First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:FTLS) Short Interest Up 200.8% in March

First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:FTLS) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of March. As of March 13th, there was short interest totaling 193,666 shares, a growth of 200.8% from the February 26th total of 64,382 shares. Approximately 0.6% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 91,446 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.1 days. Based on an average daily volume of 91,446 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.1 days. Approximately 0.6% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of NYSEARCA FTLS traded up $0.28 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $70.48. 34,741 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 114,497. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $70.93 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $70.62. The company has a market capitalization of $2.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.59 and a beta of 0.48. First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF has a 52-week low of $58.90 and a 52-week high of $72.39.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF by 32.6% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 7,337 shares of the company’s stock worth $470,000 after acquiring an additional 1,803 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its holdings in shares of First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF by 1,462.5% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 500 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 468 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth grew its holdings in shares of First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 22,906 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,468,000 after purchasing an additional 1,414 shares during the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its position in First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF by 20.5% in the 2nd quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 25,735 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,706,000 after purchasing an additional 4,377 shares during the period. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC purchased a new position in First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF in the 2nd quarter worth $2,372,000.

About First Trust Long/Short Equity ETF

The First Trust Long\u002FShort Equity ETF (FTLS) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in long\u002Fshort alternatives. The fund takes both long and short position in US-listed equity with US and foreign exposure. The actively managed funds will typically be 90-100% long and 0-50% short. FTLS was launched on Sep 9, 2014 and is managed by First Trust.