Short Interest in Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) Expands By 153.2%

Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) saw a large growth in short interest in June. As of June 15th, there was short interest totaling 55,413 shares, a growth of 153.2% from the May 31st total of 21,888 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 139,841 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CWM LLC grew its position in Virtus Total Return Fund by 854.9% in the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 7,582 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 6,788 shares during the period. HRT Financial LP bought a new position in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund during the 4th quarter valued at $63,000. Bayban bought a new position in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund during the 4th quarter valued at $65,000. Closed End Fund Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund in the 4th quarter worth $66,000. Finally, MML Investors Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund by 9.5% in the 4th quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 25,323 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $160,000 after buying an additional 2,201 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 47.14% of the company’s stock.

Virtus Total Return Fund Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ZTR opened at $6.79 on Monday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $6.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $6.64. Virtus Total Return Fund has a fifty-two week low of $6.07 and a fifty-two week high of $7.11.

Virtus Total Return Fund Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.055 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 13th.

About Virtus Total Return Fund

Virtus Total Return Fund, Inc (NYSE: ZTR) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide investors with high total return with moderate income. The fund, which began operations in 2005, trades on the New York Stock Exchange and is sponsored by Virtus Investment Partners. ZTR offers investors access to a diversified mix of fixed-income and equity opportunities within a single vehicle.

To pursue its stated objective, the fund typically allocates across a broad range of asset classes, including corporate debt securities, high-yield bonds, convertible securities, preferred stocks, common stocks and real estate investment trusts (REITs).