Exploring Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) Investor Profile: Who’s Buying and Why?

You're looking at Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE), a company that makes mission-critical safety gear, and you're wondering if the big money is still piling in, or if the smart trade has already been made. Honestly, the investor profile for CDRE right now is defintely a story of conviction, not caution, especially with the stock price hitting around $42.94 per share as of November 2025, a 23.28% jump over the last year. Institutional investors, the professional money managers, hold about 43.95% of the stock, equating to over 37.9 million shares, so a lot of capital is betting on this defensive play. We're seeing major players like BlackRock, Inc. and Vanguard Group Inc. in the top holders list, with Vanguard recently boosting its position by over 15%. But why are they buying now, even after the company posted nine-month 2025 net sales of $443.1 million and reaffirmed full-year sales guidance up to $630 million? Is the market pricing in too much of the future growth from their strategic acquisitions, or is the core business-supplying body armor and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) equipment-just that resilient? Let's break down the shareholder structure and the financial drivers to see if their buying rationale holds up for your portfolio.

Who Invests in Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) and Why?

You're looking at Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) and trying to figure out who's buying the stock and what their game plan is. The direct takeaway is this: Cadre's investor base is dominated by a core group of insiders and major institutions, with their primary motivation being a bet on the company's resilient, acquisition-fueled growth in the mission-critical safety and defense sectors.

The ownership structure is defintely unique, characterized by a high concentration of insider equity, which impacts everything from liquidity to strategic direction. This is not a stock where retail investors set the price; it's a game of institutional conviction.

Key Investor Types: The Ownership Breakdown

The investor profile for Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) is heavily skewed toward two main groups: Insiders and Institutions. This structure is a clear signal about the company's governance and stability.

The most striking feature is the insider ownership. CEO and Chairman Warren B. Kanders is the largest individual shareholder, owning approximately 27.46 million shares, which represents about 67.52% of the company. This level of concentration means management's interests are tightly aligned with shareholder returns, but it also limits the public float (the number of shares available for trading).

Institutional investors and hedge funds hold a significant portion of the remaining equity, owning around 67% of the shares, based on the largest holdings. Retail investors, while present, are a smaller piece of the pie. Here's the quick math on the major holders as of mid-2025:

• Institutional Investors: Approximately 67% of shares.
• Individuals/Retail: Approximately 31.2% of shares.

Major investment firms like Blackrock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc., and State Street Corp. are among the top institutional holders, a common sight for companies included in major indices or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Blackrock, Inc. held over 2.46 million shares, and Vanguard Group Inc. held over 1.69 million shares as of the third quarter of 2025.

Investment Motivations: Growth, Resilience, and a Modest Payout

Investors are attracted to Cadre Holdings, Inc. for three core reasons: its strong growth trajectory, its market resilience, and its consistent dividend.

On the growth front, the company is delivering. For the full year 2025, Cadre expects Net Sales in the range of $624 million to $630 million, with Adjusted EBITDA projected between $112 million and $116 million. This growth is fueled by strategic acquisitions, like the recent purchase of TYR Tactical, and strong organic demand for its mission-critical safety products (body armor, EOD equipment) across law enforcement and military markets. This is a business that performs through cycles.

The company is a leader in its niche, which offers a defensive characteristic (a moat) that investors value. The recent $50 million IDIQ contract from the U.S. Department of Defense for its Med-Eng subsidiary is a concrete example of its strong market position.

For income-focused investors, Cadre provides a steady, albeit small, return. The company has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.095 per share, which annualizes to $0.38 per share. Critically, the dividend payout ratio is a sustainable 33.93% of earnings, meaning they have plenty of room to keep funding growth while rewarding shareholders.

Investment Strategies: The Long-Term Growth Play

The typical investment strategies you see playing out in Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) stock are a mix of long-term holding and growth-at-a-reasonable-price (GARP) approaches, rather than short-term trading.

The presence of passive funds from Vanguard and State Street Corp. locks in a significant portion of shares for Long-Term Holding, as they track indices and rarely trade based on short-term news. Active managers, like Capital International Investors, are likely pursuing a Growth Investing strategy, betting on the company's ability to continue its acquisition-driven expansion and market share gains in the specialized safety sector. They see a path to higher earnings per share (EPS), which analysts forecast to be around $1.05 for the full year 2025.

What this estimate hides is the potential for M&A to accelerate or slow that pace. The company's strong balance sheet, with $137 million in cash and an undrawn revolver capacity of $175 million as of mid-2025, gives them the firepower for more deals, which is a key part of the growth thesis.

To be fair, there is a caveat for value investors: the stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio has historically been high, reflecting the market's high growth expectations, which can be demanding. Also, while the insider ownership is a strength, you should know that insiders have been net sellers over the last year.

If you want to dig into the core philosophy driving this company, you should review their Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE).

Here is a snapshot of the company's financial health that underpins these strategies:

Next step: Financial team should model a scenario analysis for the impact of the TYR Tactical acquisition on the 2026 EPS forecast by Friday.

