Europe Dominates US Stock Holdings | Generated by AI
Question: Are Europeans the main foreign buyers of US stocks, accounting for 49% of all foreign buyers?
Answer:
Yes, Europeans (or investors from Europe) are currently the largest group of foreign holders of US stocks (equities), and they account for approximately 49% of total foreign holdings of US corporate stocks/equities.
This figure comes from recent analyses and reports (around 2025-2026 context), where Europe holds roughly $8.93 trillion out of $18.45 trillion in total foreign-held US corporate stocks, equating to about 48.4% (often rounded to 49% in discussions). Specific groups of European countries (e.g., Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK) hold a significant portion, around $5.7 trillion, which is over half of Europe’s total and nearly half of all foreign US equity holdings.
The US Treasury International Capital (TIC) system provides the underlying data on foreign portfolio holdings of US securities, including equities. Historical TIC reports (e.g., as of mid-2023 and 2024) show Europe consistently as the top region for foreign holdings of US equities, ahead of Asia, the Americas, and others. This has been a stable pattern, driven by institutional investors, pension funds, and wealth in advanced European economies.
Note that “buyers” here refers more to holders/owners rather than short-term purchasers, as the data tracks portfolio holdings (market value) rather than flows. Foreigners overall own about 18-20% of the total US stock market, with Europeans forming the dominant share among them.
This aligns with concerns in recent market commentary about potential risks if European investors reduce exposure (e.g., due to trade or policy tensions).
References:
- Wall Street Grapples With New Risk: A European Buyers’ Strike
- Foreign Ownership of U.S. Corporate Stocks by Region in 2024
- Foreign Portfolio Holdings of U.S. Securities (TIC data, June 2024)
- European ownership of U.S. stocks surges