Short answer: It’s a figure the broker is required to publish: the share of its own retail CFD accounts that lost money over the last 12 months. EU and UK regulators require it. Across the brokers we hold a verified figure for, it ranges from about 53% to 80%.
Where the number comes from
Since 2018, EU rules have required every CFD provider to publish, in a standard warning, the percentage of its retail accounts that lost money over the previous 12 months, updated every quarter. The UK kept the same rule. Australia doesn’t require the figure.
What it tells you
- Trading leveraged CFDs is hard, and most people lose.
- Roughly how a broker’s own retail clients have fared recently.
What it doesn’t tell you
- That a broker with 60% is “better” than one with 75%. The figure depends heavily on who its clients are and what they trade.
- Anything about the broker’s safety or prices.
- How much people lost. A small loss and a wiped-out account count the same.
We use the published figure as 10% of our score, under client outcomes. See how we rank. Our Learn guide covers what separates the accounts on the right side of it.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
