First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (NASDAQ:QABA) Short Interest Up 188.2% in March

First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (NASDAQ:QABA) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 75,500 shares, an increase of 188.2% from the March 15th total of 26,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 69,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.1 days. Currently, 3.1% of the company’s stock are short sold.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its holdings in shares of First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund by 290.5% in the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 660 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 491 shares in the last quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC acquired a new position in First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund in the fourth quarter valued at $208,000. Simplicity Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund during the fourth quarter worth about $225,000. Blueprint Investment Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund during the fourth quarter worth about $225,000. Finally, Mach 1 Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $229,000.

First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund Stock Performance

NASDAQ QABA traded up $0.04 during trading on Thursday, reaching $48.23. 3,929 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 64,863. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $52.80 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $55.51. The stock has a market cap of $103.69 million, a P/E ratio of 11.60 and a beta of 0.81. First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund has a 1 year low of $42.68 and a 1 year high of $64.30.

First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 27th were issued a $0.3069 dividend. This represents a $1.23 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.55%. This is an increase from First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 27th.

About First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund

The First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the NASDAQ OMX ABA Community Bank index. The fund tracks an index of NASDAQ-listed banks and thrifts, excluding the 50 largest. QABA was launched on Jun 29, 2009 and is managed by First Trust.