Based on 1596 hedge funds · latest filing: 2026 Q1 · updated quarterly
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Buying streak — 8 quarters in a row
For 8 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds added NVS 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
1,596 hedge funds hold NVS 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 — +21% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+273 new funds entered over the past year (+21% 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 — 53% buying
742 buying663 selling
Last quarter: 742 funds bought or added vs 663 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 — ~212 new funds per quarter
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening this position for the first time: 129 → 124 → 207 → 212. A stable flow of new institutional buyers suggests ongoing interest without signs of either acceleration or slowdown.
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66% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 66% conviction (2yr+)
■ 16% medium
■ 18% new
1,060 out of 1,596 hedge funds have held NVS 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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Acceleration phase — new buyers rushing in
125 → 129 → 124 → 207 → 212 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 129 → 124 → 207 → 212. The pace of institutional discovery is accelerating sharply. This is the 'hot idea' phase — the thesis is being passed from fund to fund. You are not late — the accumulation wave is still building.
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Veteran-anchored — 70% veterans vs 21% newcomers
■ 70% veterans
■ 10% 1-2yr
■ 21% new
Entry-cohort mix of 1,623 holders: 1,130 (70%) are 2+ year veterans, 155 entered 1–2 years ago, and 338 (21%) joined within the past year. A veteran-weighted cap table skews toward institutional memory over fresh momentum.
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Elite ownership — 62% AUM from top-100 funds
62% from top-100 AUM funds
50 of 1589 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 62% of total institutional value in NVS. 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.