Exploring Popular, Inc. (BPOP) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?

You're looking at Popular, Inc. (BPOP) and wondering who's driving the stock's action, especially after a strong Q2 2025 where net income jumped to $210.4 million? The answer is clear: institutional heavyweights own the field, holding a massive 87.27% of the company's stock, with giants like Vanguard Group Inc. and Blackrock, Inc. among the top shareholders as of September 30, 2025. But here's the puzzle: while the company reported total assets of $75.066 billion and analysts maintain a consensus "Buy" rating with an average target of $133.56, the latest 13F filings show a subtle tug-of-war, with institutional investors collectively decreasing their net share count in the most recent quarter, even as 230 funds increased their positions. Why the mixed signals, and what does it mean when an EVP sells 18,001 shares for about $2.24 million? We'll defintely break down whether the smart money is doubling down on the bank's expanding net interest margin or quietly trimming positions ahead of new near-term risks.

Who Invests in Popular, Inc. (BPOP) and Why?

The investor profile for Popular, Inc. (BPOP) is dominated by large, long-term institutional money, not the day-to-day retail trader. You see institutions holding a massive 87.27% of the company's stock, which speaks to a deep-seated confidence in the bank's stability and regional dominance.

This high concentration means the stock's price action is largely driven by the investment decisions of major asset managers and pension funds, not individual investors. It's a sign of a mature, stable financial company that fits well into large-scale portfolios.

• Institutional Ownership: 87.27% of shares.
• Insider Ownership: About 2.09%, showing management alignment.

The Institutional Heavyweights: Who's Buying?

When you look at the top holders, you see the titans of the financial world. These are the firms that prioritize stability, scale, and a clear capital structure. For example, as of their latest filings in Q3 2025, you find Vanguard Group Inc. and Blackrock, Inc. among the largest shareholders. They are buying because Popular, Inc. is a leading financial institution in Puerto Rico and ranks among the top 50 U.S. bank holding companies by assets.

Hedge funds are also involved, though their activity can be more volatile. While some funds reduced their holdings in the last quarter, the overall institutional presence remains overwhelming. This is defintely a stock where the big money sets the tone.

Investment Motivations: Growth, Value, and Income

Investors are attracted to Popular, Inc. for a clear mix of value, growth, and income. The bank's dominant market position in Puerto Rico-where it deploys about 80% of its assets-gives it a resilient, defensible moat.

On the income side, the quarterly dividend is a major draw. The annual dividend rate is currently set at $3.00 per share, translating to a yield of about 2.58% as of November 2025. The dividend has been raised for six consecutive years, and the payout ratio is a very conservative 25.27%. That low payout ratio tells you the dividend is safe, with plenty of room for future increases. You can find more on their strategic direction in Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Popular, Inc. (BPOP).

For growth investors, the outlook is strong. Analysts are projecting the company's earnings per share (EPS) to grow by an estimated 41.0% over the next three years. This is supported by Q3 2025 performance, where the bank reported net income of $211.3 million and an EPS of $3.14, beating consensus estimates.

Strategies: Value and Long-Term Holding

The typical strategy for holding Popular, Inc. is a blend of value and long-term income generation. The stock's valuation metrics point directly to a value play. The P/E ratio is sitting around 10.33 as of November 2025, which is low for a company with such strong capital metrics. Here's the quick math: a P/E ratio this low, combined with a projected EPS growth rate, gives you a Price-to-Earnings-to-Growth (PEG) ratio of just 0.47. Anything under 1.0 is generally considered undervalued.

The long-term holding strategy is underpinned by the bank's strong balance sheet. As of June 30, 2025, the Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was a robust 15.91%, and the Tangible Book Value per share was $75.41. These are the metrics that keep institutional investors comfortable holding the stock for years, treating it as a core position in the financials sector.

• Value Investing: Low P/E ratio of 10.33.
• Income Investing: Annual dividend of $3.00 with a low 25.27% payout ratio.
• Safety/Stability: Strong Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 15.91%.

Institutional Ownership and Major Shareholders of Popular, Inc. (BPOP)

You're looking at Popular, Inc. (BPOP) and wondering who the big players are and what they're doing. That's the right question to ask. Institutional money-pension funds, mutual funds, hedge funds-drives the market, and for BPOP, their presence is massive. As of the latest 2025 filings, institutional investors and hedge funds own a commanding 87.27% of the company's stock. That's a very high concentration, which tells you the stock is defintely on the professional radar.

The sheer volume of institutional ownership suggests a strong belief in the company's long-term stability and value proposition, which is a key factor we explore further in Breaking Down Popular, Inc. (BPOP) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors. High institutional ownership often means less volatility, but also that any major shift in sentiment from these large holders can move the stock price quickly. It's a double-edged sword.

Top Institutional Investors: Who Holds the Keys?

When you break down that 87.27% ownership, you see the usual suspects-the titans of the asset management world-sitting at the top. These firms hold BPOP shares primarily for their index funds and large actively managed portfolios, viewing the bank as a core regional banking holding. Their positions are enormous, representing billions in market value as of the second and third quarters of 2025.

