Short Interest in Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:VPU) Declines By 43.6%

Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:VPU) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in March. As of March 13th, there was short interest totaling 73,846 shares, a decline of 43.6% from the February 26th total of 130,904 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 297,508 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Vanguard Utilities ETF Trading Up 0.5%

Vanguard Utilities ETF stock traded up $0.96 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $196.88. 309,780 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 301,106. The company has a market cap of $8.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.60 and a beta of 0.61. Vanguard Utilities ETF has a twelve month low of $154.00 and a twelve month high of $206.10. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $195.84 and a two-hundred day moving average of $192.00.

Institutional Trading of Vanguard Utilities ETF

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in VPU. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its stake in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 12.1% in the third quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 480 shares of the company’s stock valued at $91,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Vivaldi Capital Management LP lifted its stake in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 4.1% during the third quarter. Vivaldi Capital Management LP now owns 1,352 shares of the company’s stock worth $256,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Northwest Financial Advisors boosted its holdings in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Northwest Financial Advisors now owns 3,185 shares of the company’s stock valued at $603,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 5,679 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,076,000 after purchasing an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Guardian Asset Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter. Guardian Asset Advisors LLC now owns 1,197 shares of the company’s stock valued at $227,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the last quarter.

About Vanguard Utilities ETF

Vanguard Utilities ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded class of shares issued by Vanguard Utilities Index Fund. The Fund tracks the performance of Morgan Stanley Capital International United States Investable Market Utilities Index, an index made up of stocks of large, medium-size and small United States companies in the utilities sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). This GICS sector is made up of those companies considered electric, gas, or water utilities, or companies that operate as independent producers and/or distributors of power.