Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) Short Interest Down 76.1% in July

Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totaling 50,038 shares, a decline of 76.1% from the July 15th total of 209,690 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 243,403 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Virtus Total Return Fund Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ZTR traded down $0.00 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $6.76. 146,371 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 186,879. Virtus Total Return Fund has a one year low of $6.17 and a one year high of $7.11. The company’s 50 day moving average is $6.78 and its 200 day moving average is $6.76.

Virtus Total Return Fund Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 13th will be given a dividend of $0.055 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 13th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.8%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Virtus Total Return Fund

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Saba Capital Management L.P. bought a new position in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund in the first quarter worth about $7,512,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in Virtus Total Return Fund during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $822,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC boosted its stake in Virtus Total Return Fund by 99.8% during the 1st quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC now owns 226,800 shares of the investment management company’s stock valued at $1,501,000 after purchasing an additional 113,300 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in Virtus Total Return Fund by 33.9% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 338,441 shares of the investment management company’s stock valued at $2,108,000 after buying an additional 85,767 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oxford Asset Management LLP acquired a new stake in Virtus Total Return Fund in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $415,000. 47.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Virtus Total Return Fund Company Profile

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).