Foreign holdings of US stocks surge $2T to record $23.2T in April

Record net capital inflows and a sharp rise in foreign investment point to broad demand for U.S. assets beyond equities alone.

Summary

Foreign holdings of U.S. stocks climbed by $2 trillion to a record $23.2 trillion in April, while U.S. net capital inflows reached a record $840 billion in the 12 months through April 2026 as foreign demand for U.S. assets accelerated. Foreign investment in the U.S. has nearly tripled since early 2025, with April stock purchases reaching a record $763 billion from retail investors and $121 billion from official institutions. The figures point to sustained overseas appetite for U.S. markets and suggest cross-border capital remains an important support for asset prices, liquidity and broader investor sentiment.

Terms & Concepts
  • net capital inflows: The amount of money entering a country’s financial markets from abroad after subtracting outflows over a given period.
  • official institutions: Government-linked entities such as central banks or sovereign bodies that invest in financial assets.