Based on 195 hedge funds · latest filing: 2025 Q4 · updated quarterly
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Buying streak — 4 quarters in a row
For 4 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds added ASTE than sold it. That's a consistent pattern of professional buying — not a one-time trade. When institutions keep buying quarter after quarter, it usually means they see a multi-year opportunity, not just a short-term momentum flip.
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At the ownership peak (100% of max)
100% of all-time peak
195 hedge funds hold ASTE right now — the highest count in 3.0 years. When ownership is this concentrated, any bad news can trigger a chain reaction: one big fund sells, others follow. This is a classic 'crowded trade' — high popularity doesn't equal safety.
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Fast accumulation — +23% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+36 new funds entered over the past year (+23% YoY). That's a rapid rush of institutional money. Fast accumulation often signals a major thesis — but it also means the stock could fall quickly if that thesis breaks.
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Slight buying edge — 50% buying
97 buying96 selling
Last quarter: 97 funds bought or added vs 96 that reduced or exited. It's nearly a 50/50 split — some institutions are convinced, others are taking profits. This mixed picture is normal near price highs.
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Fewer new buyers each quarter (-11 vs last Q)
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening this position for the first time: 33 → 33 → 39 → 28. Each quarter fewer new institutions are entering. This usually means most funds that wanted in are already in — the stock is well-known but the pool of potential new buyers is shrinking.
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63% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 63% conviction (2yr+)
■ 20% medium
■ 17% new
122 out of 195 hedge funds have held ASTE for over 2 years without selling. Long-term investors are generally harder to shake out during market stress, creating a stable ownership base that limits the risk of sudden capitulation.
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Steady discovery — ~28 new funds/quarter
16 → 33 → 33 → 39 → 28 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 33 → 33 → 39 → 28. Consistent flow of new institutional buyers without clear acceleration or slowdown.
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Deep conviction — 70% of holders stayed 2+ years
■ 70% veterans
■ 10% 1-2yr
■ 19% new
Of 195 current holders: 137 (70%) have held for over 2 years without selling. These are not momentum buyers — they have lived through drawdowns and stayed. A large veteran base acts as a stabilizing force during selloffs.
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Elite ownership — 42% AUM from top-100 funds
42% from top-100 AUM funds
33 of 195 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 42% of total institutional value in ASTE. When the biggest players dominate the cap table, it signifies deep institutional support — since mega-funds deploy the most rigorous due diligence and capital.
Exit risk score 3.7/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.