Based on 467 hedge funds · latest filing: 2025 Q4 · updated quarterly
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Buying streak — 1 quarter in a row
For 1 consecutive quarter, more hedge funds added VFC 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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High ownership — 77% of 3.0Y peak
77% of all-time peak
467 funds currently hold this stock — 77% of the 3.0-year high of 609 funds (reached 2023 Q1). Ownership is elevated but not yet at maximum concentration. Room to grow, but watch if the trend reverses.
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Outflows — 6% fewer funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
28 fewer hedge funds hold VFC compared to a year ago (-6% decline). When institutions consistently reduce their exposure, it's worth exploring the underlying fundamental reasons driving them away.
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Slight buying edge — 52% buying
240 buying222 selling
Last quarter: 240 funds bought or added vs 222 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 (+7 vs last Q)
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening a new VFC position: 99 → 71 → 69 → 76. 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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71% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 71% conviction (2yr+)
■ 15% medium
■ 13% new
333 out of 467 hedge funds have held VFC 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 +31% but shares only +4% — price-driven
Last quarter: the total dollar value of institutional holdings rose +31%, but actual share count only changed +4%. 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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Steady discovery — ~76 new funds/quarter
89 → 99 → 71 → 69 → 76 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 99 → 71 → 69 → 76. Consistent flow of new institutional buyers without clear acceleration or slowdown.
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Deep conviction — 74% of holders stayed 2+ years
■ 74% veterans
■ 11% 1-2yr
■ 15% new
Of 508 current holders: 376 (74%) 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 — 66% AUM from top-100 funds
66% from top-100 AUM funds
44 of 467 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 66% of total institutional value in VFC. 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 2.2/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.