iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of October. As of October 30th, there was short interest totaling 324,753 shares, an increase of 606.8% from the October 15th total of 45,946 shares. Currently, 0.6% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 458,405 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.7 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Wharton Business Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $149,308,000. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 356,879 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,608,000 after buying an additional 8,781 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $26,802,000. Kestra Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 18.3% during the 3rd quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 227,887 shares of the company’s stock valued at $20,765,000 after buying an additional 35,296 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 98.8% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 213,922 shares of the company’s stock valued at $19,546,000 after buying an additional 106,290 shares during the last quarter.

iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Trading Down 0.6%

BATS:EFAV opened at $96.31 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $5.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.81 and a beta of 0.47. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $93.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $91.94. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF has a twelve month low of $83.85 and a twelve month high of $98.07.

iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of developed-market equities, ex-US and Canada, selected and weighted to create a low volatility portfolio subject to constraints including sector exposure. EFAV was launched on Oct 18, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock.