UK retail investors are heading into 2026 upbeat on technology stocks, particularly AI-related firms, despite ongoing concerns about market valuations, according to eToro’s latest Retail Investor Beat survey.
The trading platform’s poll of 1,000 UK retail investors revealed that 53% expect the bull market to continue through 2026, with the US remaining the preferred destination for long-term returns.
A third of respondents (33%) believe American markets will deliver the strongest performance. This has been echoed by surveys by other brokers.
Remarkably, months of market commentary about a potential AI bubble have done little to dampen respondents’ enthusiasm for shares. An overwhelming 81% of investors feel confident about their holdings heading into the new year, whilst just 12% anticipate a decline in AI stocks.
The so-called ‘Magnificent Seven’ tech giants remain investor favourites, with 83% expecting them to outperform or match broader market returns.
“Retail investors clearly aren’t buying the ‘AI bubble’ narrative”, said Dan Moczulski, UK Managing Director at eToro.
“Retail investors holding their nerve has been a key theme of 2025. Staying invested, buying the dip, investing consistently: many investors have been handsomely rewarded this year by blocking out the market noise and sticking to these golden rules.”
When asked about potential threats to the bull run, investors pointed to political uncertainty (40%), economic slowdown or recession (39%), and geopolitical instability (34%) as primary concerns. Notably, high market valuations and asset bubbles ranked lower at just 23%, suggesting investors are more focused on macroeconomic and political risks than valuation concerns.