Short Interest in First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:AFSM) Declines By 54.6%

First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:AFSM) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totaling 10,565 shares, a decline of 54.6% from the December 31st total of 23,272 shares. Currently, 0.5% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 20,714 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.5 days. Based on an average trading volume of 20,714 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.5 days. Currently, 0.5% of the shares of the company are sold short.

First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF Stock Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:AFSM traded down $0.31 during trading on Friday, hitting $34.32. 21,028 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 20,966. First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF has a 1-year low of $24.42 and a 1-year high of $35.32. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $33.67 and its 200-day simple moving average is $32.44. The company has a market capitalization of $75.50 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.11 and a beta of 1.04.

First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 12th were paid a dividend of $0.0622 per share. This represents a $0.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 12th. This is a positive change from First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.02.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Farther Finance Advisors LLC acquired a new position in First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF during the second quarter worth $60,000. FSB Premier Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF during the 3rd quarter worth about $267,000. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF by 14.9% in the 3rd quarter. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC now owns 9,136 shares of the company’s stock valued at $299,000 after acquiring an additional 1,184 shares in the last quarter. Smith Moore & CO. increased its position in shares of First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF by 7.7% in the third quarter. Smith Moore & CO. now owns 9,417 shares of the company’s stock valued at $308,000 after acquiring an additional 672 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MGO One Seven LLC bought a new stake in First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF during the third quarter worth about $352,000.

First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF Company Profile

The First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (AFSM) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in small-cap stocks. The fund is an actively managed portfolio of US small-cap companies that exhibit exposure to one or more investing factors. AFSM was launched on Dec 3, 2019 and is managed by First Trust.