Based on 183 hedge funds · latest filing: 2026 Q1 · updated quarterly
📉
Selling streak — 4 quarters in a row
For 4 consecutive quarters, more hedge funds reduced or closed their NFE positions than added to them. Sustained institutional selling is a meaningful warning sign — these are professionals with deep research teams collectively deciding to exit.
🔻
Below peak — only 69% of 3.0Y high
69% of all-time peak
Only 183 funds hold NFE today versus a peak of 264 funds at 2025 Q1 — just 69% of the maximum. Low institutional ownership can mean the stock is out of favor, but it also means there's a large pool of potential buyers if sentiment turns.
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Outflows — 31% fewer funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
81 fewer hedge funds hold NFE compared to a year ago (-31% decline). When institutions consistently reduce their exposure, it's worth exploring the underlying fundamental reasons driving them away.
🟡
Slight buying edge — 52% buying
98 buying89 selling
Last quarter: 98 funds bought or added vs 89 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.
➡️
Steady new buyers — ~40 new funds per quarter
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening this position for the first time: 41 → 38 → 43 → 40. A stable flow of new institutional buyers suggests ongoing interest without signs of either acceleration or slowdown.
🔒
48% of holders stayed for 2+ years
■ 48% conviction (2yr+)
■ 25% medium
■ 27% new
88 out of 183 hedge funds have held NFE 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.
💎
Buying through price weakness — shares -21%, value -100%
Last quarter: funds added -21% more shares while total portfolio value only changed -100%. Institutions were buying while the price was falling — a high-conviction accumulation signal. They're deliberately loading up on the dip.
➡️
Steady discovery — ~40 new funds/quarter
70 → 41 → 38 → 43 → 40 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 41 → 38 → 43 → 40. Consistent flow of new institutional buyers without clear acceleration or slowdown.
🏛️
Veteran-anchored — 56% veterans vs 32% newcomers
■ 56% veterans
■ 12% 1-2yr
■ 32% new
Entry-cohort mix of 189 holders: 105 (56%) are 2+ year veterans, 23 entered 1–2 years ago, and 61 (32%) joined within the past year. A veteran-weighted cap table skews toward institutional memory over fresh momentum.
✅
Strong quality — 31% AUM from major funds
31% from top-100 AUM funds
37 of 178 holders rank in the top 100 by AUM, accounting for 31% of total institutional value held. A meaningful share of the ownership value comes from the most well-resourced institutions.
Exit risk score 2.1/10 — low institutional crowding. Ownership is below peak levels, holder base is relatively sticky, and buying momentum is positive.