Exploring Cable One, Inc. (CABO) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?

You've seen the headlines: Cable One, Inc. (CABO) stock is trading near its 52-week low, yet institutional money still dominates the ownership structure. How do you reconcile the recent financial headwinds-like the Q3 2025 earnings per share (EPS) of just $5.17, which missed the $9.25 consensus estimate-with the fact that nearly 90% of the company's shares are held by major institutions? This disconnect is what we need to unpack, because the big money players, from BlackRock, Inc. to Vanguard Group Inc, aren't just holding for charity.

The company reported Q3 2025 revenue of $376.01 million, showing the core business is still generating significant cash, even as it navigates fierce competition and a high debt load. So, when the stock is trading around $107.53, are the institutional buyers accumulating shares on a deep value play, or are they simply trapped in a falling knife? We'll dig into the 13F filings to see who is buying, who is selling, and whether their long-term conviction on Cable One's fiber expansion and disciplined debt repayment-a key focus, as seen in their Q3 free cash flow of $130.1 million-outweighs the near-term volatility and analyst consensus of 'Reduce.'

Who Invests in Cable One, Inc. (CABO) and Why?

You want to know who is buying Cable One, Inc. (CABO) stock and what their endgame is. The direct takeaway is that Cable One is overwhelmingly an institutional play, with nearly 90% of the stock held by large funds who are primarily motivated by a high dividend yield and a deep-value contrarian thesis following the stock's significant decline in 2025.

This isn't a stock driven by individual retail investors; it's a battleground for professional money managers. As of November 2025, the company's market capitalization sits around $603.08 million, a sharp drop that has created a unique, high-risk, high-reward situation for these seasoned investors.

Key Investor Types: The Institutional Dominance

The investor profile for Cable One, Inc. is heavily skewed toward institutional investors, which include mutual funds, pension funds, and major asset managers. They account for approximately 89.9% of the stock's ownership, leaving a much smaller slice for retail investors.

This high concentration means the stock's price movements are often dictated by the large-scale buying and selling of these major players, not the daily activity of individual traders. You see names like BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, and Dimensional Fund Advisors Lp consistently listed among the largest shareholders. These are typically long-term holders, often passive index funds or large active managers. Retail investors, while present, make up a smaller, more volatile segment.

The other critical group is the hedge funds. These firms, such as Baupost Group LLC MA, Marshall Wace LLP, and Magnetar Financial LLC, are more active, often taking large positions based on specific, short-term catalysts or a deep-dive value assessment. Their presence suggests a belief in a significant, near-term correction in the stock's valuation.

• Institutional: Owns 89.9%; provides price stability (or volatility).
• Retail: Smaller segment; typically follows broader market sentiment.
• Hedge Funds: Engages in active, high-conviction value/contrarian plays.

Investment Motivations: Yield and Value

Investors are drawn to Cable One, Inc. for two main, and somewhat conflicting, reasons: a very high dividend and a potential deep-value opportunity. The dividend is the most concrete incentive for income-focused portfolios.

The company currently pays an annual dividend of $11.80 per share, which translates to a yield of around 10.18% as of late 2025. For a portfolio manager needing to generate income, that double-digit yield is incredibly compelling, defintely in a low-rate environment. However, the company's recent financial performance-like the Q2 2025 net loss and negative EPS of -$77.7-raises questions about the long-term sustainability of that payout, which is why the yield is so high.

The second motivation is a contrarian value play. The stock is trading near its 52-week low of $105.26, a massive drop from its 52-week high of $436.99. Value investors believe the market has overreacted to the recent challenges, such as the Q2 2025 revenue drop to $381.1 million and subscriber losses in residential data. They are betting on the company's core strength in providing high-speed data in smaller, less-competitive markets and the growth in business data revenue.

Investment Strategies: Long-Term Income vs. Short-Term Value

The strategies employed by these large investors reflect their motivations. You see a clear split between long-term income strategies and more aggressive value-oriented plays.

Long-Term Holding and Income Investing: The presence of index funds and large asset managers like Vanguard Group Inc and BlackRock, Inc. points to a long-term holding strategy. They buy the stock and hold it, primarily to collect the high annual dividend of $11.80 per share. They are banking on the company's established market position in its service areas to maintain enough cash flow to cover the dividend, even if earnings are volatile. Here's the quick math: a 10.18% yield is hard to ignore, even if the stock price is flat or slightly negative over a few years.

Value Investing and Contrarian Plays: The other major strategy is pure value investing. These investors see the stock's massive decline as a temporary dislocation, believing the intrinsic value (often based on discounted cash flow or Adjusted EBITDA) is significantly higher than the current price. They are buying now, betting on a rebound. This strategy aligns with the average analyst target price of $256.75, despite the current 'Reduce' consensus. They are looking past the Q2 2025 EPS miss and focusing on the underlying Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Cable One, Inc. (CABO) and its long-term fiber-optic infrastructure advantage.

