Based on 1055 hedge funds · latest filing: 2025 Q4 · updated quarterly
📈
Buying streak — 3 quarters in a row
For 3 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds added ULTA 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
1,055 hedge funds hold ULTA 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 — +15% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+138 new funds entered over the past year (+15% YoY). Gradual, steady growth in institutional ownership is generally a healthy signal — not a speculative rush, but consistent conviction. The peak was reached in just 3 quarters from the low — a sharp move.
🟡
Slight buying edge — 52% buying
515 buying482 selling
Last quarter: 515 funds bought or added vs 482 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.
📈
More new buyers each quarter (+41 vs last Q)
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening a new ULTA position: 98 → 184 → 127 → 168. A growing influx of new institutional buyers means the asset is still gathering momentum — the consensus hasn't fully saturated yet.
🔒
64% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 64% conviction (2yr+)
■ 19% medium
■ 17% new
674 out of 1,055 hedge funds have held ULTA 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.
➡️
Steady discovery — ~168 new funds/quarter
145 → 98 → 184 → 127 → 168 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 98 → 184 → 127 → 168. Consistent flow of new institutional buyers without clear acceleration or slowdown.
🏛️
Deep conviction — 69% of holders stayed 2+ years
■ 69% veterans
■ 10% 1-2yr
■ 21% new
Of 1,096 current holders: 759 (69%) 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.
🏆
Elite ownership — 50% AUM from top-100 funds
50% from top-100 AUM funds
42 of 1055 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 50% of total institutional value in ULTA. 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.