Based on 86 hedge funds · latest filing: 2025 Q4 · updated quarterly
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Buying streak — 10 quarters in a row
For 10 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds added VLU 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
86 hedge funds hold VLU 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 — +16% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+12 new funds entered over the past year (+16% 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 — 57% buying
43 buying33 selling
Last quarter: 43 funds bought or added vs 33 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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Steady new buyers — ~7 new funds per quarter
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening this position for the first time: 10 → 8 → 9 → 7. A stable flow of new institutional buyers suggests ongoing interest without signs of either acceleration or slowdown.
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53% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 53% conviction (2yr+)
■ 33% medium
■ 14% new
46 out of 86 hedge funds have held VLU 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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Buying through price weakness — shares +34%, value +13%
Last quarter: funds added +34% more shares while total portfolio value only changed +13%. Institutions were buying while the price was falling — a high-conviction accumulation signal. They're deliberately loading up on the dip.
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Steady discovery — ~7 new funds/quarter
12 → 10 → 8 → 9 → 7 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 10 → 8 → 9 → 7. Consistent flow of new institutional buyers without clear acceleration or slowdown.
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Deep conviction — 50% of holders stayed 2+ years
■ 50% veterans
■ 24% 1-2yr
■ 26% new
Of 86 current holders: 43 (50%) 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 — 41% AUM from top-100 funds
41% from top-100 AUM funds
10 of 86 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 41% of total institutional value in VLU. 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 3.5/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.