Exploring Camden National Corporation (CAC) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?

You're looking at Camden National Corporation (CAC) and wondering who's actually moving the needle-is it retail investors, or the big institutional players? Honestly, it's the latter, and the numbers from the 2025 fiscal year make that defintely clear. With institutional ownership sitting high at about 73.89%, you have firms like Blackrock, Inc. and Franklin Resources Inc. holding massive stakes, and their buying and selling patterns drive the stock. Why are they paying attention now? Well, the bank just reported a record third quarter 2025 net income of $21.2 million and a diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.25, a 51% jump from the prior quarter, plus a strong annualized dividend yield of 4.34% as of late September. That kind of performance-especially the 19.14% return on average tangible equity-doesn't go unnoticed on Wall Street. So, what does this concentrated ownership mean for your investment strategy, and are the big funds buying for the dividend yield or for core growth? Let's break down the investor profile and see who is truly betting on this $7.0 billion asset bank.

Who Invests in Camden National Corporation (CAC) and Why?

The investor profile for Camden National Corporation (CAC) is a fascinating mix, primarily split between large, passive institutional money and a highly engaged base of retail shareholders. You see a clear preference for stability and income here, not the high-growth, high-volatility plays dominating the tech sector.

The money is concentrated: as of the latest filings, institutional investors, including mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), hold approximately 41.11% of the company's stock, but a significant portion-about 56.68%-is held by public companies and individual investors. This high retail ownership is defintely a key characteristic for a regional bank holding company like Camden National Corporation, which is Northern New England's largest publicly traded bank holding company.

• Institutional Investors: Hold around 41.11% of shares, dominated by index and value funds.
• Retail Investors: Hold a substantial 56.68%, often seeking income and long-term value.
• Insiders: Company executives and directors hold a smaller, but important, 2.21%.

The Institutional Heavyweights: Indexing and Value

When you look at the major institutional holders, you quickly see the influence of the world's largest asset managers. These aren't just speculative bets; they represent core, long-term allocations. For example, BlackRock, Inc., FMR LLC (Fidelity), and Vanguard Group Inc. are among the largest shareholders.

Here's the quick math on what that means: Vanguard and BlackRock, Inc. run massive index funds, so their ownership is mostly passive. They buy and hold because Camden National Corporation is included in their underlying benchmarks, like the Russell 2000. But you also have active managers like Franklin Resources Inc., often through their value-focused funds, which suggests a deeper dive into the bank's fundamentals.

This mix of passive indexers and active value investors suggests two things: the stock has enough size and liquidity to be included in major indices, and it has a compelling valuation story for fundamental analysts. It's a stable component in a diversified portfolio.

Investment Motivations: Income and Operational Strength

For most investors, the motivation to own Camden National Corporation stock boils down to two factors: a reliable dividend and solid operational performance in a tough banking environment. This is a classic income play.

The dividend is a major anchor. Camden National Corporation declared a quarterly dividend of $0.42 per share for Q3 2025, which translates to an attractive annualized yield of around 4.34% based on the September 29, 2025 closing price. Plus, the company has maintained dividend payments for 29 consecutive years. That kind of consistency is gold for retirees and income funds.

But it's not just about the yield; the bank's performance in the 2025 fiscal year has been strong. The Q3 2025 earnings report showed a record net income of $21.2 million, a significant 51% increase from the previous quarter, with diluted earnings per share (EPS) at $1.25. The bank's total assets grew to $7.0 billion as of September 30, 2025. That kind of growth, plus a clean balance sheet, makes the dividend feel safe. If you want to dig into the numbers that support this stability, you should read Breaking Down Camden National Corporation (CAC) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

The Core Investment Strategies in Play

The dominant strategies are long-term holding and value investing, driven by the bank's profile as a stable regional player.

Value Investing: This strategy is all about buying a dollar for 50 cents. With a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 11.96 as of October 2025, Camden National Corporation is priced like a value stock, especially when you consider the strong Q3 EPS. Value investors are betting the market is underpricing the bank's consistent profitability and its strong asset quality, where non-performing assets stood at a low 0.12% of total assets.

Long-Term Income Holding: This is the strategy of the retail base and the income-focused mutual funds. The goal is to collect the steady, quarterly dividend. Investors here are less concerned with short-term stock price swings and more focused on the dividend's safety, which is supported by a payout ratio of about 53.16%. A payout ratio around this level leaves plenty of room for the company to reinvest in the business while still rewarding shareholders.

The primary action for a potential investor is to assess if the current valuation still offers a margin of safety given the recent growth surge.

Institutional Ownership and Major Shareholders of Camden National Corporation (CAC)

You're looking at Camden National Corporation (CAC) and wondering who the big players are and what they're thinking. Honestly, when institutions own nearly three-quarters of a company, you need to pay attention. The direct takeaway is this: institutional investors hold a massive stake, validating the bank's strategic direction, particularly following its major 2025 acquisition, but their recent trading shows a mix of profit-taking and new conviction.

