First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:AFSM) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:AFSM) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 23,272 shares, a growth of 373.9% from the December 15th total of 4,911 shares. Approximately 1.1% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 6,976 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.3 days. Based on an average trading volume of 6,976 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.3 days. Approximately 1.1% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Institutional Trading of First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $164,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC purchased a new position in First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF in the second quarter valued at approximately $60,000. Truist Financial Corp grew its holdings in First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF by 13.9% during the second quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 276,682 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,267,000 after purchasing an additional 33,714 shares during the period. CWM LLC purchased a new stake in First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF in the second quarter worth $3,102,000. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF by 14.2% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 284,096 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,488,000 after buying an additional 35,316 shares during the period.

First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:AFSM opened at $34.26 on Tuesday. First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF has a 1 year low of $24.42 and a 1 year high of $34.29. The company has a market capitalization of $73.66 million, a PE ratio of 13.11 and a beta of 1.04. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $32.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.06.

First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 12th were given a dividend of $0.0622 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 12th. This is an increase from First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. This represents a $0.25 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%.

About First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF

The First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (AFSM) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in small-cap stocks. The fund is an actively managed portfolio of US small-cap companies that exhibit exposure to one or more investing factors. AFSM was launched on Dec 3, 2019 and is managed by First Trust.