Fidus Investment Corporation (NASDAQ:FDUS) Short Interest Update

Fidus Investment Corporation (NASDAQ:FDUS - Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 141,400 shares, a growth of 23.4% from the May 15th total of 114,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 235,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.6 days. Approximately 0.4% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Institutional Trading of Fidus Investment

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Fidus Investment during the 4th quarter worth about $20,539,000. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in shares of Fidus Investment by 10.6% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 335,498 shares of the asset manager's stock worth $6,841,000 after acquiring an additional 32,077 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Fidus Investment by 7.8% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 324,277 shares of the asset manager's stock worth $6,612,000 after acquiring an additional 23,478 shares in the last quarter. Columbus Macro LLC grew its stake in shares of Fidus Investment by 7.8% in the first quarter. Columbus Macro LLC now owns 287,622 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $5,865,000 after buying an additional 20,727 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in Fidus Investment by 46.1% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 283,093 shares of the asset manager's stock worth $5,772,000 after purchasing an additional 89,386 shares during the period. 28.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

FDUS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded Fidus Investment from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price objective on Fidus Investment from $21.00 to $20.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, B. Riley assumed coverage on Fidus Investment in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. They set a "buy" rating and a $22.00 price objective on the stock.

Fidus Investment Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of NASDAQ FDUS traded up $0.27 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $20.03. 153,013 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 207,524. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $19.52 and a 200-day moving average price of $20.76. The company has a market capitalization of $695.64 million, a P/E ratio of 8.56 and a beta of 0.93. Fidus Investment has a 52-week low of $16.70 and a 52-week high of $23.55.

Fidus Investment (NASDAQ:FDUS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The asset manager reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.01. Fidus Investment had a net margin of 52.59% and a return on equity of 11.48%. The company had revenue of $36.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $35.61 million. On average, analysts forecast that Fidus Investment will post 2.28 earnings per share for the current year.

Fidus Investment Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, June 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 13th will be given a $0.54 dividend. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.78%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 13th. Fidus Investment's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 73.50%.

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.

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