134,384 Shares in Fidus Investment Corporation $FDUS Purchased by Ethos Financial Group LLC

Key Points

• Ethos Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Fidus Investment Corporation, buying 134,384 shares valued at approximately $2.74 million, representing about 0.39% ownership of the company.
• Fidus Investment announced a dividend increase to $0.57 per share, payable on September 25th, reflecting a significant boost from the previous $0.11 dividend.
• Analyst ratings have fluctuated, with B. Riley downgrading Fidus from "buy" to "neutral," while LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded the stock to a "strong-buy."

Ethos Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Fidus Investment Corporation (NASDAQ:FDUS - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 134,384 shares of the asset manager's stock, valued at approximately $2,740,000. Ethos Financial Group LLC owned approximately 0.39% of Fidus Investment at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in Fidus Investment by 36.0% during the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 18,045 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $368,000 after purchasing an additional 4,778 shares in the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Fidus Investment by 7.8% during the first quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 324,277 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $6,612,000 after purchasing an additional 23,478 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in Fidus Investment by 10.6% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 335,498 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $6,841,000 after purchasing an additional 32,077 shares in the last quarter. Columbus Macro LLC boosted its position in Fidus Investment by 7.8% during the first quarter. Columbus Macro LLC now owns 287,622 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $5,865,000 after purchasing an additional 20,727 shares in the last quarter. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. boosted its position in Fidus Investment by 42.5% during the first quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 44,727 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $912,000 after purchasing an additional 13,344 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 28.14% of the company's stock.

Fidus Investment Price Performance

NASDAQ:FDUS traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $21.26. The company's stock had a trading volume of 174,077 shares, compared to its average volume of 200,397. Fidus Investment Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $16.70 and a fifty-two week high of $23.55. The firm has a market cap of $752.18 million, a P/E ratio of 9.20 and a beta of 0.95. The firm's 50 day moving average is $20.78 and its 200-day moving average is $20.63.

Fidus Investment (NASDAQ:FDUS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data 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 firm had revenue of $39.97 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $37.42 million. As a group, analysts forecast that Fidus Investment Corporation will post 2.28 EPS for the current year.

Fidus Investment Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a -- dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 25th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 800.0%. This is a boost from Fidus Investment's previous -- dividend of $0.11. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 18th. Fidus Investment's dividend payout ratio is 74.46%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. B. Riley cut Fidus Investment from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their price target for the company from $22.00 to $22.50 in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on Fidus Investment from $20.00 to $21.50 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research note on Monday, August 11th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded Fidus Investment to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. One equities research 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, Fidus Investment presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $22.00.

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.