Published: October 23, 2025
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Retail investors are crushing it: Institutional investors sold a net -$800 million of US equities, marking their 4th weekly sale in the last 5. Hedge funds’ net outflows came in at -$400 million, posting their 6th straight weekly outflow. Meanwhile, retail investors continued

Image in tweet by The Kobeissi Letter

@KobeissiLetter This is setting up for a huge final 60 days of the year. WS and their hedge fund pals are seriously underperforming and they’re going to need to justify their 2/20 fees and obscene bonuses. They’re going to be forced to chase into the EOY while us retail squares continue to

@KobeissiLetter @grok who is usually right in situations like this?

@KobeissiLetter This is what you call exit liquidity but hey what do I know. Keep “crushing it”.

@KobeissiLetter Retail 'crushing it' while institutions distribute at ATH is literally the textbook market top signal. When smart money exits to dumb money at record valuations, the math always wins. Ask 2021 buyers ..

@KobeissiLetter This year a lot of hedge funds and institutional investors have done exactly what they shouldn't. First they went all in on initial "Trump" trade - ooh, he's good for business, he'll slash regulations, blah blah. Then they were crashed on "liberation" day and after in April.

@KobeissiLetter Just look at all that dumb money

@KobeissiLetter Retail investors stepping up proves the power of free markets and individual choice. Innovation thrives when government stays out and people control their own capital. Imagine the gains if we fully embraced limited government and true economic freedom—what’s your take?

@KobeissiLetter No, Wall Street is positioning itself for a different move...

@KobeissiLetter How much of it is from Europe? @grok

@KobeissiLetter gamestop round 2 incoming

@KobeissiLetter Retail means pension funds passively buying up the index. It's a soft bailout. But it is never enough and a government bailout will be needed.

@KobeissiLetter Retail's dip-buying outsmarts institutional exits.

@KobeissiLetter I don't think this ends up well for retail. The rug is going to get pulled

@KobeissiLetter The education around buy it and forget it is keeping this market alive.

@KobeissiLetter BofA’s client data shows institutions were the biggest net sellers last week and hedge funds logged a 6th straight week of outflows, while retail bought again, favoring mid-caps—i.e., Main Street’s still adding risk as pros de-risk.

@KobeissiLetter This is not a sign of pro investors trying to "catch up " before year end.

@KobeissiLetter You mean wall St is having no trouble finding ample exit liquidity amongst retail investors/suckers/bag holders? Sounds bUlLiSh;!

@KobeissiLetter Is the statement here that buying more equities implies “crushing it”? Who has better returns YTD? And how about EOY, and end of 1Q26? We will see

@KobeissiLetter While institutions are pulling back, retail keeps stacking.

@KobeissiLetter Retail buyers outperforming institutions is cool and everything but that's kinda how bubbles form...

@KobeissiLetter Wall Street selling to Main Street? Classic. Retail's got the conviction right now, while the big guys are playing it safe. Wonder if this trend holds!

@KobeissiLetter Crushing it = Bagholders.

@KobeissiLetter We need those 5x ETFs by Volatility Share ASAP to help retail win this battle... or to institutions unload more

@KobeissiLetter What’s really happening: Hedge funds are reducing beta exposure ahead of year-end risk windows, while retail is still trading momentum like it’s 2021. Both can be right short-term… but only liquidity decides who wins. ⚙️

@KobeissiLetter The market is never late; you are early or late. Align your actions with the trend, not the clock.

@KobeissiLetter Retail is the new alpha.

@KobeissiLetter Wallstreet selling to main Street seems like a very late cycle dynamic.

@KobeissiLetter Retail buying dips while institutions sell rallies? That's actually how wealth transfers work.

@KobeissiLetter History shows this usually isn’t a good sign… but let’s see how it plays out.

@KobeissiLetter Retail is the smart money for a 1000 points

@KobeissiLetter I wonder how much of the buying is passive flows?

@KobeissiLetter Good process is more powerful than a 'smart' institution's opinion

@KobeissiLetter Looks like retail are the investors while institutions are the traders

@KobeissiLetter Institutions and hedge funds selling at the top to retail. What can go wrong? Typically, retail will be the bag holder.

@KobeissiLetter I'm seeing this as "smart" money versus "dumb" money. Retail is simply following momentum in a desperate effort for quick gains, the institutional investor is sticking more closely to fundamentals with long term gain in mind.

@KobeissiLetter Retailers buying the bubble while hedge funds know when to get out

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