Investing Statistics 2026: 18 Facts on Stock Ownership From the Fed
58% of U.S. families owned stock directly or indirectly in the Fed's latest SCF, 21% held stocks directly, and households held $74.0 trillion in equities in 2026:Q2. 18 investing stats from Federal Reserve data.
More American families own stock than ever measured, but the dollars are concentrated at the top. The Federal Reserve’s latest Survey of Consumer Finances found 58% of families held stock directly or indirectly, and the Fed’s Financial Accounts put household equity holdings at $74.0 trillion in mid-2026. Here are 18 investing statistics from those primary sources, plus the Fed’s 2025 survey of household economics.
Data as of October 17, 2026. Family-level ownership and values come from the Federal Reserve’s Changes in U.S. Family Finances from 2019 to 2022: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances (October 2023; values in 2022 dollars). Adult-level behavior comes from the Fed’s Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025 (SHED), published in 2026. Aggregate dollar totals come from the Fed’s Financial Accounts of the United States, Z.1, Second Quarter 2026 (released September 11, 2026) and its table S1M.s. Where we divide published figures, we say so. This page is general information, not investment advice. Some links on Money 8020 are affiliate or partner links; see our advertiser and affiliate disclosure.
Key takeaways
- Stock ownership: 58% of families held stock directly or indirectly in 2022, up from 53% in 2019.
- Direct stock owners: 21.0% of families held individual stocks in 2022, up from 15.2%, the largest change on record.
- Outside retirement accounts: 37% of adults held stocks, bonds, ETFs or mutual funds in a taxable account in 2025.
- Total dollars: households held $74.0 trillion in directly and indirectly held equity in 2026:Q2.
- Concentration: 95% of top-decile-income families owned stock, versus 34% of the bottom half.
Investing at a glance
| Measure | Value | Source / as-of |
|---|---|---|
| Families owning stock (direct or indirect) | 58% | SCF 2022 |
| Families owning stocks directly | 21.0% | SCF 2022 |
| Families with retirement accounts | 54.3% | SCF 2022 |
| Median stock holdings, stock-owning families | $52,000 | SCF 2022 (2022 dollars) |
| Adults with taxable investments | 37% | SHED 2025 |
| Adults with a tax-preferred retirement account | 61% | SHED 2025 |
| Household equity, direct and indirect | $74.0 trillion | Z.1, 2026:Q2 |
| Household net worth | $195.9 trillion | Z.1, 2026:Q2 |
Who owns stock
1. 58% of families own stock in some form
When the Fed combines direct holdings with indirect holdings such as retirement accounts and pooled funds, 58% of families held publicly traded stock in 2022, up from 53% in 2019 and 52% in 2016 (SCF Box 2).
2. 21% of families own individual stocks directly
Direct ownership of stocks rose from 15.2% of families in 2019 to 21.0% in 2022, which the Fed calls the largest change on record (SCF Table 3).
3. Ownership climbs steeply with income
In 2022, 34% of families in the bottom half of the usual-income distribution held stock, compared with 78% of the upper-middle group (50th to 89.9th percentile) and 95% of the top decile. All three groups increased participation from 2019.
4. Retirement accounts are the most common way to invest
Retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s were held by 54.3% of families in 2022, up almost 4 percentage points from 50.5% in 2019. They were the second most common financial asset after transaction accounts.
5. Pooled funds are held by about 1 in 9 families
Directly held pooled investment funds (mutual funds, ETFs, REITs and similar, excluding money market funds and funds held inside retirement accounts) were held by 11.5% of families in 2022, up from 9.0% in 2019. The conditional median holding was $150,000.
How much families have invested
6. The median stock-owning family holds about $52,000
Among families with any direct or indirect stock, the conditional median value was $52,000 in 2022 and the conditional mean was $491,800 (2022 dollars, SCF Box 2 Table A).
7. New direct investors started small
The conditional median value of directly held stocks fell by about half, from $29,000 in 2019 to $15,000 in 2022, while the mean stayed near $404,000. The Fed says this suggests new entrants held smaller portfolios than longtime owners.
8. The typical retirement account holds about $86,900
The conditional median retirement account value rose 15% to $86,900 in 2022, and the conditional mean rose 13% to $334,000.
9. Stock holdings range from $12,600 to $608,000 by income
Among stock-owning families in 2022, the median holding was $12,600 for the bottom half of the income distribution, $53,200 for the upper-middle group and $608,000 for the top decile.
| Usual income group (2022) | Own stock | Median stock holding | Mean stock holding |
|---|---|---|---|
| All families | 58% | $52,000 | $491,800 |
| Bottom half (0–49.9 pct.) | 34% | $12,600 | $81,500 |
| Upper-middle (50–89.9 pct.) | 78% | $53,200 | $217,400 |
| Top decile (90–100 pct.) | 95% | $608,000 | $2,138,200 |
Source: Federal Reserve SCF 2022, Box 2 and Table A (direct and indirect stock; values conditional on holding stock, 2022 dollars).
