Fidus Investment Co. (NASDAQ:FDUS) Short Interest Update

Fidus Investment Co. (NASDAQ:FDUS) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 225,500 shares, a drop of 38.3% from the February 28th total of 365,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 207,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.1 days. Approximately 0.7% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lowered shares of Fidus Investment from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th.

Fidus Investment Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of FDUS stock traded down $0.14 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $20.56. 275,312 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 214,734. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $22.15 and a 200 day moving average price of $20.97. Fidus Investment has a 1-year low of $18.41 and a 1-year high of $23.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $697.29 million, a PE ratio of 7.34 and a beta of 1.39.

Fidus Investment Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a — dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 20th were given a $0.11 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 7.4%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 20th. Fidus Investment’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 71.37%.

Institutional Trading of Fidus Investment

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in Fidus Investment in the 4th quarter worth approximately $20,539,000. Van ECK Associates Corp raised its holdings in shares of Fidus Investment by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 819,011 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $17,215,000 after acquiring an additional 9,600 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in Fidus Investment by 18.8% during the fourth quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 303,421 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $6,378,000 after purchasing an additional 48,034 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in Fidus Investment by 20.2% in the fourth quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 300,799 shares of the asset manager’s stock valued at $6,323,000 after purchasing an additional 50,447 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Columbus Macro LLC acquired a new position in Fidus Investment in the 4th quarter worth about $5,610,000. 28.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Fidus Investment

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.