Your action item is to assess which camp you belong to: are you buying for the dividend, or are you betting on the value rebound? Finance: model a 5-year dividend coverage ratio based on Q2 2025 Adjusted EBITDA of $203.2 million by Friday.

Institutional Ownership and Major Shareholders of Cable One, Inc. (CABO)

You're looking at Cable One, Inc. (CABO) and trying to figure out who the big money is and what they're doing. The direct takeaway is this: institutional investors own a massive chunk of the company-around 89.92% of the stock-but their recent activity is mixed, reflecting the stock's significant volatility and a challenging operating environment in 2025.

For a company like Cable One, which focuses on providing high-speed internet in smaller markets, having this level of institutional backing is the norm. It signals a belief in the long-term, utility-like cash flow generation, even as the stock price has fallen sharply from its 2024 highs. To understand the full context of this ownership, you might want to review Cable One, Inc. (CABO): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

The Top Institutional Investors in CABO

The shareholder roster for Cable One, Inc. is a who's who of large-scale asset managers and institutional funds. The largest shareholders are typically passive giants like BlackRock, Inc. and Vanguard Group Inc, which hold shares as part of broad index funds or large portfolio mandates. These firms aren't taking a view on the stock so much as they are reflecting the market's structure.

The real action, and the investment thesis, often lies with the active managers. As of the November 2025 reporting dates, the institutional holdings are substantial. For instance, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. held 472,067 shares with a market value of over $76.23 million, and Dimensional Fund Advisors LP held 235,227 shares valued at over $41.64 million. These are the players whose decisions are based on a deep-dive financial analysis of Cable One's future cash flows and competitive position.

Here's a quick look at some of the major institutional positions based on recent 2025 filings:

Recent Shifts: Buying, Selling, and the Volatility Signal

The most telling story isn't the total ownership, but the recent changes. We've seen a clear pattern of both aggressive buying and significant selling in the third quarter of 2025, which is typical when a stock is trading near its 52-week low. This suggests a battle between long-term value investors buying the dip and others capitulating due to near-term risks.

Some firms have defintely been increasing their stakes, seeing the current price as a compelling entry point for a company that analysts still predict will post an EPS of $32.08 for the current fiscal year.

• Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its position by a massive 2,288.9% in Q3 2025.
• First Trust Advisors LP increased its holding by 124.3%.
• Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its position by an enormous 14,346.4% in Q1, buying 59,394 shares.

But it's not all accumulation. Other institutional players have drastically cut their exposure. For example, UBS Group AG reduced its stake by a staggering -99.8%, virtually eliminating its position. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP also trimmed its shares by -6.7%. This divergence shows the market is deeply split on Cable One's valuation and its ability to manage competitive pressures from fiber overbuilders and fixed wireless access.

The Impact of Institutional Concentration on CABO's Strategy

With nearly 90% of the stock in institutional hands, these large investors wield significant influence, not just on the stock price, but on the company's capital allocation strategy. When a stock is trading around $107.53-close to its 52-week low of $105.26-and has a negative net margin of -29.78% as of Q3 2025, the pressure is intense.

Here's the quick math: the Q3 2025 earnings per share of $5.17 missed analyst consensus of $9.25 by a wide margin. That kind of miss, coupled with a revenue decline of 4.5% year-over-year, makes institutional investors nervous and demanding.

The large institutional ownership means management must prioritize clear, capital-efficient strategies to stabilize subscriber counts, which saw residential data subscribers drop to 910,400 (a decline of 149,100 year-over-year). Their primary focus will be on maintaining the dividend and ensuring their high-margin broadband business remains competitive, which is what the big funds are watching.

Key Investors and Their Impact on Cable One, Inc. (CABO)

You're looking at Cable One, Inc. (CABO) and trying to figure out who's really driving the bus, and honestly, it's the large institutions. They own nearly 90% of the company, and right now, their collective sentiment is clearly negative, a big reason the stock is trading near its 52-week low of around $107.53 as of November 2025.

The investor profile isn't about a single activist; it's about concentrated institutional power reacting to tough financial results. When a company misses earnings and reports a huge loss, the big money moves fast. That's what we saw after the Q1 2025 report.

The Heavy Hitters: Who Owns the Majority Stake

The sheer concentration of institutional ownership-about 89.92% to 90% of Cable One, Inc.'s stock-means a handful of firms can sway the stock price and management decisions. The most notable investor is Baupost Group LLC MA, which held a massive position of 14,100,000 shares as of a November 2025 filing date. That's a huge vote of confidence, or a huge source of pressure, depending on performance.

Other significant institutional holders, while smaller in share count, also represent billions in managed capital, and their movements are closely watched. For example, Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. held 472,067 shares, and Dimensional Fund Advisors LP held 235,227 shares around the same time.

• Baupost Group LLC MA: 14,100,000 shares held.
• Burgundy Asset Management Ltd.: 472,067 shares held.
• Dimensional Fund Advisors LP: 235,227 shares held.

