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

You're looking at SentinelOne, Inc. (S) and wondering why the stock price is at about $16.79 per share as of November 2025, but the institutional giants are still holding strong, right? The direct takeaway is that professional money managers are betting on the company's path to profitability, not just its growth rate. We saw in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 that the company hit a major milestone: positive free cash flow on a trailing-twelve-month basis, a defintely critical signal. This is happening while the top-line numbers remain impressive, with Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR)-the predictable, subscription-based income-reaching nearly $860 million, a 29% jump year-over-year. Institutional ownership is currently robust, sitting at around 82%, and the big players like The Vanguard Group, Inc. and BlackRock, Inc. are not just holding, they're adding; Vanguard Group, Inc. alone reported holding over 36 million shares as of September 30, 2025. But what does a $5.53 billion market capitalization company with an 80% non-GAAP gross margin in Q3 actually look like under the hood? It's a growth story with a profitability pivot. So, are these institutions buying because of the expected $818 million in full fiscal year 2025 revenue, or are they anticipating a deeper, more sustainable shift in the cybersecurity landscape? Let's dive into the 13F filings to see exactly who's buying and why their conviction is so high right now.

Who Invests in SentinelOne, Inc. (S) and Why?

The investor profile for SentinelOne, Inc. (S) is overwhelmingly dominated by large institutional money, which signals a strong conviction in the company's long-term growth story and its position in the critical cybersecurity market. Your takeaway is simple: this is a stock where the big players set the tone, so their trading movements are defintely worth watching.

As of late 2025, institutional investors-think mutual funds, pension funds, and asset managers like BlackRock-hold the lion's share, controlling roughly 82% of the company's stock. This concentration means the stock price is highly sensitive to their collective buying or selling actions. The general public, or retail investors, hold a much smaller but still significant stake, around 15% of the total shares outstanding. One key insight for your strategy is that the top 20 shareholders alone own approximately 50% of the company, showing a highly concentrated ownership structure.

Key Investor Types and Their Holdings

When you look at who is actually holding the stock, the dominance of passive and active institutional funds is clear. These firms are typically benchmarked against major indices, so their investment often reflects SentinelOne's inclusion and weighting in those indices. This is a classic growth stock ownership pattern.

• Institutional Investors: Hold approximately 82% of shares. They are the primary driver of trading volume and price movement.
• Retail Investors: Hold about 15% of shares. Their collective sentiment can influence short-term volatility, but they don't steer policy.
• Hedge Funds: While some large asset managers have hedge fund arms, SentinelOne is not generally considered a major, dedicated hedge fund target for a significant, activist stake.

Here's the quick math on the largest holders, based on filings from September/October 2025. This shows which firms have the most influence:

Investment Motivations: Growth and AI-Driven Security

Investors are attracted to SentinelOne, Inc. (S) for two main reasons: its hyper-growth trajectory and its cutting-edge position in the security market, specifically with its focus on autonomous artificial intelligence (AI). They aren't buying for dividends-the company doesn't pay one-but for capital appreciation tied to market share expansion.

The company's fiscal year 2025 financial results validate this growth-focused motivation. Total revenue for FY 2025 hit $821.5 million, a substantial 32% increase year-over-year. Also, the Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR), which is a crucial metric for subscription-based software companies, stood at $920.1 million as of January 31, 2025, representing a 27% year-over-year jump. That's the kind of momentum growth investors crave.

Another key motivator is the company's move toward profitability. SentinelOne achieved a major milestone in Q4 of fiscal year 2025 by reporting its first quarter of positive non-GAAP operating margin at 1%. For the full fiscal year 2025, the non-GAAP net income margin was 2%. This shift from burning cash to generating profit is a powerful signal to the market that the business model is maturing. You can read more about the long-term vision in the Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of SentinelOne, Inc. (S).

Investment Strategies: Long-Term Growth and Concentration

The dominant strategy among SentinelOne investors is a long-term growth holding (growth investing). The large institutional ownership by index funds, which are inherently long-term holders, underpins this. You see this in major asset managers like Vanguard and BlackRock, who hold the stock to track the performance of the broader technology and growth indices.

The strategy is focused on buying the company's future earnings power, not its current valuation multiples. The investment thesis relies on SentinelOne continuing to take market share from competitors by leveraging its Singularity platform, which unifies security across the endpoint, cloud, and data. This is a high-conviction, long-term bet on the exponential growth of the AI-driven cybersecurity sector. Short-term trading definitely happens, but the foundation is built on multi-year growth expectations. One clean one-liner: Institutional money is betting on autonomous AI security becoming the industry standard.

Finance: draft a peer comparison of SentinelOne's Q4 FY2025 non-GAAP operating margin against its top five competitors by next Tuesday.

Institutional Ownership and Major Shareholders of SentinelOne, Inc. (S)

You want to know who is really driving the stock price for SentinelOne, Inc. (S), the cybersecurity firm. The direct takeaway is this: institutional investors-the big money-own the vast majority of the company, and while the total number of holders is up, the net share count held long has actually seen a recent dip. This means the stock is highly sensitive to their trading decisions, and you need to watch their sentiment closely.

