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

Fidus Investment Co. (NASDAQ:FDUS) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of November. As of November 15th, there was short interest totalling 212,900 shares, an increase of 33.8% from the October 31st total of 159,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 236,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.9 days. Currently, 0.6% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

Fidus Investment Trading Up 1.0 %

Fidus Investment stock opened at $21.29 on Friday. Fidus Investment has a 52 week low of $18.41 and a 52 week high of $21.32. The stock has a market cap of $722.05 million, a P/E ratio of 7.60 and a beta of 1.40. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $19.87 and a 200-day moving average of $19.78.

Fidus Investment (NASDAQ:FDUS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The asset manager reported $0.61 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $38.38 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $36.43 million. Fidus Investment had a net margin of 60.09% and a return on equity of 12.11%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.68 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Fidus Investment will post 2.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Fidus Investment Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 27th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 17th will be issued a $0.61 dividend. This is a positive change from Fidus Investment’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 11.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 17th. Fidus Investment’s payout ratio is currently 61.43%.

Institutional Trading of Fidus Investment

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its position in shares of Fidus Investment by 11.5% in the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 809,411 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $15,808,000 after acquiring an additional 83,538 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in Fidus Investment by 18.1% in the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 233,826 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $4,555,000 after purchasing an additional 35,861 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Fidus Investment by 17.4% during the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 225,904 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $4,401,000 after purchasing an additional 33,474 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Fidus Investment by 9.4% during the third quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 208,166 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $4,080,000 after purchasing an additional 17,929 shares during the period. Finally, PFG Advisors lifted its position in shares of Fidus Investment by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. PFG Advisors now owns 181,172 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $3,551,000 after buying an additional 2,768 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 28.14% of the company’s stock.

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.