Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:VPU) Sees Large Drop in Short Interest

Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:VPU) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in June. As of June 15th, there was short interest totaling 69,903 shares, a decrease of 42.3% from the May 31st total of 121,228 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 256,473 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.3 days.

Vanguard Utilities ETF Stock Performance

Shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF stock traded down $2.35 during trading hours on Wednesday, hitting $193.38. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 315,821 shares, compared to its average volume of 261,601. The company has a market cap of $8.50 billion, a PE ratio of 20.60 and a beta of 0.59. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $194.81 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $194.09. Vanguard Utilities ETF has a 12-month low of $173.75 and a 12-month high of $206.10.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VPU. Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 1,145,923 shares of the company’s stock worth $212,042,000 after purchasing an additional 37,431 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 3.8% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,042,308 shares of the company’s stock valued at $206,523,000 after buying an additional 38,435 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 7.3% during the fourth quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 893,163 shares of the company’s stock valued at $165,271,000 after buying an additional 60,554 shares during the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 2.0% in the third quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 658,484 shares of the company’s stock worth $124,723,000 after buying an additional 12,760 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New England Private Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 1,879.2% in the fourth quarter. New England Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 475,432 shares of the company’s stock worth $88,749,000 after buying an additional 451,410 shares in the last quarter.

About Vanguard Utilities ETF

Vanguard Utilities ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded class of shares issued by Vanguard Utilities Index Fund. The Fund tracks the performance of Morgan Stanley Capital International United States Investable Market Utilities Index, an index made up of stocks of large, medium-size and small United States companies in the utilities sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). This GICS sector is made up of those companies considered electric, gas, or water utilities, or companies that operate as independent producers and/or distributors of power.