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

You're looking at ZIVO Bioscience, Inc., trying to figure out if the biotech's potential in algal-based therapeutics can outweigh its immediate financial peril. Honestly, it's a classic micro-cap puzzle where the direct takeaway is this: the company is in a tough spot, but a few key players are placing big bets. How do you reconcile a Q3 2025 revenue of just $65,625 and a cash balance of only $57,222 against total liabilities of $3,846,055? Management has defintely flagged substantial doubt about continuing as a going concern, estimating a $6.0 million funding need over the next year to cover basic operations. But here's the twist: while institutional ownership remains minimal-just 4,464 shares held by two firms as of Q3 2025-insiders are stepping up, like 10% owner Mark E. Strome, who recently bought 20,259 shares for nearly $250,000. Do these insider purchases signal a hidden catalyst, or are they just trying to prop up a struggling balance sheet? This is the core risk-reward trade-off we need to unpack.

Who Invests in ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. (ZIVO) and Why?

The investor base for ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. (ZIVO) is highly concentrated in retail and private investors, which is typical for a pre-revenue, high-growth potential biotech company trading on the OTC market. You are defintely looking at a speculative play here, driven by the long-term vision of its proprietary algal technology, not current financials.

As of the end of the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year, the company's financial profile-with cash at just $57,222 and a stockholders' deficit of $(3,286,603)-means the stock attracts a very specific, risk-tolerant investor. The company's Q3 2025 revenue was only $65,625, so investors are betting on the pipeline, not the present balance sheet.

Key Investor Types: The High-Risk Mix

The ownership structure of ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. is dominated by individual, or retail, investors and company insiders. The institutional presence is minimal, which is a clear signal of the stock's high-risk, micro-cap status.

Here's the quick math: with 3,832,327 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2025, and only 4,464 shares held by the two major institutional holders, the institutional ownership is roughly 0.12% of the company. That is a tiny fraction. This means the stock's price action is overwhelmingly influenced by retail sentiment, short-term trading, and private placements.

• Retail Investors: These individuals are the dominant force, focusing on the potential for high-growth returns if the company's research and development (R&D) pipeline succeeds. They are drawn to the speculative nature of biotech and agtech (agricultural technology) stocks.
• Institutional Investors: While major asset managers like BlackRock and Vanguard have appeared on past holder lists, the current reported institutional base is extremely small. The few institutions that remain often represent niche small-cap funds or advisory groups taking a small, speculative position.
• Hedge Funds & Private Equity: The company has relied on private equity and debt financing in 2025, including a $250,000 convertible note. These investors are typically focused on restructuring, providing necessary capital, and often convert debt to equity at favorable terms, which can lead to shareholder dilution.

Investment Motivations: Betting on the Pipeline

Investors are not buying ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. for its current profitability or dividends-it has a net loss of $1,033,056 for Q3 2025 and is not profitable. The motivation is purely centered on future value creation from its intellectual property (IP). The investment thesis is simple: the potential for a breakthrough product outweighs the current risk of a 'going concern' warning.

The core attraction is the company's proprietary algal culture platform, which is being developed for a range of applications:

• Growth Prospects: The company is targeting large markets, including human dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, and animal health, such as treatments for bovine mastitis and avian influenza. Analysts forecast ZIVO's revenue to grow by 124.2% per year, significantly faster than the US market.
• Market Position: ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. holds a unique position by developing natural, non-GMO, and antibiotic-free bioactive compounds from algae. This aligns with the massive global shift toward sustainable and natural health solutions.
• Speculative Interest: The stock is a classic 'moonshot' investment. Management estimates needing about $6.0 million over the next 12 months to fund basic operations, which means a successful capital raise or partnership is a major catalyst for the stock price.

For a deeper dive into the company's financial stability, you can check out Breaking Down ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. (ZIVO) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors.

Investment Strategies: Volatility and Catalysts

Given the low institutional ownership and the 'going concern' disclosure, the typical investment strategies seen in ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. are highly tactical and short-term focused, often centered around news and R&D milestones.

The stock's high volatility-its 52-week range runs from a low of $7.91 to a high of $22.15-makes it a prime target for short-term trading. Investors are looking for catalysts, which are events that could rapidly change the company's valuation.

The most common strategy is buying on the promise of a future licensing deal. ZIVO Bioscience, Inc.'s business model is built on licensing its bioactive ingredients to larger companies in the pharma, food, and dietary supplement industries, so any major partnership announcement would be a massive stock catalyst.

Institutional Ownership and Major Shareholders of ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. (ZIVO)

You need to know who is betting on ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. (ZIVO) because institutional activity is a direct signal of professional confidence. The direct takeaway is that ZIVO's institutional ownership is currently very low, signaling a cautious, high-risk profile, but the few remaining holders are focused on the long-term biotech/agtech narrative.

