John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE:JHS) Short Interest Down 54.9% in February

John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE:JHS) saw a large decline in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 6,373 shares, a decline of 54.9% from the January 29th total of 14,140 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 13,483 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 13,483 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.5 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in JHS. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC purchased a new stake in John Hancock Income Securities Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 5,395.0% during the second quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 5,495 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $62,000 after acquiring an additional 5,395 shares during the last quarter. Petra Financial Advisors Inc. grew its stake in John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 72.1% during the fourth quarter. Petra Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 19,125 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $224,000 after acquiring an additional 8,010 shares in the last quarter. Fiera Capital Corp grew its stake in John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 16.1% during the third quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 78,037 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $911,000 after acquiring an additional 10,836 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 23.9% in the 2nd quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 60,103 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $678,000 after acquiring an additional 11,587 shares during the last quarter.

John Hancock Income Securities Trust Price Performance

NYSE:JHS traded up $0.05 on Friday, reaching $11.62. 2,774 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,345. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.69 and a 200-day simple moving average of $11.66. John Hancock Income Securities Trust has a 12 month low of $10.62 and a 12 month high of $12.09.

John Hancock Income Securities Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, December 11th were paid a dividend of $0.1831 per share. This is a boost from John Hancock Income Securities Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 11th. This represents a $0.73 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.3%.

About John Hancock Income Securities Trust

John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE: JHS) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with high current income while preserving capital. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange since its launch in the late 1970s, the trust offers investors access to a broad portfolio of fixed-income securities under a professional management structure.

The fund’s primary investment activities include purchasing U.S. government and agency obligations, investment-grade corporate debt, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, preferred stocks, and selected foreign debt instruments.