StocksMedium•19 March 2026•
1 min read

AAII Survey: Bearish Sentiment Surges Past 50% Among Individual Investors

Key Facts

1Bullish sentiment among individual investors dropped to 30.4% according to the weekly AAII survey.
2Bearish sentiment has surged past the 50% mark as investor optimism continues to decline.

The latest weekly sentiment survey from the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII) reveals a significant shift in market outlook. Bearish sentiment among retail investors has surged past the 50% threshold, reflecting growing anxiety over market conditions. Simultaneously, bullish sentiment dropped to 30.4%, marking a notable decline in investor optimism. This spike in negativity is likely driven by persistent macroeconomic uncertainty and recent volatility in major indices. While contrarian analysts often view extreme bearishness as a potential market bottom signal, the current data highlights strong downward momentum. Major ETFs such as SPY and QQQ remain under pressure as retail participants retreat from risk assets.