Retail net sold stocks outperformed in May 2025: SGX

Year-to-date, these stocks have averaged a total return of 21.9% as of 29 May.

The 25 Singapore stocks most net sold by retail investors in May 2025 outperformed the broader market, generating an average total return of 8.5% for the month, according to the Singapore Exchange’s latest market update released on 30 May.

Year-to-date, these stocks have averaged a total return of 21.9% as of 29 May.

The Straits Times Index (STI) recorded a 2.9% total return for May, putting it within 3% of its all-time high of 4,005.18 points.

Institutions recorded marginal net buying of $306,522 ahead of the final trading session of the month, whilst retail investors recorded $280m in net selling for May, SGX said.

Amongst the top retail net sold stocks for May, Singapore Airlines (SIA) led the list, whilst still posting a 7% gain for the month and an 11% YtD increase.

SIA’s strong performance came after it reported a record $2.8b net profit for its financial year ending 31 March 2025, driven by a $1.1b non-cash gain from the Air India-Vistara merger and $1.7b in operating profit, SGX noted.

Other heavily sold counters included DBS, Keppel Corporation, Singtel, UOB, Seatrium, Sheng Siong, and Hongkong Land. The trend continued a pattern observed by SGX in which retail investors often sell outperforming stocks while buying underperformers.

In contrast, the 25 most net bought stocks by retail investors in May recorded an average total return decline of 2.8% for the month. These stocks included Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, Mapletree Industrial Trust, Genting Singapore, Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust, and Thai Beverage.

SGX highlighted that Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, despite being the top retail buy for the month, has seen a 26% decline in total return year-to-date.

SGX also noted that quickfire value investing remains a factor, with $1.1b of the $2.1b in net retail buying year-to-date concentrated in April 2025 alone.