As of late 2025, institutional investors hold a commanding stake, ranging from 82% to over 90.87% of SentinelOne, Inc.'s stock. This is a massive concentration of capital, and it tells you the company is a core component of many large, diversified portfolios, especially those tracking major indices. The sheer size of this ownership block means the board defintely has to pay attention to their preferences.

Top Institutional Investors: Who Holds the Keys?

The investor profile for SentinelOne, Inc. is dominated by the giants of the asset management world, primarily passive and active funds that track the market. These firms are not just investors; they are the bedrock of the company's public float (the shares available to trade). The top three alone account for a significant portion of the total institutional holding.

The largest shareholder, by a good margin, is Vanguard Group Inc. They are followed by BlackRock, Inc., the firm I used to analyze, and then Insight Holdings Group, LLC, a key venture capital player that has been with the company for a while. The top 21 shareholders collectively control about 50% of the company's shares outstanding.

Here is a snapshot of the top institutional holders based on their most recent filings for the 2025 fiscal year:

Recent Shifts: Are Institutions Buying or Selling?

Looking at the most recent quarter (Q3 2025), the picture is mixed, which is common for a growth stock in a volatile sector like cybersecurity. While there were 229 institutional holders who increased their positions, there were 221 who decreased them. The quick math shows that the total number of shares sold exceeded the total number of shares bought.

Specifically, the total institutional shares held long saw a net decrease of about 7.50% in the most recent quarter. This net selling pressure is what you need to focus on, as it suggests a slight cooling of overall sentiment, even as the biggest holders remain committed.

• Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake by 2,191,321 shares (a 6.479% jump).
• BlackRock, Inc. also increased its holding by 522,424 shares (a 2.571% rise).
• On the flip side, Insight Holdings Group, LLC made a substantial decrease of 3,000,000 shares (a -26.258% reduction).
• Sylebra Capital Llc also cut its position by 1,311,160 shares, a -16.542% change.

The two largest holders, Vanguard and BlackRock, are still accumulating, which is a strong signal of long-term conviction, but the significant sales from other major funds like Insight and Sylebra show that some early investors or active managers are taking profits or reallocating capital. This is a classic growth stock dynamic.

The Real Impact of Institutional Clout

The sheer volume of institutional ownership means these entities play a critical role in both the stock's daily trading and the company's long-term strategy. When institutions own over 80% of the stock, their collective actions can cause rapid, sharp price movements. If just a few large funds decide to exit, the stock price will drop fast.

More importantly, this high institutional ownership gives them a powerful voice in corporate governance. They influence major decisions, from executive compensation to merger and acquisition strategy. For example, if the company were to pursue a large, dilutive acquisition, the board would need to secure the support of these top shareholders to avoid a major revolt. You can read more about the company's journey and structure here: SentinelOne, Inc. (S): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money. The bottom line is that their long-term view on the company's path to profitability-especially given the Q3 2026 guidance anticipating a negative earnings per share of -0.76 for the full year-will dictate the strategic direction. Your next step should be to track the next round of 13F filings to see if the net selling trend accelerates or reverses.

Key Investors and Their Impact on SentinelOne, Inc. (S)

The investor profile for SentinelOne, Inc. (S) is dominated by large institutional money, which means the stock's movements are defintely sensitive to their collective trading decisions. With institutional investors holding a massive stake-approaching 90.87% of the company's stock-their actions are the primary driver of market sentiment and price volatility.

This high ownership concentration, where the top 20 shareholders control over 50% of the company, gives them substantial leverage on the board, even if they aren't traditional activist funds. Their investment thesis largely hinges on SentinelOne's transition to profitability following a strong fiscal year 2025, which saw total revenue climb to $821.5 million, a 32% year-over-year increase.

Notable Investors and the Passive Giants

The largest shareholders are the passive giants of the asset management world, whose sheer size makes them influential without needing to be loud. The Vanguard Group, Inc. and BlackRock, Inc. are the two most significant holders, primarily through their index and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Their presence signals a baseline level of stability and inclusion in major market benchmarks, which is a good sign for liquidity.

As of September 29, 2025, The Vanguard Group, Inc. held the top spot with a 10.74% stake, equating to 36,012,413 shares. BlackRock, Inc. was close behind with 6.22%, representing 20,844,100 shares. These passive investors exert influence through proxy voting on issues like executive compensation and board composition, pushing for better corporate governance and long-term value creation.

Other key institutional investors include Insight Venture Management, LLC, First Trust Advisors LP, and Redpoint Management, LLC. These funds, often with a more active growth mandate, are betting on the company's core technology-its AI-powered Singularity platform-to continue capturing market share. For a deeper dive into the company's strategic vision, you should review its Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of SentinelOne, Inc. (S).

Recent Investment Moves and Market Signals

In the near term, investor activity has been mixed, reflecting the market's ongoing debate about growth versus profitability in the cybersecurity sector. This is a classic growth stock challenge: strong growth but a GAAP net loss of -$288.44 million for fiscal year 2025.

