BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (NYSE:DSU) Sees Significant Growth in Short Interest

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (NYSE:DSU) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totalling 356,900 shares, a growth of 83.9% from the July 15th total of 194,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 147,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.4 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DSU. Spire Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 137.0% during the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 3,041 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 1,758 shares in the last quarter. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC now owns 443,818 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $4,811,000 after acquiring an additional 1,796 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its holdings in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 47,198 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $522,000 after buying an additional 1,938 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates raised its holdings in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 14.9% during the 4th quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 21,411 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $231,000 after buying an additional 2,773 shares during the period. Finally, Atomi Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 11.4% during the 1st quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. now owns 27,786 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $307,000 after buying an additional 2,833 shares during the period. 24.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Stock Performance

DSU stock opened at $10.75 on Friday. BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund has a 1-year low of $9.75 and a 1-year high of $11.40. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $10.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $10.95.

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 15th will be paid a $0.0987 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 15th. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 11.02%.

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Company Profile

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc The fund is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. It invests in fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of companies' debt instruments, including corporate loans, which are rated in the lower rating categories of the established rating services (BBB or lower by S&P's or Baa or lower by Moody's) or unrated debt instruments, which are in the judgment of the investment adviser of equivalent quality.