Clients Outperformed S&P 500 in 2025, Interactive Brokers Says

By Staff Writer

06th Jan 2026

Brokers

Brokers

Quick Summary

• Interactive Brokers says its clients outperformed the S&P 500 in 2025, based on internal performance data
• Individual clients recorded an average return of 19.2%, compared with a 17.9% gain for the benchmark index
• Client activity and account growth remained strong, with total accounts rising 32% year-on-year
• Hedge fund clients delivered even stronger returns, outperforming the S&P 500 by around 11 percentage points

Interactive Brokers has reported that its clients outperformed the S&P 500 Index in 2025, according to performance data released by the brokerage.

The firm said individual clients achieved an average annual return of 19.20%, compared with a 17.9% gain for the S&P 500 over the same period. Performance was measured across client accounts held with Interactive Brokers during the year.

Strong Client Activity and Account Growth

Client trading activity remained elevated throughout 2025. In December, Interactive Brokers reported 3.384 million daily average revenue trades (DARTs), representing a 4% increase year-on-year. Total client accounts rose to 4.399 million, up 32% from a year earlier.

Ending client equity stood at $779.9 billion, while margin loan balances totalled $90.2 billion, reflecting continued demand for leveraged trading and investment activity.

In November, DARTs reached 4.27 million, marking a 29% annual increase. During the same month, the broker expanded market access by adding the Taipei Exchange, enabling trading in Taiwan-listed equities, ETFs, and depositary receipts across more than 160 global venues.

Hedge Funds Outperformed Retail Clients

Interactive Brokers also reported stronger performance among hedge fund clients. According to the firm, hedge fund accounts generated an average return of 28.91% in 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 by approximately 11 percentage points.

The company attributed overall client performance to lower trading costs, execution quality, and broad access to global markets.

Thomas Peterffy, Founder and Chairman of Interactive Brokers, said investment outcomes are driven by “the costs you pay, the prices you get, and how efficiently your capital is put to work,” adding that lower fees and efficient execution can compound returns over time.

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