John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE:BTO) Short Interest Update

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE:BTO) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 20,500 shares, a growth of 197.1% from the February 28th total of 6,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 46,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days. Currently, 0.1% of the company’s shares are sold short.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Focus Partners Wealth bought a new position in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund during the 4th quarter valued at about $212,000. L.M. Kohn & Company increased its position in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 3.5% during the third quarter. L.M. Kohn & Company now owns 12,691 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $421,000 after acquiring an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund in the 3rd quarter valued at about $511,000. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 10.5% during the fourth quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 15,445 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $551,000 after buying an additional 1,467 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 2.4% during the fourth quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 18,486 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $660,000 after buying an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. 19.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE BTO traded down $0.21 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $34.02. 14,212 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 50,779. John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund has a 12 month low of $26.11 and a 12 month high of $39.87. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $35.69 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $35.40.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.65 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 13th. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.64%.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Company Profile

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. The fund invests in the public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in the stocks of companies operating across the financial services sector.