Based on 78 hedge funds · latest filing: 2026 Q2 · updated quarterly
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Buying streak — 1 quarter in a row
For 1 consecutive quarter, more hedge funds added UYG 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
78 hedge funds hold UYG 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 — +11% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+8 new funds entered over the past year (+11% YoY). Gradual, steady growth in institutional ownership is generally a healthy signal — not a speculative rush, but consistent conviction.
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More buyers than sellers — 67% buying
36 buying18 selling
Last quarter: 36 funds were net buyers (25 opened a brand new position + 11 added to an existing one). Only 18 were sellers (10 trimmed + 8 sold completely). A clear majority buying is a strong confirmation signal.
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More new buyers each quarter (+15 vs last Q)
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening a new UYG position: 9 → 11 → 10 → 25. 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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55% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 55% conviction (2yr+)
■ 21% medium
■ 24% new
43 out of 78 hedge funds have held UYG 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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Value +43% but shares only +23% — price-driven
Last quarter: the total dollar value of institutional holdings rose +43%, but actual share count only changed +23%. The gap is explained by the stock's price rising — not new buying. Strong value growth with weak share growth means the rally is price momentum, not fresh institutional demand.
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Acceleration phase — new buyers rushing in
8 → 9 → 11 → 10 → 25 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 9 → 11 → 10 → 25. 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 — 57% veterans vs 24% newcomers
■ 57% veterans
■ 19% 1-2yr
■ 24% new
Entry-cohort mix of 79 holders: 45 (57%) are 2+ year veterans, 15 entered 1–2 years ago, and 19 (24%) joined within the past year. A veteran-weighted cap table skews toward institutional memory over fresh momentum.
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Smaller funds dominant — 7% AUM from top-100
7% from top-100 AUM funds
11 of 77 holders rank in the top 100 by AUM, but together hold only 7% of total institutional value. The stock is held primarily by smaller and mid-sized funds.
Exit risk score 3.6/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.