Based on 26 hedge funds · latest filing: 2026 Q1 · updated quarterly
📈
Buying streak — 1 quarter in a row
For 1 consecutive quarter, more hedge funds added UVIX 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.
🏔️
At the ownership peak (96% of max)
96% of all-time peak
26 hedge funds hold UVIX right now — the highest count in 1.5 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.
📶
Steady growth — +8% more funds vs a year ago
fund count last 6Q
+2 new funds entered over the past year (+8% YoY). Gradual, steady growth in institutional ownership is generally a healthy signal — not a speculative rush, but consistent conviction. The peak was reached in just 3 quarters from the low — a sharp move.
🟡
Slight buying edge — 51% buying
19 buying18 selling
Last quarter: 19 funds bought or added vs 18 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 — ~13 new funds per quarter
new funds entering per quarter
Funds opening this position for the first time: 8 → 11 → 10 → 13. A stable flow of new institutional buyers suggests ongoing interest without signs of either acceleration or slowdown.
🔄
Mostly new holders — 54% entered in last year
■ 12% conviction (2yr+)
■ 35% medium
■ 54% new
Only 3 funds (12%) have held >2 years. The majority of current holders are relatively new to the position. New holders tend to sell faster when prices drop — a shallow conviction base that could amplify any sell-off.
💰
Value +79% but shares only +20% — price-driven
Last quarter: the total dollar value of institutional holdings rose +79%, but actual share count only changed +20%. 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.
📈
Growing discovery — still being found
24 → 8 → 11 → 10 → 13 new funds/Q
New funds entering each quarter: 8 → 11 → 10 → 13. A growing number of institutions are discovering UVIX each quarter. The narrative is still spreading — leaving room for ongoing capital accumulation.
🌱
Early stage — 97% of holders entered in last year
■ 0% veterans
■ 3% 1-2yr
■ 97% new
Of 31 current holders: 30 (97%) entered in the past year, only 0 (0%) are 2+ year veterans. This is an early-phase institutional idea — still being discovered. High upside potential if the thesis plays out, but thin conviction base.
🏆
Elite ownership — 87% AUM from top-100 funds
87% from top-100 AUM funds
9 of 26 holders are among the 100 largest funds by AUM, controlling 87% of total institutional value in UVIX. When the biggest players dominate the cap table, it signifies deep institutional support — since mega-funds deploy the most rigorous due diligence and capital.
4.2
out of 10
Moderate Exit Risk
Exit risk score 4.2/10 — some crowding factors present, but no critical concentration. Watch ownership trend over the next 1–2 quarters for direction.