Based on 2151 hedge funds · latest filing: 2025 Q4 · updated quarterly
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Buying streak — 5 quarters in a row
For 5 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds added SCHW 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
2,151 hedge funds hold SCHW 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 — +18% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+327 new funds entered over the past year (+18% 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 — 56% buying
1165 buying917 selling
Last quarter: 1,165 funds bought or added vs 917 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 (+106 vs last Q)
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening a new SCHW position: 214 → 238 → 167 → 273. 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+)
■ 16% medium
■ 16% new
1,456 out of 2,151 hedge funds have held SCHW 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 — ~273 new funds/quarter
210 → 214 → 238 → 167 → 273 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 214 → 238 → 167 → 273. 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
■ 11% 1-2yr
■ 20% new
Of 2,230 current holders: 1,557 (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 — 54% AUM from top-100 funds
54% from top-100 AUM funds
46 of 2151 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 54% of total institutional value in SCHW. 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 3.6/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.