Virtus Investment Partners (NASDAQ:VRTS) Hits New 1-Year Low – Time to Sell?

Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTS)’s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $126.11 and last traded at $126.4950, with a volume of 45349 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $127.69.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VRTS has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. TD Cowen dropped their target price on Virtus Investment Partners from $180.00 to $173.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Virtus Investment Partners from $168.00 to $155.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of Virtus Investment Partners from $218.00 to $206.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Barclays restated an “underweight” rating and issued a $142.00 price target on shares of Virtus Investment Partners in a report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Zacks Research raised shares of Virtus Investment Partners from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, January 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Virtus Investment Partners currently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $169.00.

Virtus Investment Partners Stock Down 1.0%

The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $152.37 and a 200-day moving average price of $167.97. The firm has a market cap of $846.28 million, a PE ratio of 7.48 and a beta of 1.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 11.86 and a current ratio of 11.86.

Virtus Investment Partners Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 30th will be given a $2.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 30th. This represents a $9.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.6%. Virtus Investment Partners’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.02%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Virtus Investment Partners

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of VRTS. NBT Bank N A NY boosted its holdings in Virtus Investment Partners by 1,483.3% in the 3rd quarter. NBT Bank N A NY now owns 190 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 178 shares during the period. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd raised its stake in shares of Virtus Investment Partners by 269.9% during the fourth quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd now owns 307 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 224 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of Virtus Investment Partners by 90.4% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 316 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Virtus Investment Partners by 24.1% during the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 499 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $81,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Virtus Investment Partners by 117.0% in the fourth quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 588 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $96,000 after purchasing an additional 317 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.52% of the company’s stock.

About Virtus Investment Partners

Virtus Investment Partners (NASDAQ: VRTS) is a publicly traded investment management company headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. The firm offers a broad range of investment solutions to institutional, high-net-wealth, and retail investors, drawing on the expertise of multiple affiliated investment teams. Since its founding in 1995, Virtus has grown by integrating specialized asset managers and expanding its product lineup, while maintaining a focus on active management across diverse market environments.

The company’s product suite encompasses mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), collective trusts, UCITS funds, and separately managed accounts.