Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) is a leading genomics tools company best known for its DNA sequencing platforms used across research, clinical, and applied markets. Shares recently traded around $132 per share, giving the company a market capitalization of roughly $20.0B.
After several years of volatility tied to regulatory challenges and uneven growth, Illumina’s stock has rebounded from its lows but remains well below its prior peak. Looking at who owns Illumina and recent insider trades helps show how large investors may be positioning around the company’s recovery outlook.
Who Are Illumina’s Top Shareholders?
Illumina’s shareholder base is led by large institutional investors that tend to hold through market cycles, which can help provide ownership stability even during periods of stock volatility. Active managers adjusted positions in both directions, suggesting a mix of confidence and caution.
- Capital World Investors: 19,976,850 shares (13.07%), ~$2.62B value. Added 3,331,542 shares (+20.01%).
- The Vanguard Group: 14,549,171 shares (9.52%), ~$1.91B value. Cut 527,134 shares (3.50%).
- BlackRock Institutional Trust Company: 13,139,319 shares (8.60%), ~$1.72B value. Cut 472,317 shares (3.47%).
- State Street Investment Management: 5,999,790 shares (3.93%), ~$786.9M value. Added 382,520 shares (+6.81%).
- Sessa Capital: 4,686,779 shares (3.07%), ~$614.7M value. Cut 36,095 shares (0.76%).
- Loomis, Sayles & Company: 4,287,428 shares (2.81%), ~$562.3M value. Added 61,899 shares (+1.46%).
- WCM Investment Management: 4,181,681 shares (2.74%), ~$548.5M value. Cut 244,790 shares (5.53%).
- Corvex Management: 3,829,608 shares (2.51%), ~$502.3M value. No reported change.
- AQR Capital Management: 3,398,027 shares (2.22%), ~$445.7M value. Added 102,147 shares (+3.10%).
- Geode Capital Management: 2,738,908 shares (1.79%), ~$359.2M value. Cut 130,279 shares (4.54%).
Taken together, ownership remains anchored by long-term institutions, with Capital World Investors standing out as a notable net buyer while several passive managers trimmed modestly, which for investors suggests repositioning rather than a broad loss of confidence.
Hedge Fund Highlights
One notable move came from Millennium Management, founded by Israel Englander, which increased its Illumina position by 172% to roughly $31M value, suggesting the firm may be positioning for further upside as the stock stabilizes.
Gotham Asset Management, led by Joel Greenblatt, boosted its stake by nearly 97% to about $28M value, which may indicate Illumina is screening as more attractive following its multi-year pullback.
Citadel Advisors, founded by Ken Griffin, raised its exposure by roughly 59% to around $4M value, and while the position remains relatively small, it looks like sentiment may be improving at current price levels.
Meanwhile, ARK Investment Management, led by Cathie Wood, increased its position by about 26% to roughly $139M value, reinforcing ARK’s continued interest in Illumina’s long-term role in genomic sequencing, which for investors highlights ongoing debate rather than consensus.
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Illumina’s Recent Insider Trades
Insider trades can offer useful context on how executives and directors may be managing personal exposure to the stock. Recent filings show mostly small transactions that lean toward selling, with a few modest director purchases.
- Scott M. Davies (Officer): Sold ~$44k at $136.09 and ~$40k at $122.79.
- Jakob Christensen Wedel (Officer): Sold ~$71k at $129.27 and ~$40k at $128.96.
- Kevin Carl Pegels (Officer): Sold ~$73k at $122.44.
- Scott D. Ericksen (Officer): Sold ~$25k at $122.44.
- Steven Barnard (Officer): Sold ~$63k at $122.44 and ~$28k at $98.93.
- Patricia Leckman (Officer): Sold ~$36k at $122.44.
- Jacob Thaysen (Officer and Director): Sold ~$131k at $101.02.
- Everett V. Cunningham (Officer): Sold ~$413k at $97.15.
- Scott Gottlieb (Director): Bought ~$61k at $122.13.
- Scott B. Ullem (Director): Bought ~$25k at $99.17 and ~$25k at $81.20.
Several Form 144 filings with zero shares also appear, which may reflect administrative disclosures rather than executed trades, and for investors the overall pattern appears measured, with no transactions that materially change insider ownership.
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What the Ownership & Insider Trade Data Tell Us
Illumina’s shareholder base remains heavily institutional, providing stability despite uncertainty around growth and margins. Hedge fund activity shows the stock is still actively evaluated, with positioning split between selective accumulation and cautious exposure. Insider activity appears restrained and incremental, offering limited directional signals.
For investors, the combined data suggests Illumina remains a closely watched recovery story rather than a clear consensus bet.
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