Reading shareholding patterns: promoters, FIIs and DIIs

What is a shareholding pattern?

Every listed company reports each quarter who owns its shares. The pattern splits ownership into groups, and how those groups change over time says something about who is confident in the business.

Promoter, institutional and public holders

• Promoters: the founders or controlling family. They know the business best.
• FIIs (foreign institutional investors): overseas funds. Their flows often follow global conditions as much as company news.