Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:VPU) Sees Significant Growth in Short Interest

Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:VPU) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totaling 139,689 shares, a growth of 108.8% from the August 15th total of 66,909 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 236,587 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.6 days. Currently, 0.3% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Vanguard Utilities ETF Price Performance

Shares of VPU stock traded down $1.46 on Tuesday, hitting $179.31. The stock had a trading volume of 770,354 shares, compared to its average volume of 260,440. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.60 and a beta of 0.58. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $190.60 and its 200-day moving average price is $194.89. Vanguard Utilities ETF has a 1 year low of $178.75 and a 1 year high of $206.10.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vanguard Utilities ETF

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of VPU. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 3.8% in 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 purchasing an additional 38,435 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC boosted its holdings in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 7.3% during the fourth quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 893,163 shares of the company’s stock worth $165,271,000 after buying an additional 60,554 shares in the last quarter. New England Private Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 1,879.2% in the 4th quarter. New England Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 475,432 shares of the company’s stock worth $88,749,000 after acquiring an additional 451,410 shares during the period. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its position in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 203,334 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,625,000 after buying an additional 3,084 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 1.4% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 188,013 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,253,000 after acquiring an additional 2,631 shares during 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.