The average holding period for stocks continues to decline globally. In the US it is getting especially worse with the introduction of commission-free trades by brokerages last year and millennials’ propensity to trade often with apps like Robinhood and others. According to a report by Ted Maloney and Robert Almeida, Jr at MFS, the average holding period for a stock listed on the NYSE is approximately nine months. The following chart shows the continuous decline in stock holding periods since the 1960s:
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Source: Lengthening the Investment Time Horizon, MFS
For more details on this topic you checkout my earlier article: Duration of Stock Holding Periods Continue to Fall Globally