These are the players whose buy/sell decisions create the volatility you see. They are defintely not passive investors.

Investor Influence: The Push for Financial Stability

When you have nearly 90% institutional ownership, their collective influence is the company's biggest external driver. This influence is most visible in the market's reaction to the company's recent financial struggles. The Q3 2025 earnings report showed an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of just $5.17, missing the consensus estimate of $9.25 by a wide margin. This kind of miss is what triggers analyst downgrades and investor panic.

Here's the quick math on the stock drop: following the Q1 2025 results, the stock price fell by $109.48, or 41.8%, in a single day, which is a clear signal of investor dissatisfaction. The high debt load, which stood at $3.50 billion at the end of Q2 2025, plus a Q2 net loss of $437.976 million (driven by a non-cash asset impairment charge of $456.2 million), meant something had to give.

The direct action taken by management that reflects this pressure is the suspension of the quarterly cash dividend. This move, announced in 2025, is intended to save approximately $67 million annually, which will be redirected toward debt reduction and growth initiatives. This is a classic move to appease debt-wary institutional investors, trading immediate shareholder return for long-term financial stability. You can see more about the company's strategic history at Cable One, Inc. (CABO): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Recent Moves: A Mixed Bag of Buying and Selling

The recent trading activity among institutional holders is a perfect example of mixed sentiment-some firms are running for the exits, while others see a deep value opportunity near the 52-week low. The net effect is a volatile stock price and a consensus analyst rating of 'Reduce,' with an average 12-month target price of $256.75.

Look at the stark contrast in Q3 2025 activity:

The big takeaway is that while some firms like UBS Group AG are essentially liquidating their positions, others are betting on a turnaround, seeing the stock's low price as a chance to buy cheap. This divergence is what creates the current market uncertainty, but the selling pressure has clearly dominated, pushing the stock down. What this estimate hides is whether the new buyers are long-term value investors or short-term traders looking for a quick bounce.

Market Impact and Investor Sentiment

You're looking at Cable One, Inc. (CABO) and seeing a stock that's been through the wringer this year, and you're defintely right to be cautious. The current investor sentiment for Cable One is best described as muted-to-negative, with Wall Street analysts giving the stock a consensus rating of Reduce.

This isn't a 'Strong Buy' environment. Out of seven analysts covering the stock, five have a Hold rating and two have a Sell rating. The market is mapping out near-term risks, primarily competitive pressure and subscriber losses, which is why the stock has traded down so sharply. It's a classic case where the 'smart money'-institutional investors and hedge funds-still owns a massive chunk, holding about 89.92% of the stock, but their recent activity shows a mix of cautious buying and selling.

For example, Public Sector Pension Investment Board recently increased its position by purchasing an additional 33,702 shares, but that kind of targeted buying is overshadowed by the overall negative analyst consensus. For a deeper dive into the company's foundational structure, you can check out Cable One, Inc. (CABO): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Recent Market Reactions to Ownership Changes

The stock market has reacted harshly to the company's recent financial performance, which is a much bigger signal than minor changes in institutional ownership. The Q3 2025 earnings report, released on November 6, 2025, was the most significant catalyst for recent market action. Cable One, Inc. reported an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of just $5.17, which was a huge miss against the consensus estimate of $9.25.

Here's the quick math: missing the EPS estimate by $4.08, or a -44.11% surprise, is a clear sign of operational stress. Consequently, the stock fell approximately 3.7% to around $114.36 following the report. What this estimate hides is the broader trend: the stock has seen a 25% drop in the month leading up to mid-November 2025, and a staggering 72% loss over the preceding twelve months, reflecting deep investor concern over the company's declining residential video and data subscriber base.

The market is punishing the stock for its sluggish subscriber growth and a projected sales decline.

• Q3 2025 Revenue: $376.01 million.
• Q3 2025 EPS: $5.17 (missed consensus by $4.08).
• 12-Month Stock Loss: Approximately 72%.

Analyst Perspectives and Key Investor Impact

The analysts' perspectives are clearly factoring in the significant headwinds, particularly the competitive environment and the non-cash charges. For example, in Q2 2025, the company recorded a substantial $586 million non-cash impairment charge, which directly contributed to the massive EPS miss of -$77.7 for that quarter.

This is why you see recent price target cuts, even from major firms. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut its price target from $175.00 to $145.00 in November 2025, while Wells Fargo & Company dropped its target from $120.00 to its current low of $107.00. The average twelve-month price target among the seven covering brokerages is currently $256.75, but the recent revisions show a clear downward trend in expectations.

The impact of key investors-the institutional majority-is to keep the float relatively tight, but even they can't stop the price drop when the fundamentals weaken. The consensus forecast for the full 2025 fiscal year is an EPS of $32.08. That's a number that will need to be watched closely to see if the company can stabilize its core residential data business, where revenue decreased 1.2% year-over-year in Q3 2025.

The low price target of $107.00 suggests some analysts see almost no near-term upside from the current price level.