Here are the top four institutional investors in Popular, Inc. (BPOP) and their approximate holdings:

• The Vanguard Group, Inc.: Held approximately 8.999 million shares, valued at around $1.039 billion (as of June 30, 2025).
• T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.: Held about 3.871 million shares, with a market value of roughly $446.91 million (as of June 30, 2025).
• Dimensional Fund Advisors, L.P.: Owned about 3.279 million shares, valued at approximately $378.543 million (as of September 30, 2025).
• BlackRock Institutional Trust Company, N.A.: Held roughly 2.87 million shares, worth about $331.266 million (as of June 30, 2025).

The Near-Term Ownership Shifts: Buying or Selling?

The real insight isn't just who owns the stock, but what they are doing right now. Looking at the most recent 13F filings (reports filed by institutional investment managers with over $100 million in assets under management), the picture is mixed but shows strong conviction from certain funds. Overall, the number of institutional investors increasing their positions has generally outweighed those decreasing, but the share volume traded in both directions is substantial. It's a tug-of-war.

For example, in the second quarter of 2025, we saw some aggressive positioning:

• Significant Increase: Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC boosted its stake by a staggering 52.88%, adding over 768,000 shares.
• Major Decrease: AQR Capital Management, LLC cut its position by -19.68%, shedding nearly 464,000 shares.

This kind of activity shows a divergence of opinion. Some funds are seeing a compelling value play, while others are taking profits or reallocating capital due to macroeconomic concerns, perhaps around interest rate risk or regional economic outlook. The net effect is that while the total institutional ownership remains high, the composition is constantly being refined.

Impact on Stock Price and Corporate Strategy

When institutions own this much of a company, they become the de facto guardians of its stock price and, often, its long-term strategy. The high level of institutional confidence-evidenced by the inflows and the consensus 'Moderate Buy' rating from brokerages with an average price target of $133.56-acts as a powerful floor for the stock price. Here's the quick math: with a market capitalization of around $7.8 billion and a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 8.38, the institutional support signals they view the stock as undervalued compared to its earnings potential for fiscal year 2025.

This heavy institutional presence influences management in two key ways:

1. Capital Allocation: Large investors demand capital efficiency. They are the reason BPOP focuses on consistent shareholder returns, such as the recently declared quarterly cash dividend of $0.75 per common share.
2. Strategic Oversight: These investors, particularly the active managers, have a loud voice. They push for clarity on risk management, especially given BPOP's exposure to Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland. Their collective confidence is a vote for the current strategy of balancing regional growth with strong balance sheet management.

The key action for you is to monitor the next round of 13F filings. If the trend of net buying continues, it's a strong signal. If the largest holders start to significantly liquidate, that's your cue to re-evaluate your position quickly.

Key Investors and Their Impact on Popular, Inc. (BPOP)

You're looking at Popular, Inc. (BPOP) and trying to figure out who's really driving the stock. The direct takeaway is this: BPOP is a stock overwhelmingly owned by institutions, and their influence is less about activist drama and more about demanding a steady, high-return capital allocation strategy.

Institutional investors own a staggering 87.27% of the company's stock, which means management is defintely focused on shareholder value. The top holders are the usual suspects-the massive passive and index funds-but their sheer size makes them the ultimate authority on corporate governance (the rules and practices that govern a company). They want stability and predictable cash returns.

The Giants on the Shareholder Roster

The investor profile for Popular, Inc. is dominated by the world's largest asset managers, the ones you see at the top of nearly every major US-listed company. These are not activist hedge funds looking to break up the bank; they are long-term holders whose primary goal is to track the market or generate stable returns for their clients. Their influence is quiet but powerful-they vote on the board, executive pay, and capital structure.

Here's a quick look at the top institutional holders, based on their most recent filings from the third quarter (Q3) of 2025:

The Vanguard Group, Inc. and BlackRock, Inc. alone represent a significant block of ownership. Even though some, like Vanguard, trimmed their stake slightly in Q3 2025, they remain the foundational shareholders. T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. and AQR Capital Management LLC, however, showed strong conviction by adding a net 340,234 and over 1 million shares, respectively, in the same period.

Investor Influence: Driving Capital Return

The collective power of this institutional base directly shapes management's financial strategy, especially concerning capital allocation (how the company spends its money). Since BPOP is a well-capitalized regional bank with a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio around 15.91% as of June 30, 2025-well above the typical regional bank average-investors push for that excess capital to be returned to them.

This pressure translates into clear actions:

• Dividend Growth: Popular, Inc. increased its quarterly common stock dividend by 7% in July 2025, raising the payout from $0.70 to $0.75 per share.
• Aggressive Buybacks: The board authorized a new $500 million common stock repurchase program in 2025. In Q3 2025, the company repurchased $119 million in common stock, which directly supports the stock price and boosts earnings per share (EPS).