As of late 2025, the institutional investor profile for ZIVO is notably thin, a common trait for micro-cap companies trading on the OTC market. The most recent filings show only a handful of institutions holding small positions. For instance, as of September 30, 2025, the total institutional shares held was just 4,464 shares, representing a small fraction of the total shares outstanding. This low level of institutional involvement means the stock price is primarily driven by retail sentiment and insider activity, not large fund flows.

Top Institutional Investors and Their Shareholdings

The current list of major institutional holders is short and their positions are small in dollar terms, which is a key risk factor. The total value of all institutional holdings reported as of September 30, 2025, was only about $40,000, based on the stock price around that time. This is a very small number for a publicly traded company with a market capitalization of $45.4 million as of November 7, 2025.

The two most recently reported institutional holders are:

• CoreCap Advisors, LLC: Holding 4,360 shares.
• Huntington National Bank: Holding 104 shares.

Here's the quick math: the total institutional ownership is minimal, which means any large block trade, even by a small fund, can cause significant volatility. This is not a stock where BlackRock or Vanguard are currently dictating the price.

Changes in Ownership: The Institutional Retreat

The most important trend here is the institutional retreat. Earlier in 2025, the institutional holder list was different and included much larger, well-known names, but their positions have either been sold off or significantly reduced. For example, previous holders included Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock Inc., Geode Capital Management, LLC, Citadel Advisors LLC, and Susquehanna International Group, LLP.

The Vanguard Group Inc. previously held 84,423 shares, and BlackRock Inc. held 55,997 shares as of late 2024/early 2025, but these positions are not reflected in the most recent 13F filings, suggesting a major divestment. This shift signals that large passive index funds and active managers have largely exited, likely due to the company's financial challenges, including negative equity and ongoing cash flow issues. This is a defintely a bearish signal from the professional money managers.

However, there are still positive signs from insiders. In October 2025, Director Christopher D. Maggiore executed a purchase of 23,682 shares, valued at $284,421, a strong vote of confidence that contrasts with the institutional selling. This insider buying is a critical data point for you to weigh against the broader institutional disinterest.

Impact of Institutional Investors on ZIVO's Stock and Strategy

The few institutional investors who remain, like CoreCap Advisors, LLC, are passive holders (Schedule 13G filers), meaning they don't intend to actively pursue a change in business strategy. Their impact is minimal on the day-to-day stock price, which is instead highly sensitive to news, retail trading, and insider activity.

The real impact of the low institutional ownership is twofold:

• High Volatility: With a small float and low institutional backing, the stock is prone to extreme price swings on minimal volume. The average trading volume is very low, around 1,275 shares, making it highly illiquid.
• Capital Access: The lack of major institutional backing makes it harder for ZIVO to raise significant capital through secondary offerings, as large funds are not lined up to buy. The company's trailing 12-month revenue was only $209K as of September 30, 2025, meaning they are heavily reliant on financing to fund their research and development.

For ZIVO to attract the large institutional money again, they must deliver on their core value proposition in the biotech/agtech space, which you can read more about here: Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. (ZIVO). The market needs to see a clear path to commercialization and profitability before major funds will commit capital again.

Key Investors and Their Impact on ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. (ZIVO)

You're looking at ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. (ZIVO) and wondering who the big money is, and honestly, the investor profile tells a clear story: this is an insider-driven, micro-cap stock. The most recent data from November 2025 confirms that institutional ownership is remarkably low, which means the stock's price movements are defintely more susceptible to retail sentiment and insider actions than to large fund flows.

As of November 2025, the total institutional stake is tiny, amounting to only 4,464 shares held by just two institutions, CoreCap Advisors, LLC and Huntington National Bank. To be fair, you do see names like Vanguard Group Inc. and BlackRock Inc. pop up in earlier filings, but their holdings are negligible for firms of their size, suggesting they hold ZIVO in their small-cap or index-tracking funds, not as a conviction play. This is a stock where the insiders call the shots.

Here's the quick math on who owns ZIVO:

• Insider Ownership: Approximately 64.06% (as of January 2025).
• Institutional Ownership: Roughly 0.12% (as of January 2025).
• The remaining float is held by individual (retail) investors.

Insider Confidence and Recent Moves

The most influential investors are the company's own directors and officers. In a company with a market capitalization of only $45.4 million (as of November 7, 2025), an insider buying a significant chunk of stock sends a powerful signal. For example, Christopher D. Maggiore, a 10% Owner and Director, executed a notable purchase on October 8, 2025, buying 23,682 shares for $284,421. That's a concrete, near-term vote of confidence.

