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May 4, 2026 Investor Insights Thumbnail

May 4, 2026 Investor Insights

Investor Insights

Retail Wealth Gap

May 4, 2026

Enjoy this week's "Investor Insights," a weekly newsletter that highlights the financial news you need and provides tips and tricks for making better investment decisions. 

 

  • Retail stock ownership rebounded to 62% of Americans in 2025, near pre-2007 highs. Despite this broader participation, the wealthiest 10% of Americans still own 87% of equities, and the wealthiest 1% own close to 50%. 1
  • The S&P 500 posted its best April since 2020, with the index up ~10% for the month and the Nasdaq up ~15%. Recently, May has also been a good month for the market, with the S&P 500 rising in May 12 times over the past 13 years. *2
  • Despite recent increases, inflation-adjusted U.S. gas prices are still around 1990 levels. Additionally, US household energy spending has fallen to just ~3.4% of disposable income, down from as high as 8% in the 1980s. 3
  • A recent survey shows that financial stress extends well beyond lower-income earners. 41% of households making $300K-$500K and 40% of households earning over $500K self-reported living paycheck to paycheck. 4

Sources:

  1. Barron’s – “Retail Investors Keep Getting Burned in the Stock Market. They’re Piling In Again Now.” 
  2. Barron’s – “The S&P 500 Just Had Its Best Month Since 2020. Don’t Let ‘Sell in May’ Spook You.” 
  3. A Wealth of Common Sense – “Higher Gas Prices” 
  4. Goldman Sachs Asset Management – “New Economics of Retirement: Retirement Survey & Insights Report 2025”

*Past performance is not indicative of future performance

Disclosure: This information is furnished for the use of Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC, Glen Eagle Wealth, LLC, and their clients and/or contacts. It does not constitute the provision of investment advice to any person. It is not prepared with respect to the specific objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any specific person. Investors reading this commentary should consult with their Glen Eagle representative/financial advisor regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or adapting any investment strategies discussed or recommended in this newsletter. 

Glen Eagle Wealth, LLC is a member of FINRA, MSRB and SIPC 

Glen Eagle Advisors, LLC is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor 

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