John Hancock Investors Trust (NYSE:JHI) Shares Shorted: Short Interest Up 181.8% in October

Key Points

• Short interest surged 181.8% in October to 31,934 shares, representing 0.4% of outstanding shares and a short-interest ratio of 1.0 days based on average trading volume.
• JHI shares recently traded at $11.99, near the lower end of their 52-week range of $11.73 to $14.26 and below both the 50-day and 200-day moving averages.
• The trust reduced its quarterly dividend to $0.294 per share from $0.297, implying an annualized dividend of $1.18 and a yield of approximately 9.8%; institutional investors own 27.01% of the stock.

John Hancock Investors Trust (NYSE:JHI - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totaling 31,934 shares, a growth of 181.8% from the September 30th total of 11,332 shares. Currently, 0.4% of the company's shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 32,606 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.0 days.

John Hancock Investors Trust Price Performance

Shares of John Hancock Investors Trust stock traded up $0.11 on Thursday, reaching $11.99. 41,730 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 21,969. John Hancock Investors Trust has a 52 week low of $11.73 and a 52 week high of $14.26. The firm's 50-day moving average is $12.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is $13.17.

John Hancock Investors Trust Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 11th were given a dividend of $0.2940 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 11th. This is a drop from John Hancock Investors Trust's previous quarterly dividend of $0.2970. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.8%.

Institutional Trading of John Hancock Investors Trust

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. World Investment Advisors acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Investors Trust in the 1st quarter valued at $299,000. Shaker Financial Services LLC increased its holdings in John Hancock Investors Trust by 12.8% in the 3rd quarter. Shaker Financial Services LLC now owns 148,070 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $1,829,000 after buying an additional 16,798 shares during the period. Sowell Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in John Hancock Investors Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $146,000. IFP Advisors Inc purchased a new position in John Hancock Investors Trust during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE lifted its stake in John Hancock Investors Trust by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 33,545 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $433,000 after acquiring an additional 863 shares during the period. 27.01% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About John Hancock Investors Trust

John Hancock Investors Trust NYSE: JHI was a closed-end investment company designed to provide investors with exposure to a professionally managed portfolio of income-producing securities. The fund primarily focused on fixed-income investments and sought to generate current income while also pursuing long-term capital appreciation.

The trust invested in a diversified selection of debt securities, which could include corporate bonds, government and agency obligations, mortgage-related securities, and other income-oriented instruments.

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