First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (NASDAQ:FEMS) Sees Significant Growth in Short Interest

Key Points

• Short interest surged 138.8% to 40,449 shares as of July 31, representing approximately 0.7% of FEMS shares outstanding and 1.1 days to cover.
• FEMS shares recently traded at $45.66, within a 52-week range of $40.94 to $49.49, with a market capitalization of about $253.4 million.
• The fund increased its quarterly dividend to $0.445 per share, equivalent to $1.78 annually and a 3.9% yield; several hedge funds also expanded their FEMS positions.

First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (NASDAQ:FEMS - ) was the target of a large increase in short interest in July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totaling 40,449 shares, an increase of 138.8% from the July 15th total of 16,939 shares. Approximately 0.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 38,006 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.1 days.

First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund Price Performance

Shares of First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund stock traded down $0.10 during trading on Friday, reaching $45.66. 23,163 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 30,748. First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund has a 52-week low of $40.94 and a 52-week high of $49.49. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $45.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $46.09. The company has a market capitalization of $253.39 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.10 and a beta of 0.50.

First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 25th were issued a dividend of $0.445 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 25th. This represents a $1.78 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.9%. This is a boost from First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund's previous quarterly dividend of $0.30.

Institutional Trading of First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of FEMS. Crusonia Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund in the fourth quarter worth $2,481,000. VestGen Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund by 64.6% in the 4th quarter. VestGen Advisors LLC now owns 71,601 shares of the exchange traded fund's stock worth $3,014,000 after buying an additional 28,091 shares in the last quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund in the 3rd quarter worth about $562,000. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund by 9.4% in the 4th quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 121,988 shares of the exchange traded fund's stock worth $5,135,000 after buying an additional 10,472 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HBW Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund by 22.5% during the 1st quarter. HBW Advisory Services LLC now owns 51,240 shares of the exchange traded fund's stock valued at $2,334,000 after buying an additional 9,402 shares in the last quarter.

First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund Company Profile

The First Trust Emerging Markets Small Cap AlphaDEX Fund (FEMS) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the NASDAQ AlphaDEX EM Small Cap index. The fund aims to outperform other index funds by selecting small-cap emerging markets securities using quantitative metrics. FEMS was launched on Feb 15, 2012 and is managed by First Trust.

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