Based on 851 hedge funds · latest filing: 2025 Q4 · updated quarterly
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Buying streak — 2 quarters in a row
For 2 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds added ALB 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 — 93% of 3.0Y peak
93% of all-time peak
851 funds currently hold this stock — 93% of the 3.0-year high of 917 funds (reached 2023 Q3). Ownership is elevated but not yet at maximum concentration. Room to grow, but watch if the trend reverses.
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Steady growth — +15% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+110 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.
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Slight buying edge — 57% buying
494 buying379 selling
Last quarter: 494 funds bought or added vs 379 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 (+88 vs last Q)
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening a new ALB position: 96 → 82 → 149 → 237. 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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63% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 63% conviction (2yr+)
■ 16% medium
■ 20% new
538 out of 851 hedge funds have held ALB 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 +76% but shares only +1% — price-driven
Last quarter: the total dollar value of institutional holdings rose +76%, but actual share count only changed +1%. 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
113 → 96 → 82 → 149 → 237 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 96 → 82 → 149 → 237. 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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Deep conviction — 69% of holders stayed 2+ years
■ 69% veterans
■ 9% 1-2yr
■ 21% new
Of 906 current holders: 629 (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.
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Elite ownership — 43% AUM from top-100 funds
43% from top-100 AUM funds
44 of 851 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 43% of total institutional value in ALB. 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 3.4/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.