Exploring Cadence Bank (CADE) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?

You're looking at Cadence Bank (CADE) and wondering who's really driving the bus-who's buying, and what's their conviction? The short answer is institutional money, and it's a massive concentration: as of late 2025, a staggering 88.41% of the stock is held by institutions like Vanguard Group Inc., FMR LLC, and Wellington Management Group LLP, which recently boosted its position by adding over 980,000 shares. That's a powerful vote of confidence in a bank that manages $53 billion in total assets. The big money isn't just passively holding; they're actively accumulating, especially after the bank reported a Q3 2025 earnings per share (EPS) of $0.81, which defintely beat consensus. What does this high concentration mean for your investment? It means the stock's direction is highly sensitive to the trading actions of a few giants, but it also signals a perceived stability in a regional bank with a $7.22 billion market capitalization. Are these titans betting on continued margin expansion, or is there a deeper, more complex play in the regional banking sector that we need to uncover?

Who Invests in Cadence Bank (CADE) and Why?

If you are looking at Cadence Bank (CADE), you need to know who else is sitting at the table with you. The quick takeaway is that this is overwhelmingly an institutional stock, with big money managers holding the vast majority of shares. This means the stock's movement is less about retail sentiment and much more about large-scale capital flows and a focus on long-term value in the regional banking sector.

As of late 2025, institutional investors-think massive mutual funds, pension funds, and asset managers like BlackRock, Inc. and Vanguard Group Inc.-own an immense stake, hovering between 83.2% and 88.41% of the outstanding shares. This isn't a stock driven by individual day traders; it's a core holding for funds seeking stability and regional bank exposure. Retail investors, or the general public, hold a smaller, but still meaningful, stake, typically around 13% to 14%. Insider ownership, by contrast, is low, at roughly 0.96% to 1.75%.

Key Investor Types and Their Weight

The sheer dominance of institutional capital dictates the investment profile of Cadence Bank (CADE). These institutions are not monolithic, but they share a common goal: deploying large amounts of capital into stable, well-capitalized companies. The top holders include index fund behemoths and active managers alike.

Here's the quick math: when firms like Vanguard Group Inc. and State Street Corp. own a combined stake of this magnitude, their decisions-often driven by index rebalancing or passive fund inflows-can move the stock. For instance, Vanguard Group Inc. is one of the largest shareholders, holding over $761.25 million worth of shares. To be fair, hedge funds, which often look for short-term catalysts or event-driven opportunities, do not have a meaningful investment in Cadence Bank (CADE), suggesting it is less of a speculative play.

What Attracts Investors: Growth, Dividends, and Position

Investors are drawn to Cadence Bank (CADE) for a few concrete reasons that map directly to the bank's 2025 performance and market position. It's a combination of solid fundamentals and strategic expansion that appeals to the long-term, value-oriented institutional base.

• Growth Prospects: The bank is positioned for strong near-term expansion. Management forecasts for the full 2025 fiscal year include total revenue growth between 10% and 12%. This is being driven by robust balance sheet expansion, with full-year loan growth expected to land between 11% and 15% (including acquisitions). That's a defintely compelling growth rate for a regional bank.
• Dividends: For income-focused investors, the consistent dividend is a major draw. The board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.275 per share of common stock in October 2025. In a volatile interest rate environment, a stable payout signals financial health and commitment to shareholder returns.
• Market Position and Stability: Cadence Bank (CADE) is the 34th largest bank in the U.S. by total assets, which sit at approximately $55 billion. Its regional focus across the high-growth markets of the Southeast and Texas, with a presence in 8 of the top 10 largest in-footprint Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), provides a clear path for organic growth. Plus, its strong capital base, with a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio of 11.5% as of Q3 2025, offers a needed cushion in the current economic climate.

If you want to understand the foundation of this stability, it helps to review the bank's history and business model, which you can find here: Cadence Bank (CADE): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Investment Strategies in Play

The primary strategies seen among Cadence Bank (CADE) investors are rooted in the bank's profile as a regional financial institution with a strong dividend and clear growth strategy.

Value Investing: Many institutional investors, including active asset managers, are attracted to the stock because of its capital strength and market position. They see the bank as undervalued relative to its tangible book value per share and its ability to generate consistent earnings. The strong regulatory capital, like the $6.1 billion in total shareholders' equity as of September 30, 2025, supports this thesis, suggesting a margin of safety.

Long-Term Holding/Index Tracking: The presence of massive index funds like Vanguard and BlackRock, Inc. means a significant portion of the stock is held in passive strategies. These investors buy and hold the stock because Cadence Bank (CADE) is a component of major indices (like the S&P MidCap 400 or other regional banking benchmarks), making them permanent shareholders unless the index changes. This creates a stable, long-term demand floor for the stock.

