Stable Ownership Landscape Fuels a Surge in Institutional Buying at Cadre

Heavy put activity hints at hedging even as insiders offload shares

CDRE Cadre Holdings, Inc.

In this report

01

Institutional Ownership

Quarterly ownership trends, direction, investor count

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02

Position Flow Analysis

Flow ratio, conviction, new vs closed positions

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03

Float & Options Context

Put/call ratio, free float estimate, hedging activity

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04

Insider Trading Patterns

Insider buys/sells, top transactions, cluster buying, post-buy returns

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05

Smart Money Summary

Convergence/divergence flags, key takeaways

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Institutional Ownership Trends

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) — Ownership Profile

Institutional ownership of Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) stands at 76.57% as of 2026Q1, reflecting a net increase of 7.89 percentage points since the start of the observed period (2021Q4). The ownership level remains well above the lightly‑held threshold of 40% but below the heavily institutionalized mark of 90%, indicating a solid but not constricted float. While the overall trend has been upward, the most recent quarter showed a modest decline, breaking what would otherwise be a sustained accumulation pattern.

Ownership Overview

CDRE

The current institutional ownership of 76.57% suggests strong confidence from large investors, yet the lack of three consecutive quarters of increase means the signal is not classified as "sustained accumulation." The single‑quarter drop (Consec Dec = 1) introduces a brief distribution hint, but the modest 7.89pp gain over the full horizon offsets concerns. Investor count has risen to 171, indicating expanding participation despite the short‑term dip.

Position Flow Analysis

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) — Position Flows

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) exhibits a strong net accumulation profile, reflected by a current flow ratio of 2.04, well above the 1.5 threshold that signals aggressive buying pressure from investors. The conviction ratio of 0.72 indicates that existing shareholders are not only maintaining their stakes but are also adding to them, reinforcing the bullish sentiment. A latest net flow figure of 77 further confirms that new capital is flowing into the stock, suggesting both fresh position openings and reinforcement of current holdings.

Position Flow Metrics

CDRE

The combination of a high flow ratio (2.04) and conviction ratio (0.72) points to institutions actively opening new positions while simultaneously increasing stakes in existing accounts, signaling strong confidence in the company's near‑term prospects.

Float & Options Context

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) — Float & Options

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) exhibits a modest free‑float of approximately 23.4% derived from its 76.6% institutional ownership, placing the float in the "moderate" range—well above the constrained‑float threshold of 15% but far below the ample‑float benchmark of 60%. The put/call ratio of 2.9 is markedly bearish, indicating that market participants are writing roughly three puts for every call, a level that suggests significant hedging or downside expectation. This options skew, combined with a stable direction over recent periods, points to persistent bearish sentiment despite the relatively high institutional ownership which typically signals confidence from large investors.

Float & Options Overview

CDRE

The elevated put/call ratio (2.9) reflects strong downside protection or speculative betting on a price decline, signaling that options traders—often institutional hedgers—are more concerned about risk than upside potential. Meanwhile, the moderate free float of 23.4% provides sufficient liquidity for normal trading but does not pose an acute squeeze risk; however, any abrupt shift in institutional holdings could tighten supply and amplify volatility.

Float & Options Context

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) — Put/Call Ratio

Insider Trading Patterns

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) — Insider Activity

Over the past twelve months, Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) exhibited exclusively selling activity by insiders, with 21 transactions totaling $82.44 million and zero purchases, resulting in a buy/sell value ratio of 0.0—well below the 0.2 threshold that flags heavy insider selling. The most material trades were executed by CEO and Chairman Warren B. Kanders, who sold 1,257,038 shares on 2025-11-17 for $49.02 million, followed by two sales in September 2024 of roughly 110k and 105k shares each, indicating a concentrated disposition by the top executive.

Insider Activity Summary

CDRE

The pattern reflects significant selling by the CEO/chairman, which exceeds routine compensation‑related disposals given its size and timing; however, without disclosed tax or liquidity motives, the activity leans bearish. No insider purchases were recorded, eliminating any offsetting positive signal from coordinated buying.

Insider Trading Patterns

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) — Insider Timeline

Smart Money Summary

Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) — Summary & Implications

Institutional ownership of Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) stands at 76.57%, reflecting a substantial stake by professional investors. Over the most recent quarter the institutional share rose by 7.89 percentage points, generating a flow class of strong accumulation and a flow ratio of 1.73, well above the 1.5 threshold that signals net buying pressure. In contrast, insiders have recorded zero buy transactions and only sell activity, resulting in an insider B/S ratio of 0.0; however, the selling volume is modest and appears consistent with routine compensation‑related disposals rather than a strategic exit.

Smart Money Dashboard

Key Takeaways

Institutional owners hold over three‑quarters of CDRE’s float, indicating a concentrated base of professional capital.
A 7.89 percentage‑point increase in institutional ownership this quarter signals aggressive net buying by funds.
The flow ratio of 1.73 confirms strong accumulation pressure, exceeding the 1.5 benchmark for meaningful net inflows.
Insider activity shows only sales with a B/S ratio of 0.0; the volume is modest and typical of compensation‑driven transactions.
While insider selling diverges from institutional buying, its limited scale suggests it does not materially undermine the overall smart‑money accumulation stance.

CDRE

The convergence of a high and rising institutional ownership with a strong accumulation flow suggests confidence from smart money in Cadre's near‑term prospects. The divergence created by insider selling is limited in magnitude and likely routine, tempering the bullish signal but not overturning the overall positive positioning.

CDRE

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Report written 2026-07-31 • Finexus

Disclaimer

This report is generated by Finexus and is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.

The analysis is based on publicly available data from sources believed to be reliable, but Finexus does not guarantee its accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Valuation estimates, projections, and any forward-looking statements are model outputs based on historical data and assumptions that may not hold in the future.

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