Short Interest in Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) Rises By 75.6%

Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of August. As of August 14th, there was short interest totaling 87,848 shares, an increase of 75.6% from the July 30th total of 50,038 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 121,279 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.7 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Virtus Total Return Fund

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CWM LLC increased its position in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund by 854.9% during the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 7,582 shares of the investment management company’s stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 6,788 shares during the period. HRT Financial LP acquired a new stake in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund in the fourth quarter valued at $63,000. Bayban acquired a new stake in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund in the fourth quarter valued at $65,000. Closed End Fund Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund in the fourth quarter valued at $66,000. Finally, Advisory Solutions Group LLC bought a new position in Virtus Total Return Fund during the second quarter valued at about $100,000. 47.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Virtus Total Return Fund Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:ZTR opened at $6.76 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $6.79 and a 200-day moving average of $6.78. Virtus Total Return Fund has a twelve month low of $6.17 and a twelve month high of $7.11.

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).