Fidus Investment Co. (NASDAQ:FDUS) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

Fidus Investment Co. (NASDAQ:FDUS) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of September. As of September 30th, there was short interest totalling 227,300 shares, a growth of 61.5% from the September 15th total of 140,700 shares. Approximately 0.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 203,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.1 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded Fidus Investment to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, August 5th.

Fidus Investment Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of Fidus Investment stock traded down $0.07 during trading on Monday, hitting $19.48. 137,208 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 243,535. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $19.68 and its 200-day moving average is $19.74. Fidus Investment has a 52 week low of $17.63 and a 52 week high of $20.60. The stock has a market cap of $614.67 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.69 and a beta of 1.39.

Fidus Investment (NASDAQ:FDUS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The asset manager reported $0.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.57. Fidus Investment had a return on equity of 12.29% and a net margin of 67.43%. The business had revenue of $35.66 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.88 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.62 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Fidus Investment will post 2.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Fidus Investment Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 26th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 19th were given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 11.70%. This is a positive change from Fidus Investment’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 19th. Fidus Investment’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.11%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Fidus Investment

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of FDUS. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its position in Fidus Investment by 29.0% during the 4th quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 15,925 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $314,000 after acquiring an additional 3,581 shares during the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC lifted its holdings in Fidus Investment by 8.7% in the 1st quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 8,974 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $177,000 after buying an additional 721 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in Fidus Investment by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 65,706 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $1,297,000 after buying an additional 2,300 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its holdings in Fidus Investment by 50.5% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 26,529 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $524,000 after buying an additional 8,903 shares during the period. Finally, Van ECK Associates Corp lifted its holdings in Fidus Investment by 15.8% in the 1st quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 600,862 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $11,861,000 after buying an additional 82,049 shares during the period. 28.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Fidus Investment Company Profile

Fidus Investment Corporation is a business development company. It specializing in leveraged buyouts, refinancings, change of ownership transactions, recapitalizations, strategic acquisitions, mezzanine, growth capital, business expansion, lower middle market investments, debt investments, subordinated and second lien loans, senior secured and unitranche debt, preferred equity, warrants, subordinated debt, senior subordinated notes, junior secured loans, and unitranche loans.