This is the passive-aggressive influence of big money: keep the balance sheet strong, but don't hoard cash. Just give it back. If you want to dive deeper into the financial health that enables this, you can check out Breaking Down Popular, Inc. (BPOP) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Recent Moves and What They Signal

Looking at recent activity gives you a clear picture of investor sentiment. The overall institutional ownership remains high, signaling confidence in the bank's core business model, which is dominant in Puerto Rico and growing in the US mainland.

• New Money: New institutional players like Vise Technologies Inc. and Persistent Asset Partners Ltd initiated new stakes in Q2 2025, valued at approximately $361,000 and $724,000, respectively, showing fresh interest in the stock.
• Insider Caution: A notable move was the insider sale by EVP Gilberto Monzon, who sold 18,001 shares in September 2025 for about $2.24 million, cutting his holding by 42.08%. This is a small slice of the overall volume, but it's a data point that suggests some executives are taking profits after the stock's strong performance in 2025.

What this tells us is that the market sees BPOP as a solid, value-oriented regional bank. The big funds are in for the long haul, using their proxy votes to ensure the company remains focused on capital efficiency and shareholder returns. The primary risk you need to map is not a sudden activist fight, but the bank's outsized exposure to the Puerto Rican economy-a risk that management is trying to mitigate with its loan growth and expansion in the US.

Here's the quick math: the buybacks and dividend increases are what keep the major institutions happy. They're buying a stable bank that prioritizes returning capital.

Market Impact and Investor Sentiment

You're looking at Popular, Inc. (BPOP) and wondering if the institutional big money still likes it, and the short answer is yes, they defintely do. The overall investor sentiment is positive, with a strong consensus from Wall Street. This confidence is grounded in the company's solid 2025 financial performance, not just hope.

As of November 2025, the stock has posted a year-to-date gain of about 24.46%, showing a robust market performance that has more than doubled the returns of the broader U.S. financials ETF this year. This tells you that long-term holders are being rewarded, and the market is seeing a value story here.

The Institutional Footprint: Who's Buying and Why?

The investor profile for Popular, Inc. is heavily skewed toward institutional players, which is typical for a major regional bank. Institutional ownership is high, sitting at approximately 87.27% of the float. This is a massive vote of confidence, but it also means the stock is less volatile to individual retail investor swings.

Some of the largest shareholders, based on Q3 2025 filings, include major firms like Vanguard Group Inc., Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD, and Blackrock, Inc. For example, as of September 30, 2025, Blackrock, Inc. held 3,768,918 shares, and Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position by 340,234 shares. This institutional activity is the primary driver of the stock's steady momentum.

Here's the quick math on recent institutional activity (Q3 2025 data):

Still, you need to watch insider activity. While institutions are buying, company insiders own a small slice, around 2.09%. One notable move was an EVP selling 18,001 shares in September 2025 for about $2.24 million, which cut their holding by over 42%. What this estimate hides is that a single insider sale doesn't change the fundamental story, but it's a data point to monitor.

Recent Market Reactions and Earnings Power

The stock market has responded very clearly to Popular, Inc.'s strong earnings performance throughout 2025. When a bank consistently beats expectations, the market rewards it. This is a classic case of fundamentals driving price.

• Q1 2025 Earnings Beat: The reported Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $2.56 significantly surpassed the forecast of $2.19, causing the stock price to jump 5.82% in pre-market trading.
• Q2 2025 Earnings Beat: The company delivered an EPS of $3.09, beating the $2.52 forecast by 22.62%. This led to a positive market reaction, with shares rising 1.2% in pre-market trading.
• Q3 2025 Earnings Beat: EPS came in at $3.15, up from $3.09 in Q2 2025. The market also reacted well to the repurchase of approximately 1.0 million shares for $119.4 million during the quarter, a clear commitment to shareholder returns.

This consistent outperformance has solidified investor confidence. Plus, the company's capital position remains robust, with a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 15.91% as of June 30, 2025, which is a key measure of financial strength (capital adequacy). For more on the bank's structure and strategy, you can read Popular, Inc. (BPOP): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Analyst Consensus and Future Outlook

The analyst community is largely bullish, which reinforces the positive institutional sentiment. Out of the analysts covering Popular, Inc., the consensus rating is a solid 'Buy,' with a high percentage recommending 'Strong Buy' or 'Buy.'

The average 12-month price target is approximately $133.56 to $142.83, representing an upside potential of up to 23.73% from recent price levels. This is a meaningful forecast, but remember that analyst targets are frequently updated. The optimism stems from upward revisions to earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026, driven by improving loan growth and positive operating leverage (the rate at which revenue growth outpaces cost growth).

The key risk, and the one that keeps the bears talking, is the bank's reliance on the economic stability of Puerto Rico, which accounts for about 80% of its assets. But the bulls point to the company's current valuation-trading at only 10.3x the analyst EPS consensus for 2025-which provides a circa 20% Price-to-Earnings (P/E) discount to its regional bank peers. That's a wide margin of safety, even if growth slows.

Next Step: Finance/Investor Relations should prepare a one-page summary mapping the Q3 2025 institutional ownership changes to the stock's post-earnings performance to better articulate the 'smart money' thesis to new investors by the end of the week.