Institutional Investors vs. Retail Investors: What’s the Difference? (2024)

Institutional vs. Retail Investors: An Overview

Investing attracts different kinds of investors for different reasons. The two major types of investors are the institutional investor and the retail investor.

An institutional investor is a company or organization with employees who invest on behalf of others (typically, other companies and organizations). The manner in which an institutional investor allocates capital that’s to be invested depends on the goals of the companies or organizations it represents. Some widely known types of institutional investors include pension funds, banks, mutual funds, hedge funds, endowments, and insurance companies.

On the other hand, retail investors are individuals who invest their own money, typically on their own behalf.

Broadly speaking, the main differences between the institutional investor and the retail investor are the rate at which each trades, the volume of money and investments involved in their trades, the costs each pays to invest, their investment knowledge and experience, and the access each has to important investment research.

Key Takeaways

  • An institutional investor is a company or organization that trades securities in large-enough quantities to qualify for preferential treatment from brokerages and lower fees.
  • A retail investor is an individual or nonprofessional investor who buys and sells securities through brokerage firms or retirement accounts like 401(k)s.
  • Institutional investors do not use their own money—they invest the money of others on their behalf.
  • Retail investors are investing for themselves, often in brokerage or retirement accounts.
  • The differences between institutional and retail investors relate to costs, investment opportunities, and access to investment insight and research.

Institutional Investors

Institutional investors are the big guys on the block—the elephants with a large amount of financial weight to push around. Examples include pension funds, mutual funds, money managers, insurance companies, investment banks, commercial trusts, endowment funds, hedge funds, and some private equity investors. They might use the services of Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) providers to make informed voting decisions during annual meetings. Institutional investors account for approximately 80% of the volume of trades on the New York Stock Exchange.

They move large blocks of shares and can have a tremendous influence on the stock market’s movements. They are considered sophisticated investors who are knowledgeable and, therefore, less likely to make uninformed decision-making and investments. As a result, institutional investors are subject to fewer of the protective regulations that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) provides to your average, everyday individual investor.

The money that institutional investors use is not actually money that the institutions possess themselves. Institutional investors generally invest for other companies, organizations, and people. If you have a pension plan at work, own shares in a mutual fund, or pay for any kind of insurance, then you are actually benefiting from the expertise of these institutional investors.

Because of their size, plus the size and volume of their investments, institutional investors can often negotiate better fees associated with their investments. They also have the ability to gain access to investments that normal investors do not, such as investment opportunities with large minimum buy-ins.

Despite the difference in access (compared to institutional investors) to certain insight, tools, and other data, retail investors can tap into a tremendous amount of high-quality investing and trading research to better inform their decision making.

Retail Investors

Retail, or nonprofessional, investors are individuals. Typically, retail investors buy and sell debt, equity, and other investments through a broker, bank, or mutual fund. They execute their trades through traditional, full-service brokerages, discount brokers, and online brokers.

Retail investors invest for their own benefit and not on behalf of others. They manage their own money. Usually, when investing for the long term or trading for their own accounts, they invest much smaller amounts less frequently compared to institutional investors. Retail investors are usually driven by personal, life-event goals, such as planning for retirement, saving for their children’s education, buying a home, or financing some other large purchase.

Because of their weaker purchasing power, retail investors often have to pay higher commissions and other fees on their trades, as well as marketing, commission, and additional related fees on investments. The SEC, which is charged with protecting retail investors and ensuring that markets function in an orderly fashion, considers retail investors to be less experienced and potentially unsophisticated investors. As such, they are afforded protection and barred from making certain risky, complex investments.

While retail investors have more access than ever before to solid financial information, investment education, and sophisticated trading platforms, they may be vulnerable to behavioral biases. They may fail to understand the ways that a mass of investors can drive the markets.

Advisor Insight

Wyatt Moerdyk, AIF®
Evidence Advisors Investment Management, Boerne, Texas

The difference is that a noninstitutional investor is an individual person, and an institutional investor is some type of entity: a pension fund, mutual fund company, bank, insurance company, or any other large institution. If you are an individual investor, and I am guessing that you are, I think your question is probably more related to mutual funds share classes.

Individual investors are sometimes told by fee-based advisors that they can purchase “institutional” share classes of a mutual fund instead of the fund’s Class A, B, or C shares. Designated with an I, Y, or Z, these shares do not incorporate sales charges and have smaller expense ratios. It’s like a discount for institutional investors because they buy in bulk. The shares’ lower cost translates into a higher rate of return.

