It's a tale as old as time - the age-old battle between the retail trader and the institutional investor. With the vast amounts of information and cutting-edge technology available today, it's hard to know who holds the upper hand.

The numbers don't lie - Nitin Kamath, CEO of Zerodha, claims that less than 2% of active traders make more than fixed deposit returns. However, some retail traders have outperformed the market by a landslide. Meanwhile, institutional investors have a proven track record of generating market-beating returns. So, who comes out on top in this high-stakes game? Let’s explore the possibilities.

Before we dive in, let's get our definitions straight. Retail traders are individuals who trade securities for their own accounts. At the same time, institutional investors refer to organisations that invest on behalf of their clients - think pension funds, hedge funds, mutual funds, and insurance companies.

Advantages Of Retail Traders

·   Retail traders are free to choose any stock they want to trade. Institutional investors have to follow specific guidelines and portfolio restrictions.

·   Retail traders are not limited by liquidity due to small lot sizes, allowing for easy entry and exit.

·   Retail traders are not obligated to abide by any set regulations or compliance structures. This gives retail traders more flexibility and freedom to trade.

Advantages Of Institutional Investors

·   Institutional investors have access to faster information.

·   Institutional investors have access to sophisticated trading algorithms and models.

·   These tools are not available to retail traders.

·   Institutional investors have intensive knowledge and experience in the markets. This allows them to make better-informed decisions.

Understanding With Examples

There are multiple examples of successful trades and investors who have made billions from the stock markets by trading, investing, or combining both. Famous investors like Warren Buffet, Charlie Munger, and Rakesh Jhunjhunwala did this by combining fundamental and technical analysis, which helped them identify undervalued stocks with high growth potential and hold on to them for the long term.

In contrast, mutual funds have underperformed the Nifty 50 index for several years in a row. In 2020, mutual funds returned only 10.3%, compared to the Nifty 50 index's 14.9%. This shows that institutional investors are not guaranteed to beat the market even with access to sophisticated tools and resources.

Impact Of Tools

In the Indian context, retail investors have gained access to sophisticated tools and platforms that have helped bridge the gap between the tools institutional investors use. With the emergence of online trading platforms like Zerodha and Upstox, retail investors can easily and efficiently trade in the stock market.

These platforms offer tools such as advanced charting and technical analysis tools, algo-trading, and real-time market data, enabling retail investors to make informed investment decisions. The impact of such tools has democratised the Indian stock market, allowing retail investors to compete with institutional investors on a level playing field.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is challenging to say definitively whether retail traders have an edge over professionals. While retail traders have the advantage of more flexibility, the professionals have access to faster information and more advanced tools. However, the performance of hedge funds over the years suggests that retail traders can generate market-beating returns if they follow proper risk management and research.

Ultimately, both retail traders and institutional investors have their advantages and disadvantages. It is important to weigh these factors and determine which strategy is best suited for your investment goals and risk tolerance. It's also crucial to remain disciplined and avoid making impulsive decisions in the market.

Also, investing in funds/portfolios that professionals manage might be a good idea if you are new to the stock markets.  This way, you will benefit from the expertise of fund managers and, at the same time, build your skills in the markets without losing much.

Want to receive the next blog in your mail? Click on the subscribe button and receive the next blog in your mail.