Full Breakdown
Women Investors Yield Slightly Higher Returns but Remain Under-Represented in the UK
8/11/2026, 5:56:54 AM
Participation Gap and Cultural Factors
Only about 26 % of women in the United Kingdom hold investment accounts, compared with roughly 41 % of men, according to a study by consumer-finance website Boring Money. The disparity is larger among younger adults, falling to 23 % for women under 45 while remaining near 40 % for men in the same age group. Teleri Evans, a 33-year-old civil servant from Cardiff, notes a growing conversation about investing within her social circle.
Trading Behaviour and Return Data
Analysis by Fidelity International of its female personal-investing customers over a three-year period recorded cumulative returns of 50 %, versus 47 % for male customers. Barclays data indicate that women trade roughly half as frequently as men, a pattern that may contribute to the modest return edge.
Expert Perspectives
Fleming says women tend to be “more risk aware” and diversify across sectors such as retail, health, fem-tech and creative industries, whereas men gravitate toward technology firms for higher potential returns. Anna Macdonald, investment strategy director at Hargreaves Lansdown, observes that women place greater weight on the social impact of their investments and alignment with personal goals. Jemma Slingo of Fidelity International adds that female investors often link investing to real-life objectives like emergency savings and child-care.
Implications for Financial Inclusion
The gender pay gap means women generally have less capital to invest, reinforcing the participation gap. Industry leaders argue that making investing feel more accessible and relevant could boost women’s long-term financial resilience and benefit the broader UK economy.
Verbatim Quote
- “Also, money and wealth creation is not a topic that women often discuss, and we would like to change that.” — Teleri, BBC
