Based on 3634 hedge funds · latest filing: 2026 Q2 · updated quarterly
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Buying streak — 1 quarter in a row
For 1 consecutive quarter, more hedge funds added IBM 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
3,634 hedge funds hold IBM 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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Steady growth — +8% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+269 new funds entered over the past year (+8% YoY). Gradual, steady growth in institutional ownership is generally a healthy signal — not a speculative rush, but consistent conviction.
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Slight buying edge — 58% buying
2005 buying1470 selling
Last quarter: 2,005 funds bought or added vs 1,470 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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More new buyers each quarter (+142 vs last Q)
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening a new IBM position: 235 → 454 → 219 → 361. A growing influx of new institutional buyers means the asset is still gathering momentum — the consensus hasn't fully saturated yet.
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68% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 68% conviction (2yr+)
■ 18% medium
■ 14% new
2,484 out of 3,634 hedge funds have held IBM 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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Buying through price weakness — shares +75%, value +27%
Last quarter: funds added +75% more shares while total portfolio value only changed +27%. Institutions were buying while the price was falling — a high-conviction accumulation signal. They're deliberately loading up on the dip.
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Peak discovery — momentum slowing
334 → 235 → 454 → 219 → 361 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 235 → 454 → 219 → 361. IBM is well-known in the hedge fund world, but fresh entries are gradually declining. The explosive phase of institutional discovery is likely behind us.
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Veteran-anchored — 70% veterans vs 18% newcomers
■ 70% veterans
■ 12% 1-2yr
■ 18% new
Entry-cohort mix of 3,757 holders: 2,633 (70%) are 2+ year veterans, 464 entered 1–2 years ago, and 660 (18%) joined within the past year. A veteran-weighted cap table skews toward institutional memory over fresh momentum.
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Elite ownership — 64% AUM from top-100 funds
64% from top-100 AUM funds
71 of 3613 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 64% of total institutional value in IBM. 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 3.4/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.