First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (NASDAQ:FEM) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume - Here's Why

Key Points

• FEM trading volume jumped 24% to approximately 154,545 shares, while the ETF edged down 0.5% to $32.26.
• The fund increased its quarterly dividend to $0.2849 per share, equivalent to an annualized $1.14 payout and a 3.5% yield.
• Several institutional investors recently increased or initiated positions in FEM, which tracks a quantitatively selected index of emerging-markets companies.

First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (NASDAQ:FEM - ) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Tuesday. Approximately 154,545 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 24% from the previous session's volume of 124,332 shares. The stock last traded at $32.26 and had previously closed at $32.29.

First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund Trading Down 0.5%

The firm has a market capitalization of $798.31 million, a PE ratio of 9.20 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $32.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.00.

First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 24th will be paid a $0.2849 dividend. This represents a $1.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 24th. This is a positive change from First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund's previous quarterly dividend of $0.1899.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Signature Equity Partners LLC lifted its holdings in First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund by 64.0% in the 1st quarter. Signature Equity Partners LLC now owns 894 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC acquired a new position in First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund in the first quarter valued at $59,000. MidFirst Bank acquired a new stake in First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund during the fourth quarter worth about $63,000. Tucker Asset Management LLC increased its position in First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund by 51.8% during the 2nd quarter. Tucker Asset Management LLC now owns 7,325 shares of the company's stock worth $234,000 after purchasing an additional 2,501 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Carlson Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund by 10.5% in the 2nd quarter. Carlson Financial Inc. now owns 8,093 shares of the company's stock valued at $259,000 after acquiring an additional 771 shares during the period.

First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund Company Profile

The First Trust Emerging Markets AlphaDEX Fund (FEM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the NASDAQ AlphaDEX EM index. The fund tracks an index of emerging markets companies selected using a quantitative methodology and weighted in tiers. FEM was launched on Apr 18, 2011 and is managed by First Trust.

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