Short Interest in Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) Expands By 75.6%

Key Points

• Short interest increased 75.6% to 87,848 shares as of August 14, up from 50,038 shares on July 30. Short interest represents approximately 0.2% of ZTR’s outstanding shares, with a 0.7-day short-interest ratio.
• ZTR shares opened at $6.83, within their 52-week range of $6.17 to $7.11, while the fund declared a monthly dividend of $0.055, equating to an annualized yield of approximately 9.7%.
• Institutional investors own 47.14% of the fund; several hedge funds and investment firms recently increased or initiated positions in Virtus Total Return Fund.

Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of August. As of August 14th, there was short interest totaling 87,848 shares, a growth of 75.6% from the July 30th total of 50,038 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 121,279 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.7 days. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Virtus Total Return Fund Price Performance

Shares of ZTR opened at $6.83 on Monday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $6.79 and a 200 day moving average of $6.78. Virtus Total Return Fund has a fifty-two week low of $6.17 and a fifty-two week high of $7.11.

Virtus Total Return Fund Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 13th were given a $0.055 dividend. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.7%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 13th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. CWM LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund by 854.9% in the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 7,582 shares of the investment management company's stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 6,788 shares in the last quarter. HRT Financial LP purchased a new position in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund in the fourth quarter worth $63,000. Bayban purchased a new position in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund in the fourth quarter worth $65,000. Closed End Fund Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Virtus Total Return Fund during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $66,000. Finally, Advisory Solutions Group LLC bought a new position in Virtus Total Return Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $100,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 47.14% of the company's stock.

About Virtus Total Return Fund

Virtus Total Return Fund, Inc NYSE: ZTR is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide investors with high total return with moderate income. The fund, which began operations in 2005, trades on the New York Stock Exchange and is sponsored by Virtus Investment Partners. ZTR offers investors access to a diversified mix of fixed-income and equity opportunities within a single vehicle.

To pursue its stated objective, the fund typically allocates across a broad range of asset classes, including corporate debt securities, high-yield bonds, convertible securities, preferred stocks, common stocks and real estate investment trusts (REITs).

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