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AAII Sentiment Survey: Optimism Pulls Back Following Big Rise

December 1, 2016 By AAII In AAII Investor Sentiment Survey, AAII Survey

Optimism pulled back in the latest AAII Sentiment Survey after having risen significantly over the previous three weeks. Both neutral and bearish sentiment rebounded this week, after having both previously fallen. Bullish sentiment, expectations that stock prices will rise over...

AAII Sentiment Survey: Optimism Below 30% for 10th Week

October 27, 2016 By AAII In AAII Survey

Optimism among individual investors about the short-term direction of stock prices is below 30% for the 10th consecutive week in the latest AAII Sentiment Survey. Neutral sentiment rebounded, while pessimism pulled back. Bullish sentiment, expectations that stock prices will rise...

Majority of Investors Worry About Divergence Between Corporate Earnings & Market Levels

August 29, 2016 By Wayne Thorp In AAII Survey

According to FactSet, as of the market close on August 25, over 98% of companies in the S&P 500 have reported earnings for the second calendar quarter earnings season. Of those, 71% have reported positive earnings surprises–actual earnings were above the mean estimate. For...

Opinions Mixed on Record Market Highs

July 21, 2016 By AAII In AAII Survey

This week’s Sentiment Survey special question asked AAII members what they thought about the S&P 500 rising to new record highs. Responses varied, as did the reasons given for those responses. About one out of three respondents (34%) either think the recent rally will not...

AAII Sentiment Survey: Optimism Slips Despite New Record Highs

July 21, 2016 By AAII In AAII Survey

The further ascent by the Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 index into record territory did not translate into higher optimism among individual investors. The latest AAII Sentiment Survey shows bullish sentiment—as well as neutral sentiment—declining, and bearish...

Over 1 in 3 Surveyed Investors Say Market Matched Expectations

June 30, 2016 By AAII In AAII Survey

This week’s Sentiment Survey special question asked AAII members how the performance of the stock market over the first half of the year compares to their expectations. Slightly more than one out of three respondents said the returns matched their expectations. A nearly even number...

Nearly Half of Surveyed Members Don’t Think Record Highs Matter

June 9, 2016 By AAII In AAII Survey

This week’s Sentiment Survey special question asked AAII members why it does or not matter if the major U.S. stock indexes rise above their record highs in the near term. Almost half of respondents (49%) said it does not matter. Many of these members said they invest for the long...

AAII Sentiment Survey: Fewest Bulls Since 2005

May 26, 2016 By AAII In AAII Survey

The percentage of individual investors optimistic about short-term gains occurring in the stock market is at its lowest level in 11 years. At the same time, the percentage of investors describing their outlook as neutral is at its highest level in 16 years, according to the latest...

Rare to See Optimism Below 20% and Neutral Above 50%

May 26, 2016 By Charles Rotblut In AAII Survey

A rare combination of readings was registered this week in our weekly sentiment survey: Bullish sentiment is below 20% and neutral sentiment is above 50%. Such a combination has only occurred five previous times since the AAII Sentiment Survey started in 1987. The table below shows...

Neutral Sentiment Readings Above 50% Followed By Gains

May 26, 2016 By Charles Rotblut In AAII Survey

Since the AAII Sentiment Survey started in 1987, a neutral sentiment reading above 50% has only been recorded 28 times. This week’s reading of 52.9% is the highest since April 12, 1990. During the 26 occurrences prior to December 30, 2015, the S&P 500 rose 24 times over the...