Record number of retail investors on the markets in the first half of 2026
The number of investors active in shares and ETFs rose in the first half of 2026, continuing the trend observed over the past two years.
The increase in the number of equity investors continues
In each of the first two quarters of 2026, nearly 1.2 million retail investors bought or sold shares listed in the European Union from investment service providers established in France or the European Union. This figure, up 14% compared to the second half of 2025, has now reached its highest level since 2018.
Over the same period, the number of new equity investors remained at a high level, up 9% compared to the second half of 2025. However, it was still below the peak seen in the first half of 2025 (282,000 in the first half of 2026, compared to 315,000 in 2025).
The number of ETF investors is growing rapidly
In each of the first two quarters of 2026, approximately 900,000 retail investors bought or sold ETFs from investment service providers established in France or the European Union. This figure is up 39% compared to the second half of 2025.
Over the same period, the number of new ETF investors (394,000) was also up, by 36%, compared to the second half of 2025 (290,000) and by 26% compared to the first half of 2025 (313,000). The number of new ETF investors reached its highest level since 2018 during the first half of the year.
The number of transactions is at its highest level
In the first six months of 2026, 36 million transactions in shares listed in the European Union were reported to the AMF, 28% more than in the same period in 2025. These are transactions executed with service providers established in France or in a European Union country other than France if the instrument in question falls under the AMF’s jurisdiction. This figure represents the highest level of transactions observed since 2018.
For ETFs, 11.8 million transactions were transmitted to the AMF over the same period, up 69% compared to the first half of 2025. This figure also represents the highest level observed since 2018.
The AMF's active investor dashboard records the number of retail investors who have carried out at least one transaction on a financial instrument.
To compile it, the AMF uses the transaction data provided by French financial institutions and the French branches of institutions from the European Union.
