Fidus Investment (NASDAQ:FDUS) Hits New 12-Month High – Still a Buy?

Fidus Investment Co. (NASDAQ:FDUS) reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $20.62 and last traded at $20.61, with a volume of 46979 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $20.45.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded Fidus Investment to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, August 5th.

Fidus Investment Stock Up 0.5 %

The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $19.73 and its 200-day simple moving average is $19.73. The company has a market cap of $705.54 million, a PE ratio of 7.43 and a beta of 1.40.

Fidus Investment (NASDAQ:FDUS) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The asset manager reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $38.38 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $36.43 million. Fidus Investment had a net margin of 60.09% and a return on equity of 12.11%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.68 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Fidus Investment Co. will post 2.28 earnings per share for the current year.

Fidus Investment Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 27th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 17th will be paid a $0.61 dividend. This is a boost from Fidus Investment’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 11.73%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 17th. Fidus Investment’s payout ratio is presently 61.43%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Fidus Investment

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in FDUS. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co lifted its position in Fidus Investment by 10.6% during the first quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 24,477 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $484,000 after buying an additional 2,348 shares during the period. EntryPoint Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Fidus Investment in the first quarter worth approximately $45,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Fidus Investment by 4.4% in the first quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 207,091 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $4,088,000 after purchasing an additional 8,768 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its position in Fidus Investment by 42.2% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 197,965 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $3,908,000 after purchasing an additional 58,768 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Advisors LLC raised its stake in Fidus Investment by 611.5% during the first quarter. Cetera Advisors LLC now owns 71,651 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $1,414,000 after purchasing an additional 61,580 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 28.14% of the company’s stock.

Fidus Investment Company Profile

Fidus Investment Corporation is a business development company. It specializing in leveraged buyouts, refinancings, change of ownership transactions, recapitalizations, strategic acquisitions, mezzanine, growth capital, business expansion, lower middle market investments, debt investments, subordinated and second lien loans, senior secured and unitranche debt, preferred equity, warrants, subordinated debt, senior subordinated notes, junior secured loans, and unitranche loans.