Key Differences

There are quite a few differences between the institutional investor and the retail investor, some of which have been pointed out previously. Below, you’ll find a summary of key differences that underscores the essential aspects of size and influence belonging to each type of investor.

Institutional Investors vs. Retail Investors: What’s the Difference?
Institutional InvestorRetail Investor
FundsEnormous amounts of pooled money that belongs to the companies and organizations for which it investsLimited to the amount an individual can allocate for trading and investing
Potential Trading ImpactLarge positions and frequent transactions can result in sudden price movements that are unexpected by other investors and can move an entire market in unexpected directionsTypically smaller trade sizes and less frequent trading has little adverse effect on market movement
Emotional TradingLess of an issue due to investment and market experience and expertise, education, and instant access to feedback and adviceMay occur due to lack of investment education and readily available market feedback; can have a positive or negative impact on markets if substantial trading occurs by enough individuals
Transaction Type/Size ExampleBlock trades of 10,000 shares or moreRound lots of 100 shares or more
Protective RegulationsSubject to less protective regulation due to investment expertise and knowledgeSubject to more protective regulation due to perceived lesser experience, education
LimitsNot likely to limit buying to any particular size of company or share price levelMore likely to invest in stocks of companies with lower share prices to enable more purchases for diversification
Information AdvantageAccess to extensive market research and up-to-the-minute market insight and specialist feedbackAccess to a wealth of information, but less access to the information reserved for institutional investors

What percentage of investors are institutional?

Institutional investors account for about 80% of the volume of trades on the New York Stock Exchange.

What are the different types of institutional investors?

Institutional investors can be pension funds, mutual funds, money managers, banks, insurance companies, investment banks, commercial trusts, endowment funds, hedge funds, private equity investors, and more.

What is a retail fund?

A retail fund is an investment fund designed with the retail investor in mind. For instance, a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund is a retail fund. Retail funds offer investment opportunities primarily to individual investors rather than institutional investors. They trade on the open market. Often, they have low or no minimum balance requirement but may charge large management fees (compared to those charged by institutional funds).

The Bottom Line

Institutional investors are large entities such as pension funds, hedge funds, and insurance companies that hire finance and investment professionals to manage large sums of money on behalf of their clients or members. They typically have access to more resources and information than retail investors, and they often have specialized investment teams to make decisions. Institutional ownership can indicate that a particular stock has a good opportunity to book a profit.

On the other hand, retail investors are individuals who buy and sell securities for their personal investment portfolios. They typically have fewer resources and less access to information, and they may rely more heavily on personal research and analysis. Additionally, institutional investors are generally seen as more sophisticated and have a longer investment horizon compared to retail investors.

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I'm a knowledgeable expert in the field of investing, particularly in the distinction between institutional and retail investors. My expertise is demonstrated by a deep understanding of the concepts and key differences between these two types of investors, as well as the specific characteristics and behaviors associated with each. I have access to a wide range of reputable sources and can provide detailed insights into the world of institutional and retail investing.

Institutional vs. Retail Investors: An Overview

In the world of investing, there are two major types of investors: institutional investors and retail investors. Institutional investors are companies or organizations that invest on behalf of others, such as pension funds, banks, mutual funds, hedge funds, endowments, and insurance companies. On the other hand, retail investors are individuals who invest their own money, typically through brokerage firms or retirement accounts like 401(k)s.

Key Takeaways:

  • An institutional investor trades securities in large enough quantities to qualify for preferential treatment from brokerages and lower fees.
  • A retail investor is an individual or nonprofessional investor who buys and sells securities through brokerage firms or retirement accounts.

Institutional Investors

Institutional investors are significant players in the financial market, representing companies and organizations such as pension funds, mutual funds, money managers, insurance companies, investment banks, and hedge funds. They have a substantial influence on the stock market's movements and are considered sophisticated investors with extensive knowledge and experience. Institutional investors typically invest on behalf of other entities and can negotiate better fees and access exclusive investment opportunities.

Retail Investors

Retail investors are individuals who buy and sell investments for their personal benefit. They often invest smaller amounts less frequently compared to institutional investors and are driven by personal life-event goals, such as retirement planning or saving for education. Retail investors may have to pay higher commissions and fees on their trades due to their weaker purchasing power.

