Short Interest in Aegon NV (NYSE:AEG) Declines By 26.8%

Key Points

• Aegon NV's short interest dropped by 26.8% in August, reaching a total of 6,350,000 shares as of August 31st.
• Institutional investors have increased their stakes in Aegon, with Bessemer Group Inc. raising its stake by 526.8% in the first quarter.
• Aegon announced a semi-annual dividend of $0.1876 per share, with a yield of 584.0%, to be paid on September 25th.

Aegon NV (NYSE:AEG - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totaling 6,350,000 shares, a drop of 26.8% from the August 15th total of 8,670,000 shares. Approximately 0.4% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 6,110,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.0 days. Based on an average daily volume of 6,110,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.0 days. Approximately 0.4% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on AEG shares. Wall Street Zen raised Aegon from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Saturday, September 13th. Berenberg Bank raised Aegon to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and three have given a Buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Buy".

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Aegon

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Aegon by 526.8% in the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 4,325 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 3,635 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Aegon by 27.2% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 170,827 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,126,000 after acquiring an additional 36,511 shares during the period. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Aegon by 25.8% in the first quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 254,433 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,677,000 after purchasing an additional 52,174 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP bought a new position in shares of Aegon in the fourth quarter worth $645,000. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Aegon by 5.7% in the first quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 93,462 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $616,000 after purchasing an additional 5,049 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 4.32% of the company's stock.

Aegon Stock Up 1.7%

Aegon stock traded up $0.13 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $7.81. The stock had a trading volume of 3,519,719 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,246,940. The company has a market capitalization of $15.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.14, a PEG ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. Aegon has a 12 month low of $5.42 and a 12 month high of $8.10. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $7.46 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $6.95.

Aegon Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 25th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.1876 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 4th. This represents a yield of 584.0%. Aegon's payout ratio is 38.54%.

About Aegon

Aegon Ltd. provides insurance, pensions, retirement, and asset management services in the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company offers life, accident, property and casualty, and health insurance; annuities, retirement plans, mutual funds, and stable value solutions; residential mortgage and digital baking services; and retail and institutional investment management solutions and retirement savings vehicles and strategies.