Based on 331 hedge funds · latest filing: 2026 Q1 · updated quarterly
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Buying streak — 1 quarter in a row
For 1 consecutive quarter, more hedge funds added AZZ 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
331 hedge funds hold AZZ 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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Fast accumulation — +41% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+96 new funds entered over the past year (+41% YoY). That's a rapid rush of institutional money. Fast accumulation often signals a major thesis — but it also means the stock could fall quickly if that thesis breaks.
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Slight buying edge — 56% buying
183 buying141 selling
Last quarter: 183 funds bought or added vs 141 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 (+6 vs last Q)
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening a new AZZ position: 47 → 88 → 51 → 57. 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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52% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 52% conviction (2yr+)
■ 21% medium
■ 27% new
172 out of 331 hedge funds have held AZZ 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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Peak discovery — momentum slowing
26 → 47 → 88 → 51 → 57 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 47 → 88 → 51 → 57. AZZ is well-known in the hedge fund world, but fresh entries are gradually declining. The explosive phase of institutional discovery is likely behind us.
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Veteran-anchored — 57% veterans vs 29% newcomers
■ 57% veterans
■ 13% 1-2yr
■ 29% new
Entry-cohort mix of 336 holders: 192 (57%) are 2+ year veterans, 45 entered 1–2 years ago, and 99 (29%) joined within the past year. A veteran-weighted cap table skews toward institutional memory over fresh momentum.
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Elite ownership — 43% AUM from top-100 funds
43% from top-100 AUM funds
54 of 330 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 43% of total institutional value in AZZ. When the biggest players dominate the cap table, it signifies deep institutional support — since mega-funds deploy the most rigorous due diligence and capital.
4.0
out of 10
Moderate Exit Risk
Exit risk score 4.0/10 — some crowding factors present, but no critical concentration. Watch ownership trend over the next 1–2 quarters for direction.