Bears are taking control of the stock market. Bulls want you to buy anyway
More individual stock investors say they're bearish than at any time since the early weeks of Trump's tariff rollout in May 2025.
TL;DR
- 53% of individual investors are bearish on the six-month stock outlook, the highest level since May of last year.
- Bullish sentiment has fallen to its lowest in about a year, with only 29% of investors describing themselves as bullish.
- Rising oil prices and Treasury yields around 5% are contributing to investor concern.
- Extreme bearish sentiment, from a contrarian viewpoint, can signal market lows.
- Market breadth, with only 30% of stocks above their 50-day moving average, also suggests a potential low.
- Professional investors show more bullish sentiment than individual investors.
- Despite current sentiment, the upside potential of the long bull market is seen as outweighing downside risk.