Based on 1449 hedge funds · latest filing: 2026 Q1 · updated quarterly
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Selling streak — 1 quarter in a row
For 1 consecutive quarter, more hedge funds reduced or closed their MELI positions than added to them. Sustained institutional selling is a meaningful warning sign — these are professionals with deep research teams collectively deciding to exit.
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At the ownership peak (96% of max)
96% of all-time peak
1,449 hedge funds hold MELI 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.
📶
Steady growth — +6% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+77 new funds entered over the past year (+6% 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 — 53% buying
790 buying708 selling
Last quarter: 790 funds bought or added vs 708 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.
⚠️
Fewer new buyers each quarter (-74 vs last Q)
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening this position for the first time: 231 → 127 → 230 → 156. 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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61% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 61% conviction (2yr+)
■ 21% medium
■ 18% new
886 out of 1,449 hedge funds have held MELI 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 — ~156 new funds/quarter
213 → 231 → 127 → 230 → 156 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 231 → 127 → 230 → 156. Consistent flow of new institutional buyers without clear acceleration or slowdown.
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Veteran-anchored — 64% veterans vs 21% newcomers
■ 64% veterans
■ 14% 1-2yr
■ 21% new
Entry-cohort mix of 1,504 holders: 968 (64%) are 2+ year veterans, 214 entered 1–2 years ago, and 322 (21%) joined within the past year. A veteran-weighted cap table skews toward institutional memory over fresh momentum.
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Elite ownership — 57% AUM from top-100 funds
57% from top-100 AUM funds
69 of 1440 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 57% of total institutional value in MELI. 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 3.3/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.