10. Mean retirement savings for working-age savers is about $331,400
Among families aged 35 to 64 with an IRA or defined contribution plan, the mean combined balance was $331,400 in 2022, ranging from $54,700 in the bottom half of the income distribution to $913,300 in the top decile (SCF Box 1 Table A).
How adults invest today (SHED 2025)
11. 37% of adults invest outside a retirement account
In the Fed’s 2025 SHED survey, 37% of adults held stocks, bonds, ETFs or mutual funds outside a retirement account. The share rises with age, from 18% of adults 18 to 24 to 48% of those 65 and older.
12. 61% of adults have a 401(k), IRA or similar account
61% of adults had a tax-preferred retirement account, and 67% had either a retirement account or a defined benefit pension. Among adults 55 to 64, 73% had a tax-preferred account.
| Age group (SHED 2025) | Tax-preferred retirement account | Stocks, bonds, ETFs or funds outside retirement |
|---|---|---|
| 18–24 | 28% | 18% |
| 25–54 | 63% | 33% |
| 55–64 | 73% | 45% |
| 65+ | 62% | 48% |
| All adults | 61% | 37% |
Source: Federal Reserve, SHED 2025, Table 28 (among all adults; respondents could select multiple answers).
13. Only 35% of non-retirees think their retirement saving is on track
35% of non-retired adults said their retirement savings plan was on track in 2025, unchanged from 2024 and down from 2021.
14. Fewer than half feel comfortable managing investments
47% of adults said they were mostly or very comfortable choosing and managing their investments. The gap by gender is wide: 55% of men versus 39% of women.
15. 14% of non-retirees tapped or cut back on retirement savings
In the prior 12 months, 5% of non-retirees borrowed from a retirement account, 4% cashed out funds and 8% reduced regular contributions; 14% did at least one of these.
16. 9% of adults bought or held crypto as an investment
The share of adults who bought or held cryptocurrency as an investment was 9% in 2025, up from 7% in 2024 but below 11% in 2021 (SHED Table 33).
The aggregate picture (Financial Accounts, 2026:Q2)
17. Households hold $74.0 trillion in equities
The Fed’s Z.1 release for the second quarter of 2026 put households’ directly and indirectly held equity shares at $74.0 trillion, out of household net worth of $195.9 trillion. Directly held corporate equities were about $52.1 trillion and mutual fund shares about $14.4 trillion (table S1M.s).
18. Stock gains drove a $12.8 trillion jump in net worth
Household net worth rose $12.8 trillion in 2026:Q2, and the value of directly and indirectly held equity rose $10.7 trillion, the Fed said. Directly held corporate equities were about 34% of households’ $153.5 trillion in financial assets (our division of 52.1 / 153.5).
How to put these numbers to work
- Use the SCF for who owns stock and how much, the SHED for recent behavior, and Z.1 for total dollars. Do not blend them into one number.
- If you are starting out, low-cost brokerages and robo-advisors remove most of the old barriers. Compare best brokerage accounts and best robo-advisors we verified on provider pages, or read Betterment vs Wealthfront.
- Not sure whether to pick funds yourself? See index funds vs robo-advisors.
- For the wider balance-sheet picture, see average net worth by age and average savings by age.
- None of these figures is a recommendation to buy or sell any investment.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of Americans own stock?
In the Federal Reserve's 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances (published October 2023), 58% of U.S. families held publicly traded stock directly or indirectly, such as through retirement accounts or funds, up from 53% in 2019. Direct ownership of individual stocks was 21.0% of families, up from 15.2% in 2019.
How much stock does the typical family own?
Among families that held stock directly or indirectly in the 2022 SCF, the median value was about $52,000 and the mean was about $491,800 (2022 dollars). Among families holding individual stocks directly, the median was $15,000, down from $29,000 in 2019, as many new, smaller investors entered the market.
How many adults invest outside a retirement account?
The Federal Reserve's SHED survey for 2025 found 37% of adults held stocks, bonds, ETFs or mutual funds outside a retirement account, and 61% had a tax-preferred retirement account such as a 401(k) or IRA.
How much stock do U.S. households hold in total?
The Federal Reserve's Financial Accounts (Z.1) for the second quarter of 2026, released September 11, 2026, put households' directly and indirectly held equity at $74.0 trillion. Directly held corporate equities were about $52.1 trillion and mutual fund shares about $14.4 trillion.
Why do SCF, SHED and Z.1 numbers differ?
They measure different things. The SCF is a triennial survey of families with detailed balance sheets (latest wave 2022). SHED is an annual survey of adults about their financial lives (latest 2025). The Financial Accounts (Z.1) are quarterly aggregate dollar totals for the whole household and nonprofit sector. Use SCF for who owns stock, SHED for recent behavior, and Z.1 for total dollars.
Is this investment advice?
No. These are general statistics from Federal Reserve publications. They are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.