actually…

Shocking But True: 90% of People Lose Money in Stocks (2024)

FAQs

Shocking But True: 90% of People Lose Money in Stocks? ›

It's a shocking statistic — approximately 90% of retail investors lose money in the stock market over the long run. With the rise of commission-free trading apps like Robinhood, more people than ever are trying their hand at stock picking.

Do 90% of people lose money in the stock market? ›

How Many People Lose Money in the Stock Market? About 90% of investors lose money trading stocks.

Why 90% of traders lose money? ›

Most new traders lose because they can't control the actions their emotions cause them to make. Another common mistake that traders make is a lack of risk management. Trading involves risk, and it's essential to have a plan in place for how you will manage that risk.

What are the odds of losing money in the stock market? ›

That's a roughly 1-in-4 chance of losing money in stocks in any given year.

Why do 80% of traders lose money? ›

Lack of trading discipline

This is the primary reason for intraday trading losses in the intraday trading app. Trading discipline has to focus on three things. Firstly, there must be a trading book to guide your daily trading. Secondly, you must always trade with a stop loss only.

Is it true that 95 of traders lose money? ›

Success rates among average traders are even lower, with some estimates suggesting the number of people that lose money is as high as 95%. The decline in value of an asset isn't the only place you could lose money.

Who keeps the money you lose in the stock market? ›

No one, including the company that issued the stock, pockets the money from your declining stock price. The money reflected by changes in stock prices isn't tallied and given to some investor. The changes in price are simply an independent by-product of supply and demand and corresponding investor transactions.

What is 90% rule in trading? ›

Broker Forex Global

While it can be a lucrative venture for some, it is also known to be a high-risk activity. This is where the 90 rule in Forex comes into play. The 90 rule in Forex is a commonly cited statistic that states that 90% of Forex traders lose 90% of their money in the first 90 days.

How much money do day traders with $10000 accounts make per day on average? ›

With a $10,000 account, a good day might bring in a five percent gain, which is $500. However, day traders also need to consider fixed costs such as commissions charged by brokers. These commissions can eat into profits, and day traders need to earn enough to overcome these fees [2].

Why 99% of traders fail? ›

The most common reason for failure in trading is the lack of discipline. Most traders trade without a proper strategic approach to the market. Successful trading depends on three practices.

Do I lose all my money if the stock market crashes? ›

Do you lose all the money if the stock market crashes? No, a stock market crash only indicates a fall in prices where a majority of investors face losses but do not completely lose all the money. The money is lost only when the positions are sold during or after the crash.

What happens if you lose 100% of your stock? ›

A drop in price to zero means the investor loses his or her entire investment: a return of -100%. To summarize, yes, a stock can lose its entire value. However, depending on the investor's position, the drop to worthlessness can be either good (short positions) or bad (long positions).

Should I sell stocks that are losing money? ›

Whether you should sell a stock at a loss depends on your trading strategy and overall portfolio composition. You may be able to hold stock at a loss for a longer period if it is a smaller part of your portfolio and doesn't drag your portfolio's value down.

What is the 80% rule in trading? ›

If the market can trade back inside value for two consecutive 30 minute periods, then it has an 80% chance of rotating to the other side of value. –Context is extremely important. Do not trade this rule mechanically and expect to have good results.

Who is the best trader in the world? ›

1. George Soros. George Soros, often referred to as the «Man Who Broke the Bank of England», is an iconic figure in the world of forex trading. His net worth, estimated at around $8 billion, reflects not only his financial success but also his enduring influence on global markets.

How much does the average day trader lose? ›

According to a study by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of forex traders, 70% of traders lose money every quarter, and traders typically lose 100% of their money within 12 months.

How much have most people lost in the stock market? ›

The top 10% of Americans have lost over $8 trillion in stock market wealth this year, which marks a 22% decline in their stock wealth, according to the Federal Reserve. The top 1% has lost over $5 trillion in stock market wealth. The bottom 50% have lost about $70 billion in stock wealth.

Do most people lose money trading? ›

The vast majority of day traders lose money, reflecting the activity's risk. The factors that determine the potential upside of day trading include starting capital amount, strategies used, the markets in which you are active, and luck.

Can you lose more than 100% in stocks? ›

Stocks can only drop to $0.00 per share, meaning you can lose 100% of your investment but not more than that, seeing as the stock cannot be of negative value.

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