First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF (NASDAQ:HISF) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF (NASDAQ:HISF) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 8,858 shares, an increase of 123.2% from the December 15th total of 3,969 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 9,738 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.9 days. Currently, 0.6% of the company’s stock are short sold. Currently, 0.6% of the company’s stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 9,738 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.9 days.

First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF Price Performance

First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF stock traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $45.36. 1,241 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 49,753. The firm has a market capitalization of $81.64 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 0.06 and a beta of 0.31. First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF has a 12 month low of $43.22 and a 12 month high of $45.61. The business has a 50 day moving average of $45.22 and a two-hundred day moving average of $45.06.

First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 12th were issued a $0.1919 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 12th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.1%. This is an increase from First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF’s previous monthly dividend of $0.18.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Perigon Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF by 4.0% during the second quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 25,335 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,133,000 after acquiring an additional 973 shares during the last quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF by 20.5% during the second quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC now owns 11,353 shares of the company’s stock valued at $508,000 after purchasing an additional 1,935 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF in the third quarter worth about $12,644,000. tru Independence LLC lifted its position in shares of First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF by 5.9% in the second quarter. tru Independence LLC now owns 58,583 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,619,000 after buying an additional 3,280 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA purchased a new position in First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 51.36% of the company’s stock.

About First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF

The First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF (HISF) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund uses a fund-of-funds structure to primarily seek income across a broad range of fixed income securities of US and non-US issuers. HISF was launched on Aug 13, 2014 and is managed by First Trust.