First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:FTXL) Sees Significant Increase in Short Interest

First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:FTXL) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 463,400 shares, a growth of 1,863.6% from the December 15th total of 23,600 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 317,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.5 days.

First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF Trading Down 1.7 %

First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF stock traded down $1.47 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $86.75. The company had a trading volume of 3,309 shares, compared to its average volume of 124,104. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $89.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $91.95. First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF has a 12 month low of $76.99 and a 12 month high of $107.74. The company has a market capitalization of $373.03 million, a PE ratio of 24.77 and a beta of 1.29.

First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 13th were given a dividend of $0.1657 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 13th. This is a boost from First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF’s previous dividend of $0.12.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Independent Advisor Alliance lifted its holdings in First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF by 5.2% in the third quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance now owns 29,972 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,796,000 after acquiring an additional 1,495 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its holdings in First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF by 24.5% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 940 shares of the company’s stock valued at $94,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF by 2.2% in the second quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 5,345 shares of the company’s stock valued at $534,000 after acquiring an additional 114 shares during the period. Proactive Wealth Strategies LLC bought a new position in First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF in the third quarter valued at about $2,484,000. Finally, FMR LLC lifted its holdings in First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF by 81.1% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 326 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares during the period.

About First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF

The First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF (FTXL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Nasdaq US Smart Semiconductor index. The fund tracks an index of the most liquid US semiconductor companies, weighted according to factors related to value, volatility and growth. FTXL was launched on Sep 20, 2016 and is managed by First Trust.