Dividend Reinvestment: For both retail and institutional investors, the steady cash dividend supports a dividend reinvestment strategy. This strategy focuses on compounding returns by using the quarterly $0.275 per share payout to acquire more shares, which is a classic approach for regional bank stocks.

Next step for you: look at the Q4 2025 earnings forecasts and see if the projected revenue growth of 10% to 12% is still on track.

Institutional Ownership and Major Shareholders of Cadence Bank (CADE)

You need to know who is really calling the shots at Cadence Bank (CADE), and the answer is clear: institutional investors. These large firms-mutual funds, pension funds, and asset managers-own a massive portion of the company, giving them significant sway over strategy and stock performance. As of the most recent filings, institutional investors hold approximately 84.61% of Cadence Bank's outstanding stock, representing an institutional value of about $6.44 billion.

This level of concentration is defintely high. It means Cadence Bank's stock price is highly sensitive to the collective trading actions of a few hundred large players. The board simply has to pay attention to their preferences, especially with the top eight shareholders controlling roughly 53% of the company's register.

Top Institutional Investors and Their Shareholdings

The list of Cadence Bank's largest shareholders reads like a who's who of the financial world, dominated by index fund giants and major asset managers. These are mostly passive, long-term holders, but their sheer size makes them powerful. The largest holder, The Vanguard Group, Inc., holds an 11% stake, with BlackRock, Inc. close behind. Here's the quick math on the top positions from the 2025 fiscal year data:

These massive holdings mean that Cadence Bank is a core component of many broadly diversified portfolios, like the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund. Their investment signals a certain degree of credibility in the investment community, but remember, they get it wrong sometimes, too.

Recent Shifts: Increased Accumulation of CADE Stock

Looking at the recent flow of money, institutional investors have been net accumulators of Cadence Bank stock. In the most recent reporting quarter, the number of institutional owners increased by 6.10%, and the total long institutional shares grew by 2.59%, or an additional 5.06 million shares. That's a clear sign of positive sentiment.

This accumulation isn't just about index funds passively buying more shares as the market grows. We've seen a dynamic mix of buying and selling. Specifically, there were 195 increased positions versus 161 decreased positions reported. For instance, Wellington Management Group Llp added a significant 613,836 shares in the second quarter of 2025, while State Street Corp trimmed its position by 471,080 shares. New money is also coming in: Savant Capital LLC bought a new position of 23,817 shares in Q2 2025.

• Increased positions outweigh decreased positions.
• New funds are starting stakes, showing fresh market interest.
• The net buying suggests confidence in the bank's near-term outlook.

The Institutional Impact on Stock Price and Strategy

The role of these large investors goes far beyond just holding shares; they are a critical factor in Cadence Bank's strategy and stock performance. Their high ownership means any coordinated move-selling or buying-can drive the stock price fast. This is the core risk of a crowded trade: if multiple institutions rush for the exit, the price drops sharply.

More importantly, institutional investors are the key decision-makers in major corporate events. A perfect, recent example is the announced acquisition of Cadence Bank by Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (HBAN) in October 2025. The deal, valued at $7.4 billion or $39.77 per Cadence share, requires shareholder approval. The institutional vote is paramount here, as they hold the power to approve or reject the strategic direction of the company. Their long-term view on the bank's growth prospects, strategic market position, and overall financial health-which you can explore further in Breaking Down Cadence Bank (CADE) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors-is what drives their ultimate decision on such a massive transaction.

So, monitoring their activity isn't just an academic exercise; it's a critical part of understanding the stock's risk profile and its strategic future. Their influence is baked into the stock price, and their preference for shareholder-friendly policies, like the increased annualized dividend of $1.10 per share announced earlier in 2025, helps shape management's decisions.

Key Investors and Their Impact on Cadence Bank (CADE)

If you're looking at Cadence Bank (CADE), the first thing to understand is that it's an institutionally-dominated stock. This isn't a retail-investor playground; it's a battleground for major money managers. Institutional investors-think mutual funds, pension funds, and endowments-own a massive chunk, around 84.61% to 88.41% of the company's shares. This high concentration means the stock's price movements are defintely sensitive to the trading decisions of just a few colossal players.

The board and management team at Cadence Bank (CADE) have to pay close attention to what these major shareholders want, since they hold the majority of the voting power. Honestly, when the top eight shareholders control about 53% of the business, their collective view on strategy-like acquisitions or capital return-carries serious weight. That's how the big money calls the shots.

The Heavy Hitters: Who Owns the Largest Stakes?

The investor profile is dominated by the world's largest asset managers, the kind of funds that manage trillions of dollars. These are not activist hedge funds looking for a quick shake-up; they are long-term, passive, or core institutional holders who anchor the stock. Their primary interest is stability, consistent earnings, and a reliable dividend, which Cadence Bank (CADE) supports with a recent quarterly cash dividend of $0.275 per share.

