First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF (NASDAQ:FTXG) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF (NASDAQ:FTXG) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 30th, there was short interest totaling 71,232 shares, a growth of 144.2% from the January 15th total of 29,168 shares. Approximately 8.9% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 23,817 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.0 days. Based on an average daily volume of 23,817 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.0 days. Approximately 8.9% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of FTXG. Wakefield Asset Management LLLP acquired a new stake in First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF during the second quarter worth about $916,000. Journey Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $2,587,000. UBS Group AG acquired a new stake in shares of First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,000,000. Citadel Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 35,284 shares of the company’s stock valued at $756,000 after buying an additional 885 shares during the period. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF by 24.1% in the fourth quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 31,493 shares of the company’s stock valued at $660,000 after acquiring an additional 6,121 shares during the last quarter.

First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF Price Performance

FTXG remained flat at $23.62 during trading on Thursday. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 60,765 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,823. The company has a market cap of $18.90 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.14 and a beta of 0.42. First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF has a one year low of $20.43 and a one year high of $24.66. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $21.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $21.76.

First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 12th were given a $0.195 dividend. This represents a $0.78 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.3%. This is a positive change from First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 12th.

About First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF

The First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF (FTXG) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Nasdaq US Smart Food & Beverage index. The fund follows a liquidity-selected, multi-factor-weighted index of US food & beverage companies. FTXG was launched on Sep 20, 2016 and is managed by First Trust.