As of the September 30, 2025, reporting cycle-the most recent data we have-institutional ownership of Camden National Corporation stood at a commanding 73.89% of shares outstanding. That's a huge vote of confidence, especially for a regional bank. This level of institutional holding, valued at approximately $477 million in total, means these large funds collectively have significant sway over the stock price and management decisions. It's what we call a 'crowded trade' in a good way; it lends credibility to the company in the broader investment community. If you want to dive deeper into the fundamentals that underpin this institutional confidence, I'd suggest checking out Breaking Down Camden National Corporation (CAC) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Top Institutional Investors and Their Convictions

The largest institutional investors in Camden National Corporation are exactly the names you'd expect to see holding core positions in a stable regional bank. These aren't speculative hedge funds but massive asset managers, the kind that hold for the long haul in their index and actively managed funds. Here's a quick look at the top holders and their positions as of Q3 2025:

See how the big three index and mutual fund giants-Franklin Resources, Blackrock, and Fmr-are right at the top? That's defintely common for a company like CAC. Franklin Resources, for instance, added a significant number of shares, increasing their stake by 7.829% in the quarter, clearly signaling a strong buy-in to the bank's recent performance and strategy.

Decoding Recent Ownership Shifts

The changes in ownership during the third quarter of 2025 tell a nuanced story. While the overall institutional ownership remains high, some of the largest holders trimmed their positions slightly. This isn't necessarily a bearish signal; often, it's just portfolio rebalancing or profit-taking after a period of strong performance. Blackrock, Inc. and Fmr Llc, for example, reduced their holdings by -1.851% and -1.816% respectively. But still, they remain the largest owners.

On the flip side, you have institutional buyers like JPMorgan Chase & Co. who increased their stake by 4.658% (adding 13,849 shares). The divergence suggests a healthy debate among institutions about the near-term valuation, but the net institutional activity for the quarter shows a slight increase in aggregate shares held. This is a good sign: new money is still flowing in, even as some long-term holders take a little off the table.

The Impact on Strategy and Stock Price

When institutional investors own 73.89% of the stock, they don't just influence the price; they essentially rubber-stamp the company's strategic direction. Camden National Corporation's successful acquisition of Northway Financial, Inc. in January 2025, which boosted total assets to approximately $7.0 billion, is a major factor here. The institutional investment is a direct endorsement of that growth strategy.

Their influence plays out in a few key ways:

• Price Stability: Large, stable holders like Vanguard and Blackrock reduce stock volatility, acting as a floor during market downturns because they don't trade on short-term news.
• Strategic Validation: The high ownership validates management's focus, which led to a record Q3 2025 net income of $21.2 million and diluted EPS of $1.25.
• Governance Pressure: These large owners expect sustained performance. If the bank's Return on Average Equity (ROAE) of 12.75% (Q3 2025) were to drop significantly, they would be the first to pressure the board for changes.

The bottom line is that the institutions are betting on the bank's ability to successfully integrate the acquisition and continue its strong financial performance in the Northern New England market. They are the market, and their conviction is strong.

Finance: Track the Q4 2025 13F filings in early 2026 to see if the net buying trend continues post-Q3 earnings.

Key Investors and Their Impact on Camden National Corporation (CAC)

You're looking at Camden National Corporation (CAC) and trying to figure out who's really driving the bus-a smart move. The short answer is that the investor base is dominated by large, passive institutional money, which signals stability and a focus on income, but you also see a few active players making calculated moves.

Institutional investors own the vast majority of the company, with institutional ownership sitting at a high 73.89% as of the third quarter of 2025. That's a clear sign that the market views Camden National Corporation as a stable, long-term holding, defintely not a speculative play. These big-name funds aren't looking for a quick flip; they want steady performance and a reliable dividend.

Notable Investors: The Big Funds and Specialist Players

When you peel back the layers of ownership, you find the usual suspects from the world of passive and quantitative investing, plus a few specialized financial sector funds. The largest holders are the behemoths who hold shares for millions of retail investors and pension funds. Here's the quick math on who holds the biggest stakes (based on recent 2025 filings):

• Franklin Resources Inc.: Holds a significant position valued at approximately $58.69 million.
• FMR LLC (Fidelity): A major holder with a stake around $54.14 million.
• Dimensional Fund Advisors LP: Known for its quantitative approach, holding about $36.71 million.
• Vanguard Group Inc. and BlackRock, Inc.: These two passive giants are consistently top holders, with Vanguard's stake at roughly $35.39 million.

Also, keep an eye on Basswood Capital Management, L.L.C. They are a financial sector specialist, and their presence suggests a deep-dive, value-oriented approach to the stock, which can sometimes lead to more active engagement than the passive index funds.

Investor Influence: Stability Over Activism

The high institutional ownership primarily influences Camden National Corporation's strategy toward capital preservation and consistent shareholder returns. The massive stakes held by Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street Corp mean the company must adhere to strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, plus maintain operational stability.

