Register For Our Mailing List

Register to receive our free weekly newsletter including editorials.

Home / 332

Young women are investing more in shares

While share ownership in Australia (and around the world) is dominated by men, there are encouraging signs that the wealth gap may close over time, as younger women start investing to build wealth. In a recent analysis by nabtrade, Gen Z women (the generation born between 1995 and 2015, following the Millennials) hold 20% larger portfolios than men of the same age.

Women's wealth traditionally held back

Demographic headwinds such as time out of the workforce to have children and lower average salaries have generally prevented women from accruing wealth at the same rate as men, resulting in a substantial wealth gap between the sexes in older generations.

In younger people, however, women are building portfolios through a combination of careful stock selection in large companies and much lower turnover rates than their male peers. This results in larger portfolios and lower transaction costs. In contrast, young men are more likely to hold stocks outside the S&P/ASX200 and to trade more frequently.

While women typically trade far less frequently than men across all age groups, they also trade in larger parcel sizes relative to their overall portfolio holdings. This aligns with global research since the 1990s, which suggests that men may be prone to overconfidence in their trading. Research shows men actively turn over their portfolios, which may reduce returns through excess transaction costs and imperfect market timing, while women place fewer trades and show greater commitment to their long-term investment strategies.

Stock selection

Individual shareholdings also differed between the genders across the generations, with women favouring staples such as Coles and Woolworths, as well as retailers including Harvey Norman. Women were also more likely to hold Bubs Australia and A2 Milk than their male counterparts.

nabtrade data showed women tend to stay with stocks and sectors that are familiar to them, meaning they are more likely to hold bank shares and less likely to invest in direct international shares than men across all age groups. While female investors showed a strong preference for ethical ETFs and were also much less likely to hold gambling and energy stocks than men, they were equally likely to hold one of the big miners.

Stock/Sector/Instrument Type

More likely to hold

Coles and Woolworths

Women

Retail sector

Women

Big Miners

Equal

Big Energy

Men

Gambling

Men

A2 Milk, Bubs Australia

Women

Domestic ETF

Women

International ETF

Men

Ethical ETF

Women

Differences between generations

While Gen Z women hold larger portfolios than their male counterparts, and Gen Y portfolios are of similar size between the sexes, female Baby Boomers hold just 56% of the portfolio size of men in the same age group. Gen X women hold portfolios nearly 78% the size of a man’s in the same age group.

These statistics paint a particularly dark picture of women’s economic wellbeing when couples commonly (and logically) choose to invest in the name of the lower-income earning spouse, typically the woman. Once accounting for this bias, the value of women’s overall holdings is further reduced.

The rise of online share trading and the proliferation of low-cost products such as ETFs has allowed young people of both genders to come to the share market at a younger age than previous generations, giving them a head start in wealth creation. As these investors grow in confidence and experience, it is hoped they will continue to invest for their future.

 

nabtrade is donating all brokerage on 27 November 2019 to help drought-affected farmers – find out more.

 

Gemma Dale is Director of SMSF and Investor Behaviour at nabtrade, a sponsor of Firstlinks. This material has been prepared as general information only, without reference to your objectives, financial situation or needs. For more nabtrade insights or to open an account, visit the website. You can also access Gemma’s weekly Your Wealth podcast on nabtrade, or via Apple podcasts, Spotify or Podbean.

For more articles and papers from nabtrade, please click here.

 

RELATED ARTICLES

How do women really invest?

Five lessons from the 'Witch' of Wall Street

Why women are most hurt by financial pandemic

banner

Most viewed in recent weeks

Pros and cons of Labor's home batteries scheme

Labor has announced a $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program, aimed at slashing the cost of home batteries. The goal is to turbocharge battery uptake, though practical difficulties may prevent that happening.

Welcome to Firstlinks Edition 606 with weekend update

The boss of Australia’s fourth largest super fund by assets, UniSuper’s John Pearce, says Trump has declared an economic war and he’ll be reducing his US stock exposure over time. Should you follow suit?

  • 10 April 2025

4 ways to take advantage of the market turmoil

Every crisis throws up opportunities. Here are ideas to capitalise on this one, including ‘overbalancing’ your portfolio in stocks, buying heavily discounted LICs, and cherry picking bombed out sectors like oil and gas.

An enlightened dividend path

While many chase high yields, true investment power lies in companies that steadily grow dividends. This strategy, rooted in patience and discipline, quietly compounds wealth and anchors investors through market turbulence.

Tariffs are a smokescreen to Trump's real endgame

Behind market volatility and tariff threats lies a deeper strategy. Trump’s real goal isn’t trade reform but managing America's massive debts, preserving bond market confidence, and preparing for potential QE.

Getting rich vs staying rich

Strategies to get rich versus stay rich are markedly different. Here is a look at the five main ways to get rich, including through work, business, investing and luck, as well as those that preserve wealth.

Latest Updates

Investment strategies

Getting rich vs staying rich

Strategies to get rich versus stay rich are markedly different. Here is a look at the five main ways to get rich, including through work, business, investing and luck, as well as those that preserve wealth.

Investment strategies

Does dividend investing make sense?

Dividend investing offers steady income and behavioral benefits, but its effectiveness depends on goals, market conditions, and fundamentals - especially in retirement, where it may limit full use of savings.

Economics

Tariffs are a smokescreen to Trump's real endgame

Behind market volatility and tariff threats lies a deeper strategy. Trump’s real goal isn’t trade reform but managing America's massive debts, preserving bond market confidence, and preparing for potential QE.

Strategy

Ageing in spurts

Fascinating initial studies suggest that while we age continuously in years, our bodies age, not at a uniform rate, but in spurts at around ages 44 and 60.

Interviews

Platinum's new international funds boss shifts gears

Portfolio Manager Ted Alexander outlines the changes that he's made to Platinum's International Fund portfolio since taking charge in March, while staying true to its contrarian, value-focused roots.

Investment strategies

Four ways to capitalise on a forgotten investing megatrend

The Trump administration has not killed the multi-decade investment opportunity in decarbonisation. These four industries in particular face a step-change in demand and could reward long-term investors.

Strategy

How the election polls got it so wrong

The recent federal election outcome has puzzled many, with Labor's significant win despite a modest primary vote share. Preference flows played a crucial role, highlighting the complexity of forecasting electoral results.

Sponsors

Alliances

© 2025 Morningstar, Inc. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer
The data, research and opinions provided here are for information purposes; are not an offer to buy or sell a security; and are not warranted to be correct, complete or accurate. Morningstar, its affiliates, and third-party content providers are not responsible for any investment decisions, damages or losses resulting from, or related to, the data and analyses or their use. To the extent any content is general advice, it has been prepared for clients of Morningstar Australasia Pty Ltd (ABN: 95 090 665 544, AFSL: 240892), without reference to your financial objectives, situation or needs. For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. You should consider the advice in light of these matters and if applicable, the relevant Product Disclosure Statement before making any decision to invest. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial product’s future performance. To obtain advice tailored to your situation, contact a professional financial adviser. Articles are current as at date of publication.
This website contains information and opinions provided by third parties. Inclusion of this information does not necessarily represent Morningstar’s positions, strategies or opinions and should not be considered an endorsement by Morningstar.