First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF (NASDAQ:HISF) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF (NASDAQ:HISF) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 4,500 shares, an increase of 104.5% from the January 15th total of 2,200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 4,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.0 days.

First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of HISF stock traded up $0.12 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $44.16. 7,255 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,865. The firm has a market cap of $44.16 million, a P/E ratio of 0.06 and a beta of 0.46. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $43.94 and a two-hundred day moving average of $44.57. First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF has a fifty-two week low of $42.95 and a fifty-two week high of $45.96.

First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 22nd were paid a dividend of $0.172 per share. This is an increase from First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF’s previous dividend of $0.17. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 22nd.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HISF. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new position in First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $1,212,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $685,000. Proactive Wealth Strategies LLC acquired a new position in First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $565,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its stake in First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF by 57.3% in the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 27,460 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,202,000 after purchasing an additional 10,005 shares during the last quarter. Finally, tru Independence LLC raised its stake in First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF by 19.1% in the 3rd quarter. tru Independence LLC now owns 52,515 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,388,000 after purchasing an additional 8,433 shares during the last quarter. 51.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF

The First Trust High Income Strategic Focus ETF (HISF) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund uses a fund-of-funds structure to primarily seek income across a broad range of fixed income securities of US and non-US issuers. HISF was launched on Aug 13, 2014 and is managed by First Trust.