October 3, 2025: AAII Sentiment Survey - Optimism Rises
AAII Sentiment Survey shows bullish sentiment rising to 42.9% as optimism grows among investors. Neutral sentiment drops, bearish outlook holds steady at 39.2%.
Optimism among individual investors about the short-term outlook for stocks increased in the latest AAII Sentiment Survey. Meanwhile, neutral sentiment decreased and pessimism was unchanged.
Bullish sentiment, expectations that stock prices will rise over the next six months, increased 1.2 percentage points to 42.9%. Bullish sentiment is above its historical average of 37.5% for the third time in nine weeks.
Neutral sentiment, expectations that stock prices will stay essentially unchanged over the next six months, decreased 1.1 percentage points to 17.9%. Neutral sentiment is unusually low and is below its historical average of 31.5% for the 63rd time in 65 weeks.
Bearish sentiment, expectations that stock prices will fall over the next six months, was unchanged at 39.2%. Bearish sentiment is above its historical average of 31.0% for the 44th time in 46 weeks.
The bull-bear spread (bullish minus bearish sentiment) increased 1.2 percentage points to 3.8%. The bull-bear spread is below its historical average of 6.5% for the 33rd time in 35 weeks.
This week’s special question asked AAII members if they hold gold or other precious metals in their portfolio, either directly or through an exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Here is how they responded:
No, I do not: 55.6%
Yes, I own gold or other precious metals: 18.7%
Yes, I own both precious metals and mining companies: 15.9%
I just own mining companies that focus on precious metals: 7.9%
I am considering adding gold to my portfolio: 1.9%
This week’s Sentiment Survey results:
Bullish: 42.9%, up 1.2 points
Neutral: 17.9%, down 1.1 points
Bearish: 39.2%, down 0.0 points
Historical averages:
Bullish: 37.5%
Neutral: 31.5%
Bearish: 31.0%
See more Sentiment Survey results.