The company's focus on a strong dividend is a direct nod to this investor base. For Q3 2025, the board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.42 per share, which translated to an annualized yield of 4.34% based on the September 29, 2025 closing price of $38.72. That kind of yield is what keeps income-focused funds happy and invested.

What this estimate hides is the quiet influence of the specialist funds. They may not launch a public campaign, but their detailed analysis and private discussions with management can shape capital allocation decisions, like the timing of a share buyback or a strategic merger.

Recent Moves: Reacting to Strategic Growth in 2025

The biggest recent event that shaped investor moves was the merger with Northway Financial, Inc., which officially closed in January 2025. This deal immediately boosted total assets to approximately $7.0 billion, fundamentally changing the company's scale.

In response, we saw a few key investor movements in 2025:

• Active Buying: Funds like Bridgeway Capital Management LLC and Bank of America Corp DE increased their holdings in the second and third quarters of 2025, signaling confidence in the post-merger integration and growth trajectory. Bridgeway, for example, added 4,147 shares in the last quarter.
• Portfolio Rebalancing: Franklin Resources Inc. showed active management, buying a high volume of shares (over $361.08K) while also selling a smaller volume (around $60.37K) over the last two years. This suggests they were adjusting their position size to reflect the new, larger corporate structure.

The strong Q3 2025 earnings-net income of $21.2 million and diluted EPS of $1.25, a 51% jump over Q2 2025-will likely fuel further buying interest from growth-oriented funds. This performance validates the strategic decision to merge and expand into new markets. For a deeper dive into the company's foundation, you can check out Camden National Corporation (CAC): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

The key takeaway for you is that the major investors are betting on the successful integration of the Northway merger and the continuation of a strong, income-generating regional bank model.

Market Impact and Investor Sentiment

You're looking at Camden National Corporation (CAC) because the community bank space is defintely showing resilience, and you want to know if the big money agrees. The short answer is that major shareholders currently hold a cautiously positive, or neutral, stance, primarily driven by the company's strong Q3 2025 financial performance, but they are still waiting for sustained market momentum.

Institutional investors own a significant chunk of the company, and that high ownership percentage is a stabilizing factor. Plus, the recent insider buying signals a strong vote of confidence from those who know the business best. Here's the quick math: nearly 77.41% of Camden National's stock is held by institutional investors, which is a high concentration for a regional bank.

This institutional base includes heavyweights like Franklin Resources Inc., FMR LLC, and Vanguard Group Inc.. When you see this level of commitment, it suggests a long-term belief in the core franchise value, not just a quick trade. Also, insider sentiment is currently flagged as Positive, fueled by high-impact open-market purchases, which is a strong signal that management and directors believe the stock is undervalued.

Recent Market Reactions to Ownership Shifts

The market's reaction to major ownership moves has been less about single, dramatic events and more about responding to the underlying financial strength. The most recent major catalyst was the Q3 2025 earnings report, which showed a massive jump in profitability following the acquisition of Northway Financial, Inc. earlier this year.

Camden National reported a record net income of $21.2 million for Q3 2025, translating to diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.25, both representing a remarkable 51% increase over the prior quarter. That's a huge beat, and it's what really moves the needle for institutional holders. This performance pushed the return on average equity to 12.75%.

Still, the stock has seen some near-term volatility, falling by -2.84% on November 17, 2025, but it had risen in seven of the ten days prior. What this estimate hides is that regional bank stocks are sensitive to macro factors like interest rate expectations, so a single day's drop isn't necessarily a reaction to a major investor selling, but rather broader market jitters. The long-term signal remains positive, especially when you look at the dividend: a quarterly payout of $0.42 per share, which gives an annualized yield of about 4.35% based on the September 30, 2025 closing price.

You can learn more about the foundation of this performance here: Camden National Corporation (CAC): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Analyst Perspectives on Key Investors' Impact

The Street's view on Camden National Corporation is split between a 'Hold' and a 'Buy,' which is typical for a well-managed regional bank that has just completed a major acquisition and is now focused on integration and efficiency. The consensus rating from six Wall Street research analysts is currently a Hold, with four analysts suggesting a Hold and two recommending a Buy.

The average 12-month price target is set between $46.75 and $47.33. This target represents a forecasted upside of roughly 20-22% from the current trading price around $38.34. That's a clear opportunity for capital appreciation, even with a Hold rating.

The analysts' thinking is straightforward. The strong Q3 earnings, with the non-GAAP efficiency ratio improving to 52.47% from 55.47% in the previous quarter, show management is executing well on the merger integration and cost control. Key investors like Vanguard or FMR LLC aren't just buying for the dividend; they are buying because they expect management to convert that operational efficiency into higher earnings per share (EPS). The analysts are simply confirming that belief, but they want to see a few more quarters of clean execution before upgrading to a Strong Buy.

The consensus is that the risk-reward profile is favorable, especially with the stock trading at a market capitalization of approximately $667.75 million as of November 17, 2025.

• Monitor Q4 2025 loan growth and net interest margin.
• Watch for further insider buying activity.
• Track analyst rating changes post-Q4 earnings release.