AAII Sentiment Survey: Optimism Rises

Optimism among individual investors about the short-term outlook for stocks increased in the latest AAII Sentiment Survey. Meanwhile, neutral sentiment and pessimism decreased.

Bullish sentiment, expectations that stock prices will rise over the next six months, increased 7.2 percentage points to 44.0%. Bullish sentiment is above its historical average of 37.5% for the fifth time in seven weeks.

Neutral sentiment, expectations that stock prices will stay essentially unchanged over the next six months, decreased 1.4 percentage points to 19.1%. Neutral sentiment is unusually low and is below its historical average of 31.5% for the 67th time in 69 weeks.

Bearish sentiment, expectations that stock prices will fall over the next six months, decreased 5.8 percentage points to 36.9%. Bearish sentiment is above its historical average of 31.0% for the 48th time in 50 weeks.

The bull-bear spread (bullish minus bearish sentiment) increased 13.0 percentage points to 7.2%. The bull-bear spread is above its historical average of 6.5% for the fourth time in 39 weeks.

This week’s special question asked AAII members what they will be giving out to kids this Halloween.

Here is how they responded:

• I do not get kids stopping by: 44.4%
• A mix of chocolate and other types of candy: 29.7%
• Candy: 13.4%
• Chocolate: 8.6%
• Something else: 3.5%

See more Sentiment Survey results.