Short Interest in Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) Decreases By 78.4%

Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 33,147 shares, a decline of 78.4% from the December 15th total of 153,408 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 217,946 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days. Approximately 0.1% of the company’s stock are short sold. Approximately 0.1% of the company’s stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 217,946 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Virtus Total Return Fund

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Gridiron Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund by 7,620.7% in the third quarter. Gridiron Partners LLC now owns 1,442,455 shares of the investment management company’s stock valued at $9,304,000 after purchasing an additional 1,423,772 shares during the period. North Ground Capital increased its holdings in Virtus Total Return Fund by 121.5% in the 3rd quarter. North Ground Capital now owns 1,197,000 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $7,721,000 after buying an additional 656,500 shares during the period. Guggenheim Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund by 3.2% in the second quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 1,101,550 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $6,863,000 after acquiring an additional 33,822 shares during the period. Penserra Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund by 5.3% during the third quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 837,287 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $5,400,000 after purchasing an additional 42,393 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Yakira Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Yakira Capital Management Inc. now owns 682,714 shares of the investment management company’s stock valued at $4,404,000 after buying an additional 3,530 shares during the period. 47.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Virtus Total Return Fund Stock Performance

Shares of ZTR traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $6.29. 176,401 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 163,181. Virtus Total Return Fund has a 1 year low of $5.22 and a 1 year high of $6.66. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $6.38 and its 200-day moving average is $6.34.

Virtus Total Return Fund Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 26th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 12th will be paid a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 12th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.5%.

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).