First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund (NASDAQ:FEX) Reaches New 52-Week High - Here's Why

Key Points

• Reached a new 52-week high: FEX traded as high as $131.01 (last $130.62) on Friday with about 8,016 shares changing hands, trading above its 50‑day ($125.27) and 200‑day ($121.72) moving averages.
• Major institutional buying: Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management dramatically increased its stake—by 6,734.7%—adding 4,149,805 shares to hold 4,211,423 shares worth roughly $499.6 million, while other institutions (RBC, UBS, BofA, Janney) also raised positions.
• Dividend and valuation snapshot: the fund paid a quarterly dividend of $0.2942 (annualized $1.18, yield ~0.9%), has a market capitalization of about $1.49 billion and a P/E ratio of 17.76.

First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund (NASDAQ:FEX - ) reached a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $131.01 and last traded at $130.62, with a volume of 8016 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $130.65.

First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $1.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.76 and a beta of 0.97. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $125.27 and its 200 day simple moving average is $121.72.

First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 26th were paid a $0.2942 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 26th. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.9%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its stake in First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund by 6,734.7% in the fourth quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 4,211,423 shares of the company's stock valued at $499,559,000 after purchasing an additional 4,149,805 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its stake in First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund by 0.9% in the first quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 511,453 shares of the company's stock valued at $62,360,000 after purchasing an additional 4,338 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund by 0.8% in the third quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 228,883 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,738,000 after purchasing an additional 1,913 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund by 31.5% in the fourth quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 225,417 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,738,000 after purchasing an additional 53,976 shares during the period. Finally, UBS Group AG increased its stake in First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund by 3.2% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 203,482 shares of the company's stock valued at $23,771,000 after purchasing an additional 6,315 shares during the period.

First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund Company Profile

First Trust Large Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield of an equity index called the Defined Large Cap Core Index (the Index). The Index is an enhanced index created and administered by Standard & Poor's, which employs the AlphaDEX stock selection methodology to select stocks from the S&P 500 Index. Standard & Poor's constructs the Index by ranking the stocks from the S&P 500 Index on growth factors, including 3, 6 and 12-month price appreciation, sales to price and one-year sales growth, and separately on value factors, including book value to price, cash flow to price and return on assets.

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