Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:VPU) Short Interest Up 108.8% in August

Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:VPU) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totaling 139,689 shares, a growth of 108.8% from the August 15th total of 66,909 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 236,587 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.6 days. Currently, 0.3% of the company’s stock are sold short.

Vanguard Utilities ETF Stock Down 1.1%

NYSEARCA:VPU traded down $1.97 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $181.22. 229,327 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 257,584. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.60 and a beta of 0.58. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $190.89 and a 200-day simple moving average of $195.05. Vanguard Utilities ETF has a 52 week low of $180.88 and a 52 week high of $206.10.

Institutional Trading of Vanguard Utilities ETF

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of VPU. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC lifted its position in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 7.0% in the 2nd quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 27,728 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,427,000 after buying an additional 1,825 shares during the last quarter. RFG Advisory LLC grew its position in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 6,027 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,180,000 after buying an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its stake in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 60.9% during the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 43,979 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,608,000 after acquiring an additional 16,640 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc raised its stake in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 16.3% during the second quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 15,520 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,038,000 after acquiring an additional 2,172 shares during the period. Finally, One Charles Private Wealth Services LLC lifted its holdings in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 7.5% in the second quarter. One Charles Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 1,319 shares of the company’s stock worth $258,000 after acquiring an additional 92 shares during the last quarter.

About Vanguard Utilities ETF

Vanguard Utilities ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded class of shares issued by Vanguard Utilities Index Fund. The Fund tracks the performance of Morgan Stanley Capital International United States Investable Market Utilities Index, an index made up of stocks of large, medium-size and small United States companies in the utilities sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). This GICS sector is made up of those companies considered electric, gas, or water utilities, or companies that operate as independent producers and/or distributors of power.