First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (NASDAQ:QABA) Short Interest Update

First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (NASDAQ:QABA) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totaling 35,967 shares, a growth of 115.2% from the November 30th total of 16,712 shares. Currently, 2.2% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 13,428 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.7 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 13,428 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.7 days. Currently, 2.2% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Institutional Trading of First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its position in First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund by 11.8% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 6,038 shares of the company’s stock worth $316,000 after buying an additional 636 shares during the period. WMG Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund by 10.5% in the second quarter. WMG Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,142 shares of the company’s stock valued at $333,000 after acquiring an additional 585 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its stake in First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund by 5.8% in the 2nd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 6,612 shares of the company’s stock worth $358,000 after purchasing an additional 365 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund in the 2nd quarter worth about $364,000. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. boosted its holdings in First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 7,990 shares of the company’s stock valued at $433,000 after purchasing an additional 185 shares during the period.

First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund Stock Down 0.4%

First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund stock opened at $57.94 on Monday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $56.00 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $56.01. The stock has a market cap of $95.59 million, a P/E ratio of 13.59 and a beta of 0.81. First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund has a twelve month low of $45.06 and a twelve month high of $60.03.

First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.4886 per share. This represents a $1.95 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. This is an increase from First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 12th.

First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund Company Profile

The First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the NASDAQ OMX ABA Community Bank index. The fund tracks an index of NASDAQ-listed banks and thrifts, excluding the 50 largest. QABA was launched on Jun 29, 2009 and is managed by First Trust.