Institutional Ownership and Major Shareholders of Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE)

You want to know who is buying Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) and why, and the short answer is that major institutions are a dominant force, controlling a significant portion of the company. As of the most recent filings, institutional investors and hedge funds own approximately 66.98% of the stock, holding a total of over 37.9 million shares.

This high level of institutional ownership is defintely a signal that the company's core business-manufacturing and distributing safety equipment for public safety and defense-is viewed as a stable, long-term growth play. These are not small players; they are the largest asset managers in the world.

The top institutional investors in Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) are a mix of passive index funds and active managers, reflecting a broad conviction in the company's market position. Here is a look at the largest holders based on their Q2 and Q3 2025 filings:

The presence of behemoths like BlackRock, Inc. and Vanguard Group Inc is typical, as they manage massive index funds that must track the market. But the substantial holdings by active managers like Fmr Llc and Greenhouse Funds LLLP suggest a deeper, more intentional investment thesis beyond just index tracking. You see the big names backing the defense and public safety sector.

Recent Shifts in Institutional Stakes: Who is Selling and Who is Buying?

Looking at the recent changes, you get a clearer picture of the sentiment heading into the end of the 2025 fiscal year. Institutional investment isn't static, and we've seen some notable movements in the second and third quarters of 2025.

Overall, there's been a clear accumulation trend from many major players. Vanguard Group Inc, for example, increased its position by 15.22% in the third quarter of 2025, adding over 224,000 shares. BlackRock, Inc. also boosted its stake by nearly 3.6% in the second quarter. Greenhouse Funds LLLP showed strong conviction, increasing its holdings by 8.431% in Q2.

• Vanguard Group Inc: Increased holdings by 15.22% (Q3 2025).
• BlackRock, Inc.: Increased holdings by 3.598% (Q2 2025).
• Greenhouse Funds LLLP: Increased holdings by 8.431% (Q2 2025).
• Bank of Montreal Can: Initiated a new position of 16,143 shares (Q2 2025).

However, not all investors are adding. Fmr Llc, one of the largest shareholders, significantly reduced its stake by 25.15% in Q2 2025, selling over 1 million shares. This kind of divergence is common; one firm may be taking profits while others see a fresh entry point. Still, the net effect shows continued strong interest, especially following the positive Q3 earnings.

The Impact of Institutional Investors on CDRE's Strategy and Stock

These large institutional investors play a critical role in both the stock's price stability and the company's long-term strategy. Their massive capital provides a stable base for the stock price. When they are net buyers, it pushes the price up; when they sell, it can create downward pressure. The stock's price of $42.94 per share as of early November 2025 reflects this sustained demand.

More importantly, their investment validates Cadre Holdings, Inc.'s business model. The company's Q3 2025 earnings report, which showed net sales rising to US$155.87 million and net income reaching US$10.94 million, is exactly what keeps these investors committed. The strong performance, coupled with strategic wins like the acquisition of TYR Tactical and a new $50 million contract with the Department of Defense, confirms their investment thesis.

Their presence also subtly influences corporate strategy. Management knows they must deliver on their full-year sales guidance of between US$624 million and US$630 million for 2025 to keep these large, demanding shareholders satisfied. This focus on consistent execution-especially in fulfilling delayed government contracts-is a direct result of the scrutiny from major institutional holders who expect a clear path to the forecasted $1.05 earnings per share for the current year. For a deeper dive into the company's long-term goals, you can review the Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE).

The bottom line is that institutional money is betting big on the continued, robust demand in the law enforcement, military, and nuclear markets that Cadre serves. This is a vote of confidence in their ability to execute and consolidate the fragmented safety equipment market. The biggest risk remains the timing of those large government contracts, but the overall trend is clear. Your next step should be to model the impact of the $624 million to $630 million sales guidance on your own valuation metrics.

Key Investors and Their Impact on Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE)

If you're looking at Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE), the first thing to understand is that the stock is overwhelmingly controlled by institutional money, which means the movements are less about individual retail sentiment and more about major fund flows and long-term mandates.

As of late 2025, institutional investors-the big funds, pension plans, and endowments-own a massive 69.63% of the company's float, holding over 37.9 million shares across 356 different entities. This is a classic sign of a stock that's been vetted and deemed a solid, though perhaps less flashy, long-term holding by the smart money.

The Institutional Heavyweights: Who's Buying and Why

The investor profile for Cadre Holdings, Inc. is dominated by some of the largest, most recognizable names in global asset management. These are typically passive investors, meaning they aren't looking to shake up the board or force a sale; they're buying the company's long-term business model.

Here's a quick look at some of the major institutional players, including my old stomping grounds, BlackRock, Inc., and their peers:

• SMCWX - SMALLCAP WORLD FUND INC Class A: A major holder, suggesting Cadre is viewed as a growth-oriented small-cap play.
• BlackRock, Inc.: A presence in nearly every major company, their stake is often tied to index funds and broad market ETFs.
• Vanguard Group Inc: Similar to BlackRock, Inc., their ownership is a strong vote for the company's inclusion in passive investment strategies.
• State Street Corp: Another index-fund giant, providing stability to the shareholder base.

