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

Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:VPU) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totaling 292,256 shares, an increase of 318.1% from the June 15th total of 69,903 shares. Currently, 0.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 225,750 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.3 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vanguard Utilities ETF

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Brookstone Capital Management boosted its holdings in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 29.1% during the fourth quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 11,529 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,133,000 after purchasing an additional 2,599 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Vanguard Utilities ETF in the fourth quarter valued at $4,400,000. CWM LLC increased its stake in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 420.7% in the fourth quarter. CWM LLC now owns 23,499 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,348,000 after purchasing an additional 18,986 shares during the last quarter. Novak & Powell Financial Services Inc. increased its stake in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 291.2% in the third quarter. Novak & Powell Financial Services Inc. now owns 5,954 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,128,000 after purchasing an additional 4,432 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Western Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 1,008.4% during the fourth quarter. Western Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,028 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,966,000 after buying an additional 14,582 shares during the period.

Vanguard Utilities ETF Stock Performance

VPU stock traded up $1.20 during trading on Friday, hitting $196.17. The stock had a trading volume of 137,985 shares, compared to its average volume of 259,228. The stock has a market cap of $8.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.60 and a beta of 0.59. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $194.49 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $194.60. Vanguard Utilities ETF has a 1-year low of $175.94 and a 1-year high of $206.10.

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.