The impact of this kind of insider buying is simple: it can quickly buoy a stock that otherwise faces liquidity challenges. The company reported a net loss of $(6,884,474) for the first nine months of 2025, with cash on hand at only $57,222 as of September 30, 2025. When the balance sheet looks tight, insider money is often the clearest sign that management believes in the long-term value of their proprietary algal cultures for human and animal health applications. If you want to understand the company's long-term vision, you should read their Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. (ZIVO).

Investor Influence and the Micro-Cap Reality

The low institutional ownership means ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. is not subject to the typical pressures of large institutional investors demanding share buybacks or board seats. Instead, the influence is exerted through financing activities and insider control. The company's strategy is currently dictated by its need to secure additional capital, as management estimates needing $6.0 million over the next 12 months to fund operations.

This reality maps near-term risks to clear actions for investors. Since the stock is not driven by major funds, its volatility comes from news flow-like the September 2025 CEO letter highlighting progress in human nutrition-and the need for capital raises, which often involve issuing convertible notes or warrants. You need to pay close attention to the terms of these capital raises, as they can dilute shareholder value.

The company's financial snapshot for the first nine months of the 2025 fiscal year highlights the challenge and the opportunity that attracts its current investor base:

The takeaway is this: ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. is a speculative, R&D-focused play where the insider's conviction-demonstrated by the October 2025 share purchase-is the most significant factor to watch. Your next step should be to track the SEC filings for any further insider buying or new financing rounds. Finance: track Form 4 filings for Christopher D. Maggiore weekly.

Market Impact and Investor Sentiment

When you look at ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. (ZIVO), you see a classic biotech/agtech story: high insider conviction but a deeply skeptical public market. The direct takeaway is this: major shareholders, particularly company insiders, are defintely positive, but the broader market is pricing in significant operational risk, which creates a volatile but potentially rewarding setup for risk-tolerant investors.

Insider sentiment for ZIVO is strongly ZIVO Bioscience, Inc. (ZIVO): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money, fueled by high-impact open-market purchases. Over the last year, company insiders collectively bought or received shares worth approximately $15.0 million, with high-impact open-market purchases alone totaling $5.95 million against only $650 in sales. This is a clear signal of confidence from the people who know the company best. They are putting their own capital on the line, which is a powerful indicator.

But institutions are still on the sidelines. Insiders hold a significant 48.90% of the stock, while institutional ownership sits at a low 12.83%. This tells you that the smart money outside the company is waiting for more commercial validation before committing serious capital. The top 23 shareholders own 33.87% of the company, showing a highly concentrated ownership structure. That's a double-edged sword: it means less float and potential for sharp price moves, but also less liquidity.

Recent Market Reactions and Volatility

The stock market's reaction to ZIVO's progress has been a rollercoaster in 2025. The stock started the year at approximately $21.50 and has since seen a sharp decline, with the price dropping by about 62.8% to a 52-week low of $8.00 before a recent bounce. This kind of volatility is typical for a clinical-stage research and development (R&D) company that is pre-revenue.

We saw a clear reaction to positive news in November 2025, where the stock price gained 15.43% on a single trading day, rising from $9.01 to $10.40. This jump followed a buy signal from a pivot bottom point, showing that even small positive technical shifts can trigger significant short-term gains. The market capitalization as of November 2025 is around $40.441 million.

Here's the quick math on recent insider conviction: Director and 10% Owner Christopher D. Maggiore's purchase of 23,682 shares for $284,421 in October 2025 directly contributed to the positive sentiment. That's a large check written by a key decision-maker.

• Insider Buying: $5.95 million in high-impact open-market purchases.
• Institutional Holdings: Only 12.83% of shares held by institutions.
• Stock Price Volatility: 15.43% single-day gain on November 21, 2025.
• Short Interest Ratio: 38.8 days to cover, indicating significant short pressure.

Analyst Perspectives and Financial Reality

The analyst community holds a mixed-to-cautious view, which is understandable given the company's current financial position. The consensus rating is a 'Hold,' but a deeper look at the ratings shows a skew toward caution (0 Buy, 3 Hold, 4 Sell ratings). One analysis even upgraded its view from a 'Strong Sell' to a 'Sell' candidate, which, while still negative, is technically an improvement.

What this estimate hides is the company's critical liquidity issue. ZIVO is a clinical-stage company, so revenue is minimal, but the burn rate is high. For the first nine months of 2025, the company used $2,173,204 in net cash from operations. Management estimates they will need $6.0 million over the next 12 months to fund operations, and as of September 30, 2025, cash on hand was only $57,222. This going-concern risk is the primary driver of the market's skepticism (bearish sentiment).

The market reacted negatively to the Q3 2025 earnings release, where actual revenue of $65,625 missed the consensus analyst forecast of $307,000. The silver lining is that the net loss for Q3 2025 improved to $1.03 million from $2.27 million a year ago. But the bottom line is that until a major commercial partnership or new financing is announced, the stock will trade on capital risk, not just R&D potential.