BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (NYSE:DSU) Sees Large Decline in Short Interest

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (NYSE:DSU) saw a significant decline in short interest in October. As of October 30th, there was short interest totaling 23,877 shares, a decline of 87.3% from the October 15th total of 187,520 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 430,158 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Stock Performance

Shares of DSU traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $8.58. 166,486 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 320,431. BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund has a 1 year low of $8.42 and a 1 year high of $10.40. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $8.87 and its 200-day moving average is $9.52.

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, December 11th will be issued a dividend of $0.0987 per share. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 11th.

Institutional Trading of BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 8.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 507,223 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $4,864,000 after acquiring an additional 41,216 shares in the last quarter. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. Elevated Capital Advisors LLC now owns 479,123 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $4,312,000 after purchasing an additional 16,489 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund in the 3rd quarter valued at about $3,553,000. GraniteShares Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. GraniteShares Advisors LLC now owns 276,527 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,489,000 after buying an additional 4,275 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Smith Asset Management Co. LLC boosted its holdings in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Smith Asset Management Co. LLC now owns 196,494 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,768,000 after buying an additional 2,372 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 24.29% of the company’s stock.

About BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund is a closed-end investment fund managed by BlackRock. It seeks to provide a high level of current income, with capital appreciation as a secondary objective. The fund invests primarily in below-investment-grade debt, including senior secured loans and other floating-rate debt securities. Its portfolio may also include high-yield bonds and other debt instruments, with investments selected and managed to pursue the fund’s income objective. The fund’s investments are focused primarily on U.S. borrowers, though it may invest in debt issued by companies in other countries.