Based on 36 hedge funds · latest filing: 2026 Q2 · updated quarterly
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Buying streak — 2 quarters in a row
For 2 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds added KARS 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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Below peak — only 61% of 3.0Y high
61% of all-time peak
Only 36 funds hold KARS today versus a peak of 59 funds at 2023 Q3 — just 61% of the maximum. Low institutional ownership can mean the stock is out of favor, but it also means there's a large pool of potential buyers if sentiment turns.
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Steady growth — +12% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+4 new funds entered over the past year (+12% 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 — 54% buying
14 buying12 selling
Last quarter: 14 funds bought or added vs 12 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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Steady new buyers — ~9 new funds per quarter
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening this position for the first time: 11 → 4 → 7 → 9. A stable flow of new institutional buyers suggests ongoing interest without signs of either acceleration or slowdown.
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53% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 53% conviction (2yr+)
■ 31% medium
■ 17% new
19 out of 36 hedge funds have held KARS 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 — ~9 new funds/quarter
10 → 11 → 4 → 7 → 9 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 11 → 4 → 7 → 9. Consistent flow of new institutional buyers without clear acceleration or slowdown.
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Veteran-anchored — 64% veterans vs 22% newcomers
■ 64% veterans
■ 14% 1-2yr
■ 22% new
Entry-cohort mix of 36 holders: 23 (64%) are 2+ year veterans, 5 entered 1–2 years ago, and 8 (22%) joined within the past year. A veteran-weighted cap table skews toward institutional memory over fresh momentum.
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Elite ownership — 72% AUM from top-100 funds
72% from top-100 AUM funds
7 of 34 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 72% of total institutional value in KARS. 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 1.6/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.