US Outward Foreign Direct Investment: Equity Capital
US Outward Foreign Direct Investment: Equity Capital stood at 85,371 USD million in Q2 2026, according to FED (Z.1) via FRED; BEA (International Transactions). It is one of the indicators in the Foreign direct investment in the US table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 1982 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Foreign direct investment in the US table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US outward FDI flows | 103,229 | 93,355 | 135,832 | 90,935 | -22,326 | 136,821 | 22,111 | 105,149 | 28,982 | 94,650 | |
| Equity capital | 85,371 | 103,267 | 107,849 | 99,106 | 32,616 | 110,627 | 26,154 | 82,202 | 68,978 | 85,360 | |
| Debt instruments | 17,858 | -9,912 | 27,983 | -8,171 | -54,942 | 26,194 | -4,043 | 22,947 | -39,996 | 9,290 |
Understanding US Outward Foreign Direct Investment: Equity Capital
Equity capital in United States outward foreign direct investment measures the net acquisitions, additions, sales, and withdrawals of equity by US resident investors in foreign affiliates within a direct investment relationship. This metric captures ownership transactions, excludes intercompany debt, and does not automatically include reinvested earnings if retained income is recorded separately. Consequently, it is narrower than total US outward direct investment and structurally distinct from the debt instruments component.
A positive figure typically indicates net equity investment abroad, whereas a negative figure can stem from asset sales, capital returns, or liquidations. Large corporate transactions frequently generate sharp peaks or troughs in the quarterly series; quarter-on-quarter comparisons are useful solely for identifying transaction timing rather than establishing structural trends. Analysts should evaluate year-on-year changes, examine multi-period series, and review these flows alongside total outward investment. Subsequent reporting periods are subject to revisions as transaction values are updated or investment classifications are adjusted.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this indicator measure the market value of all foreign assets?
- No, these are transaction flows during the period rather than asset balances at a specific point in time.
- Where are loans extended to foreign affiliates recorded?
- Such loans belong to the debt instruments component if they fall within the direct investment relationship.
- Why might equity capital be negative even when total outward flows remain positive?
- Other components, such as reinvested earnings or debt instruments, can outweigh the divestment.