Stats Active, passive and flows Retail trading

Retail is 20% of US volume but 53% of 0DTE SPX options

MeasureFigure
Retail share of US equity trading volumeabout 20%
The same share at the 2021 peakabout 24%
Retail share of same day expiry SPX optionsabout 53%
Retail self directed assetsabout $12 trillion
Average US stock holding period, late 1950sabout 8 years
Average US stock holding period nowmonths

Source: Cboe Insights for the same day expiry participation estimate. The volume share and holding period figures are widely cited approximations rather than measurements. Most retail orders are internalised off exchange, so no regulator publishes a definitive retail share.

Most retail orders never reach a public exchange, so the retail share of volume is an estimate. It runs around 20% of all US equity trading and about 53% of same day expiry SPX options. Retail activity clusters in the fastest instruments.

about 20%Retail share of volume
about 24%2021 peak
about 53%Same day SPX options
about 8 yearsHolding period, late 1950s

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