Garmin’s Share Ownership Breakdown
A summary view of Garmin from Simply Wall Street indicates it has a well-diversified ownership structure, with institutional investors holding the largest stake at 58%, signifying strong confidence in the company’s future. Insiders, including key executives and board members, collectively own US$7.6 billion in shares, showing alignment between management and shareholders. The general public holds 23%, a substantial portion but not enough to influence company decisions independently. The top 12 shareholders control 51%, preventing any single party from having a majority stake.
Ownership Details
Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN) is primarily owned by institutional investors, who hold approximately 58% of the company’s shares. This level of institutional ownership often indicates confidence in the company’s future, as institutional investors bring extensive resources and research capabilities to their decisions. However, their significant influence also means that simultaneous actions by large investors—such as selling—could lead to substantial price fluctuations.
Key insights into Garmin’s ownership structure include:
- Insider Ownership: Insiders collectively hold significant stakes, including the Top Key Executive Min-Hwan Kao (9.5%) and board member Jonathan Burrell (9.3%). Insider ownership totals around US$7.6 billion, demonstrating strong alignment between management and shareholders.
- Top Shareholders: The largest shareholders include The Vanguard Group, Inc. (9.3%), alongside Kao and Burrell. The top 12 shareholders own 51%, indicating that no single entity has a controlling majority.
- General Public: Individual investors hold 23%, which, while notable, does not grant enough influence to override decisions made by institutional or insider shareholders.

Source Garmin.com
Implications of Ownership:
- Institutional Confidence: Institutional ownership suggests positive sentiment about Garmin’s growth and performance. However, reliance on institutional investors may lead to heightened volatility during significant sell-offs.
- Insider Alignment: The considerable insider ownership signals a board aligned with shareholders’ interests, reducing risks of misaligned strategies.
- General Public’s Role: While individual investors have a meaningful stake, their influence on company policies may be limited compared to institutional and insider groups.
For a deeper understanding of Garmin’s financial trajectory, it’s worth examining its earnings, revenue growth trends, and analysts’ forecasts.
Conclusion
Garmin’s ownership structure reflects a balance of institutional expertise and insider alignment, which are positive indicators for long-term stability and growth. While institutional confidence supports the stock’s credibility, potential risks from concentrated sell-offs should not be overlooked. Insider ownership reinforces trust in the management team, while the general public’s stake ensures a degree of broader market participation.