Fidus Investment Corporation (NASDAQ:FDUS) Short Interest Update

Key Points

• Fidus Investment Corporation's short interest surged by 54.5% in July, reaching a total of 274,000 shares, reflecting approximately 0.8% of the company's shares being short sold.
• The company declared a $0.57 dividend with an 800.0% yield, marking an increase from its previous dividend of $0.11, to be paid on September 25th.
• Fidus Investment reported a quarterly earnings of $0.57 per share, surpassing analyst estimates of $0.53, and had a revenue of $39.97 million, exceeding forecasts of $37.42 million.

Fidus Investment Corporation (NASDAQ:FDUS - Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totaling 274,000 shares, agrowthof54.5% from the July 15th total of 177,300 shares. Currently,0.8% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 173,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.6 days. Based on an average daily volume of 173,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.6 days. Currently,0.8% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently weighed in on FDUS. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on shares of Fidus Investment from $20.00 to $21.50 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research note on Monday, August 11th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded shares of Fidus Investment to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. Finally, B. Riley lowered shares of Fidus Investment from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their price target for the company from $22.00 to $22.50 in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $22.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Fidus Investment

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Fidus Investment during the first quarter worth $28,000. ORG Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Fidus Investment in the first quarter valued at $29,000. Transce3nd LLC bought a new position in shares of Fidus Investment in the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc lifted its stake in shares of Fidus Investment by 137.4% in the second quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 1,728 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Fidus Investment by 154.8% in the second quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 2,658 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 1,615 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 28.14% of the company's stock.

Fidus Investment Stock Performance

Shares of Fidus Investment stock traded up $0.11 on Friday, reaching $21.33. 162,876 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 171,371. The firm's 50 day moving average is $20.85 and its 200-day moving average is $20.59. Fidus Investment has a one year low of $16.70 and a one year high of $23.55. The firm has a market cap of $754.66 million, a PE ratio of 9.23 and a beta of 0.95.

Fidus Investment (NASDAQ:FDUS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The asset manager reported $0.57 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.04. Fidus Investment had a net margin of 51.88% and a return on equity of 11.52%. The company had revenue of $39.97 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $37.42 million. On average, equities research analysts expect that Fidus Investment will post 2.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Fidus Investment Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a -- dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 25th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 18th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. This represents a yield of 800.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 18th. This is a positive change from Fidus Investment's previous -- dividend of $0.11. Fidus Investment's payout ratio is currently 74.46%.

About Fidus Investment

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.