The top institutional investors, based on the most recent 2025 fiscal year filings, are a familiar list of global giants.

These massive holdings, especially from passive managers like Vanguard and State Street, suggest Cadence Bank (CADE) is seen as a core, long-term holding within the regional banking sector. They are buying the market, so to speak, and Cadence Bank (CADE) is a key piece of that regional bank exposure.

Recent Investor Moves and Strategic Signals

Looking at the recent trading activity in 2025 gives you a clear picture of what the smart money is doing. The general trend among active managers is an increase in position size, which signals confidence in the bank's strategic direction, particularly its mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategy. For example, Cadence Bank (CADE) completed the acquisition of Industry Bancshares, Inc., which added approximately $4.1 billion in assets in the third quarter of 2025.

Here are a few notable moves from the first half of the 2025 fiscal year:

• Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position by 7.8% in Q1 2025, now holding over 13.48 million shares.
• Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. grew its stake by 19.9% in Q2 2025, adding 480,622 shares.
• Savant Capital LLC established a new position in Q2 2025, acquiring 23,817 shares valued at about $762,000.

The conviction from active managers like Wellington and Vaughan Nelson to increase their stakes suggests they view the bank's current valuation as attractive, especially given the adjusted net income of $152.8 million for Q3 2025. Plus, the bank's focus on capital return is a positive signal; in April 2025, the board authorized a new share repurchase program for up to 10 million shares of common stock, set to expire at the end of the year. What this estimate hides, however, is that Cadence Bank (CADE) did not repurchase any shares in the third quarter of 2025, keeping its focus on leveraging strategic acquisitions for growth. If you want to dive deeper into the bank's operational history and how it makes money, you can check out Cadence Bank (CADE): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Your action here is simple: track the 13F filings of these major holders, especially Wellington and FMR, because their next move will likely dictate the near-term stock trajectory.

Market Impact and Investor Sentiment

You're looking for a clear picture of who is driving Cadence Bank (CADE) stock and why, and the answer is simple: institutional giants hold the reins, but the recent acquisition news is the single biggest factor influencing sentiment right now. The consensus among analysts is a cautious Hold, but the underlying institutional confidence is high, reflected in a massive ownership stake.

Institutional investors-the large mutual funds, pension funds, and endowments-own a dominant share, ranging from 84.61% to 88.41% of the float as of the latest filings. This means the stock price is acutely sensitive to their collective trading actions. The top eight shareholders alone control approximately 53% of the company, giving them significant influence over strategic decisions. Insiders, by comparison, hold a modest but aligning stake of around 0.96%. That's a strong signal of institutional validation, but it also means you need to watch those large-block trades very defintely.

Recent Market Reactions: The Acquisition Catalyst

The most crucial market reaction, overshadowing all other movements, came on October 27, 2025, with the announcement that Huntington Bancshares Incorporated plans to acquire Cadence Bank. This news, valuing the deal at approximately $7.6 billion, fundamentally changed the investment thesis for CADE from a regional bank growth story to a merger arbitrage play. This kind of event typically locks the stock price near the implied acquisition value, minus a small discount for regulatory and closing risk.

Before the acquisition news, the stock had already shown strong momentum. For example, in one week in July 2025, the company gained $503 million in market capitalization, which helped push its one-year total shareholder return to 30%. This upward trend was built on solid 2025 performance, including second-quarter adjusted net income hitting $137.5 million, or $0.73 per share. The market was rewarding organic loan growth of 12.6% annualized for the quarter.

• Huntington acquisition: $7.6 billion deal announced October 2025.
• Institutional ownership: 84.61% to 88.41% of shares.
• 2025 Q2 adjusted net income: $137.5 million.

Analyst Perspectives and Future Outlook

Wall Street's perspective, even with the acquisition pending, is cautious but sees upside. The consensus analyst rating is a Hold, which suggests they believe the stock will perform in line with the broader market until the deal closes. Here's the quick math on their price targets:

The average 12-month price target is around $42.33, forecasting a modest upside of approximately 13.52% from the current price. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods's high target of $49.00, updated in November 2025, reflects the most bullish outlook, likely factoring in a smooth closing of the acquisition or a higher valuation for the combined entity. Analysts project strong fiscal year 2025 growth, with estimated revenue of $2.01 billion and Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $3.11. This growth is tied to the bank's successful expansion into high-growth Sunbelt markets like Texas and Georgia, a key part of the investment thesis. You can read more about the bank's long-term strategy here: Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Cadence Bank (CADE).

The core message: the institutional money is in, the analysts see a pathway to a higher valuation, and the near-term action is entirely dictated by the acquisition timeline and terms. Your next step is to track the regulatory approvals for the Huntington Bancshares deal, as that's the single biggest factor that will change the stock price in the coming months.