Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (NYSE:NFJ) Short Interest Down 96.9% in July

Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (NYSE:NFJ) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totaling 5,598 shares, a decrease of 96.9% from the July 15th total of 178,222 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 292,743 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days.

Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund stock traded up $0.07 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $15.54. 140,561 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 190,527. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $15.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $14.14. Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund has a 12 month low of $12.25 and a 12 month high of $15.57.

Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 15th were given a $0.305 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 15th. This represents a $1.22 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.9%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of NFJ. Royal Bank of Canada increased its holdings in shares of Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund by 303.0% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 459,053 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $5,568,000 after buying an additional 345,156 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new stake in Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund during the 1st quarter worth $265,000. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its position in Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund by 7.7% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 35,135 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $436,000 after acquiring an additional 2,521 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. acquired a new position in Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund in the 2nd quarter worth about $173,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund by 11.5% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 8,105 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $101,000 after purchasing an additional 836 shares in the last quarter.

Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund Company Profile

The Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (NYSE: NFJ) is a diversified closed-end management investment company that seeks to deliver current income and total return through a combination of equity securities, fixed-income instruments and an equity option‐writing strategy. The fund allocates its assets among U.S.-listed common stocks, preferred stocks, convertible securities and corporate bonds, while employing covered call and put option overlays to generate additional premium income and enhance yield.

Launched in February 2011, NFJ is managed by the investment professionals at Virtus Investment Advisers, LLC, who focus on identifying dividend-paying companies with strong fundamentals and attractive valuations.