The Israeli public expanded its activity on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2025, with the share of people holding an active investment portfolio rising to 49 percent, up from 40 percent the previous year, according to a new study published by the exchange on the profile of the Israeli investor.
More than half of active investors reported that securities now account for up to 50 percent of their total investments, including real estate, provident funds and other savings vehicles. The findings point to a renewed return of the broader public to the capital market and a growing presence of retail investors.
At the same time, the share of Israelis who have never held an investment portfolio fell to 40 percent, an 11-point decline compared with the previous year.
One of the most notable trends in the report is the growing preference for self-managed investing. In 2025, 73 percent of investors with active portfolios said they manage their investments independently, up from 69 percent a year earlier. In contrast, the share of investors relying on professional portfolio management fell to 43 percent from 50 percent.
Among those using professional services, 22 percent manage their portfolios through investment houses, 18 percent through bank investment advisers, 7 percent through portfolio managers and 1 percent with the help of a family member.
The study also examined changes in investors’ habits, finding rising confidence in digital tools and artificial intelligence as decision-making aids, though not as full substitutes for professional judgment. While portfolio management was once dominated by desktop computers, younger investors now primarily use smartphones to trade and monitor their investments.
An influx of younger participants has reshaped the market. Investors under 18 now account for 6 percent of active traders, ages 18 to 21 make up 16 percent, ages 22 to 30 represent 37 percent, ages 31 to 40 account for 19 percent, ages 41 to 50 for 14 percent and those over 51 just 13 percent.
The entry of younger investors has lowered the average portfolio value, as younger groups typically manage smaller sums, including soldiers who invest fixed monthly amounts from their military salaries. In 2025, the average age of self-managed investors was 29.6, compared with 34.2 among those with professionally managed portfolios.
The report also found that high tech remains the leading sector in Israeli investment portfolios, but its relative strength has weakened. The banking sector has narrowed the gap, while insurance stocks have strengthened and emerged as one of the more attractive investment sectors.