We've seen some large-scale accumulation, which is a bullish signal. For instance, in the third quarter of 2025, Rothschild Investment LLC boosted its stake by a staggering 8,812.0%, and MAI Capital Management lifted its position by 121.2%. These are aggressive, high-conviction moves that suggest a belief in a rapid turnaround or acceleration in the stock's trajectory.

Still, there's been notable insider selling, which can't be ignored. In September 2025, CEO Tomer Weingarten sold 162,794 shares for approximately $2.99 million. More broadly, recent insider selling activity has amounted to roughly 481,090 shares valued at around $8.64 million. This kind of selling, while sometimes for personal reasons, often raises an eyebrow, especially when the stock has been under pressure. It tells you that while institutions are buying for the long-term index inclusion, some of the people who know the company best are taking profits or diversifying.

• ARR Momentum: Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) hit $920.1 million as of January 31, 2025, showing the platform is still winning big contracts.
• Profitability Milestone: SentinelOne achieved its first quarter of positive non-GAAP operating margin in Q4 2025, a critical step toward sustainable earnings.
• Valuation Risk: Despite strong growth, the stock's price is highly sensitive to any miss on net new ARR, as seen by price target cuts ahead of the Q3 2026 earnings report.

The key takeaway is that the institutional base is strong and passive, but the stock's performance in the near-term is being dictated by the company's ability to consistently deliver on its margin expansion story. They need to prove their path to profitability is as autonomous as their AI platform.

Market Impact and Investor Sentiment

The investor profile for SentinelOne, Inc. (S) is dominated by institutional conviction, even as the stock has struggled to find momentum in 2025. The core takeaway is that the smart money-firms like The Vanguard Group, Inc. and BlackRock, Inc.-maintains a significant long-term position, betting that the company's AI-native platform will eventually drive a massive re-rating, despite a year of painful losses.

Institutional investors hold the lion's share of SentinelOne, Inc., controlling an impressive 80% to 82% of the company's stock as of late 2025. This high concentration means the stock price is acutely sensitive to their collective trading decisions. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the single largest shareholder, holding approximately 10.74% of the shares, with BlackRock, Inc. close behind at about 6.22%. This isn't a passive holding, but a defintely high-stakes position that speaks to the perceived long-term value in the cybersecurity space.

• Vanguard holds 10.74% of shares.
• BlackRock holds 6.22% of shares.
• Top 20 shareholders control about 51% of the company.

Honestly, the sentiment is a mix of frustration and conviction. Many institutional holders have endured a tough year, with the stock seeing a decline of over 36% from November 2024 to November 2025. But, in the first quarter of 2025, institutional buying ramped up to a two-year high, which essentially offset the insider selling, including a notable sale of 162,794 shares by CEO Tomer Weingarten in September 2025. When the big funds are accumulating while executives trim their positions, it signals they see a deep-value opportunity based on future growth, not just current performance.

Recent Market Reactions to Ownership Shifts

The market's reaction to SentinelOne, Inc.'s operational updates-and by extension, the sentiment of its major holders-has been swift and unforgiving in 2025. The stock's price action has been driven less by incremental ownership changes and more by the company's path to profitability and forward guidance. For example, after the Q4 fiscal year 2025 earnings report in March, the stock dropped 5.5% because the company's revenue guidance for the upcoming fiscal year 2026 was weaker than expected, even though its Q4 revenue of $226 million actually beat analyst estimates. The market is demanding proof of scaling efficiency.

Similarly, the Q1 fiscal year 2026 results in May 2025 saw revenue of $229.03 million, a slight beat, but the stock still fell 2.1% when the company lowered its full-year FY2026 revenue guidance from an initial $1.007 billion to a range of $996 million to $1.001 billion. This is the market punishing any sign of slowing growth in a high-multiple stock. The volatility underscores the risk: when you have over 80% institutional ownership, a collective shift in outlook can cause a rapid price drop.

Analyst Perspectives and the Bull Case

The analyst community, which informs the institutional investor base, remains largely positive, translating the company's technology leadership into a clear upside. The consensus rating on SentinelOne, Inc. is a Moderate Buy, with an average price target hovering near $24 as of late 2025. This implies a significant potential upside, especially with the stock trading around $16 per share in November 2025. The bullish case is simple: the company is significantly undervalued, perhaps by as much as 31.2%, if it executes on its AI-driven strategy.

Here's the quick math: analysts are focusing on the company's ability to capture the massive cybersecurity market with its Singularity platform (a unified, AI-driven security platform). The company finished fiscal year 2025 with total revenue of $821 million and annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $920 million. This ARR figure is crucial because it's a forward-looking metric for subscription businesses, and it shows the company is on a clear trajectory to surpass the $1 billion revenue milestone in the current fiscal year. You can dive deeper into the core financial health of the business here: Breaking Down SentinelOne, Inc. (S) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

The key investors are essentially buying into the long-term margin story, not the near-term losses. Analysts believe the high gross margin-which rose two points year-over-year to 79% in FY2025-will lead to sustained profitability as revenue scales. This is what the institutional money is waiting for.