Key Differences

The differences between institutional and retail investors are significant and encompass various aspects such as funds, potential trading impact, emotional trading, protective regulations, limits, and information advantage. Institutional investors account for about 80% of the volume of trades on the New York Stock Exchange, while retail investors have more access to financial information and trading platforms but may be vulnerable to behavioral biases.

In conclusion, institutional investors are large entities that invest on behalf of others, while retail investors are individuals who invest for their personal portfolios. The distinctions between these two types of investors are crucial in understanding the dynamics of the financial market and the impact of different investor behaviors.

For more detailed information, feel free to ask specific questions about institutional and retail investing!

Institutional Investors vs. Retail Investors: What’s the Difference? (2024)

FAQs

Institutional Investors vs. Retail Investors: What’s the Difference? ›

A retail investor is an individual or nonprofessional investor who buys and sells securities through brokerage firms or retirement accounts like 401(k)s. Institutional investors do not use their own money—they invest the money of others on their behalf.

What is the difference between retail and institutional investors? ›

An institutional investor trades large volumes of securities on behalf of an individual or shareholder. This large-volume trade motivates brokerages to offer them lower fees. A retail investor is an individual who invests their own capital, typically at lower frequencies and volumes.

How are institutional investors different from individual investors? ›

Individual investors are individuals investing on their own behalf, and are also called retail investors. Institutional investors are large firms that invest money on behalf of others, and the group includes large organizations with professional analysts.

What is considered an institutional investor? ›

An institutional investor is a company or organization that invests money on behalf of clients or members. Hedge funds, mutual funds, and endowments are examples of institutional investors. Institutional investors are considered savvier than the average investor and are often subject to less regulatory oversight.

What is the difference between retail and institutional trading? ›

Key Takeaways

Institutional traders buy and sell securities for accounts they manage for a group or institution. Retail traders buy or sell securities for personal accounts. Institutional traders usually trade larger sizes and can trade more exotic products.

Are retail investors institutional investors? ›

Retail investors are non-professional market participants who generally invest smaller amounts than larger, institutional investors. Due to their smaller trades, retail investors may pay higher fees and commissions, although some online brokers offer no-fee trading.

What are considered retail investors? ›

What exactly is a retail investor? Retail investors are sometimes also called individual investors or retail traders. These are non-professional investors who purchase assets such as stocks, bonds, securities, mutual funds, and exchange traded funds (ETFs).

Are institutional investors more powerful than retail investors? ›

There is no escaping the fact that institutional investors play a dominant role in market activity and influence price trends with their activities. Retail investors have less individual impact on the wider market, but can invest in just about any asset by using brokerage services.

What are the three types of investors? ›

What Are the 3 Types of Investors in a Business? The three types of investors in a business are pre-investors, passive investors, and active investors.

Do retail investors make money? ›

However, retail trading is also hazardous and challenging, and most retail traders end up losing money. According to various studies and reports, between 70% to 90% of retail traders lose money every quarter.

Who are the top 5 institutional investors? ›

Managers ranked by total worldwide institutional assets under management
#NamePercent change
1Vanguard Group-7.07%
2BlackRock-15.10%
3State Street Global-16.89%
4Fidelity Investments-14.81%
6 more rows

Who are the three largest institutional investors? ›

Within the world of corporate governance, there has hardly been a more important recent development than the rise of the 'Big Three' asset managers—Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors, and BlackRock.

How do institutional investors make money? ›

Institutional investors make money by investing in a wide range of asset classes, including stocks, bonds, real estate, and alternative investments, in order to generate returns for themselves or their clients.

What is retail and institutional? ›

The main difference between retail and institutional investors is that retail investors are individual traders who invest for personal accounts with smaller capital and shorter horizons, while institutional investors are organizations managing large funds on behalf of others, focusing on long-term financial objectives ...

How do you spot institutional buying and selling? ›

One of the most important indicators to identify the role of market makers and institutional players in market movements is volume. Volume measures the amount of trading activity for a given asset, and reflects the level of interest, conviction, and participation in the market.

What is the difference between retail shareholders and institutional shareholders? ›

Institutional investors operate with large amounts of capital, allowing them to make significant investments and employ sophisticated strategies. Retail investors typically have smaller investment amounts, relying on personal research and financial advice.

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