Based on 1557 hedge funds · latest filing: 2026 Q1 · updated quarterly
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Buying streak — 11 quarters in a row
For 11 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds added SLV 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.
🏔️
At the ownership peak (100% of max)
100% of all-time peak
1,557 hedge funds hold SLV 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 — +54% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+545 new funds entered over the past year (+54% 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.
🟠
More sellers than buyers — 44% buying
735 buying920 selling
Last quarter: 920 funds reduced or exited vs 735 that bought or added. When more than half of active funds are selling, it's a caution flag — especially if the stock price hasn't moved down yet.
⚠️
Fewer new buyers each quarter (-179 vs last Q)
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening this position for the first time: 168 → 219 → 423 → 244. 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.
🔒
46% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 46% conviction (2yr+)
■ 22% medium
■ 32% new
709 out of 1,557 hedge funds have held SLV 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
176 → 168 → 219 → 423 → 244 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 168 → 219 → 423 → 244. 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.
🏛️
Deep conviction — 54% of holders stayed 2+ years
■ 54% veterans
■ 11% 1-2yr
■ 35% new
Of 1,676 current holders: 901 (54%) 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 — 78% AUM from top-100 funds
78% from top-100 AUM funds
35 of 1557 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 78% of total institutional value in SLV. When the biggest players dominate the cap table, it signifies deep institutional support — since mega-funds deploy the most rigorous due diligence and capital.
4.9
out of 10
Moderate Exit Risk
Exit risk score 4.9/10 — some crowding factors present, but no critical concentration. Watch ownership trend over the next 1–2 quarters for direction.