These firms provide a strong, stable floor for the stock price. They buy based on a long-term thesis: Cadre Holdings, Inc.'s focus on mission-critical safety and survivability equipment for law enforcement, military, and nuclear markets provides a recurring, non-cyclical revenue stream. They're buying into the predictable cash flow, not a quick trade. If you want to dive deeper into the fundamentals backing this stability, you can check out Breaking Down Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Insider Moves and Near-Term Risk Signals

While institutional ownership is high, you still have to pay attention to the insiders-the executives and directors who know the business best. Insider ownership of the float sits at a substantial 29.12%, which is a great sign of management alignment with shareholders, but their recent moves need scrutiny.

For instance, in a notable move on November 17, 2025, President Brad Williams executed a significant sale of 27,370 shares. Here's the quick math: that transaction was valued at approximately $1,193,879. While insider selling can be for personal financial planning, a sale of that size, so close to the year-end, is defintely something to file away as a near-term data point. It doesn't change the long-term thesis, but it can create short-term selling pressure.

Investor Influence and the M&A Strategy

The primary influence of these investors is on capital allocation. Cadre Holdings, Inc.'s strategy has been heavily focused on strategic acquisitions, such as the recent deal to acquire TYR Tactical in late October 2025. This move is a clear signal that the institutional capital is supporting an 'acquire-to-grow' model.

The impact of this strategy is already visible in the 2025 fiscal year projections. Management has guided for full-year 2025 net sales to be in the range of $624 million to $630 million, and Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $112 million to $122 million. The TYR Tactical deal is expected to increase the company's net debt to about $310 million (excluding an earn-out), while also boosting the share count to 41 million shares. This is the trade-off: higher growth via acquisition, but also higher debt and share dilution. The institutional investors are implicitly endorsing this strategy by maintaining their large stakes.

What this estimate hides is the need for consistent organic growth to justify the premium valuation. The market is giving Cadre Holdings, Inc. a high multiple because it expects them to keep integrating deals successfully and delivering on its dividend of $0.095 per share quarterly.

Next Step: Look closely at the Q4 2025 earnings report when it drops to see if the integration of TYR Tactical is on track and if the guidance for 2026 maintains this aggressive growth trajectory. That will be the real test of the institutional thesis.

Market Impact and Investor Sentiment

The investor sentiment toward Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE) is a mix of confident accumulation from institutions and a cautious but positive outlook from analysts. You see the big money moving in, but you also see the stock's valuation getting stretched. Institutional investors and hedge funds own a significant portion of the company, holding approximately 63.1% of the shares, which totals around 37,986,692 shares as of late 2025.

This high level of institutional ownership, including major players like BlackRock, Inc. and The Vanguard Group, Inc., signals a strong belief in Cadre's long-term strategy, particularly its focus on public safety and defense equipment. BlackRock, Inc. alone holds about 2,548,776 shares, representing 6.27% of the company. The Fund Sentiment Score, which tracks institutional accumulation, suggests that funds are actively buying the stock, which is a defintely positive signal for near-term price support.

• Institutional Ownership: 63.1% of shares.
• Top Insider: Warren B. Kanders holds 28.90% of shares.
• Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake by 15.22% in Q3 2025.

The market's reaction to Cadre Holdings, Inc.'s operational performance has been overwhelmingly positive in the second half of 2025. The stock price, trading near $42.94 per share as of early November 2025, reflects this optimism. The stock has seen a strong surge, rising about 11% in the past month and over 40% in the past three months, hitting an all-time high of $43.00 in October 2025. This momentum is directly tied to strong Q3 2025 earnings, where the company reported $155.87 million in revenue and statutory earnings per share (EPS) of $0.27, beating analyst consensus.

Still, you need to watch insider activity. On November 17, 2025, President Brad Williams sold 27,370 shares valued at $1,193,879. While a single sale doesn't change the long-term thesis, large insider sales can sometimes signal a belief that the stock is fully valued in the near term. For a deeper dive into the company's origins, you can review Cadre Holdings, Inc. (CDRE): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Analyst perspectives on Cadre Holdings, Inc. are generally bullish, but the recent stock run-up has led to a split view on valuation. The consensus rating is a 'Moderate Buy' or 'Hold' from five brokerages. The average 1-year price target sits around $37.67, which suggests a slight downside from the current price, but this average hides a significant range.

Here's the quick math: Analysts are raising their targets based on strategic moves like the acquisition of TYR Tactical and strong demand in the public safety and defense markets. B. Riley, for example, recently raised their price target to a very aggressive $62.00, citing the company's strong position for sustained growth. This contrasts sharply with Bank of America's target of $26.00, showing the market's deep division on the stock's future trajectory.

The company's reaffirmed full-year 2025 guidance is a major driver of this confidence, with projected net sales between $624 million and $630 million and adjusted EBITDA between $112 million and $116 million. The key investor takeaway is that the market is rewarding execution and strategic expansion, but the high price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio suggests expectations run high, so any operational misstep will be punished swiftly.

What this estimate hides is the impact of large government contract timing, which can cause quarterly volatility despite a strong long-term outlook. You need to focus on the company's ability to integrate acquisitions and maintain its gross margin, which rose by 70 basis points to 39.9% recently, a sign of good operational health.