First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund Short Interest Declines Significantly in December

The First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (NASDAQ:QABA) experienced a notable decrease in short interest throughout December. As of December 15th, the total short interest was reported at 3,000 shares, which represents a significant reduction of 89.1% compared to the 27,600 shares recorded on November 30th. With an average daily trading volume of 16,000 shares, the current days-to-cover ratio is approximately 0.2 days.

Stock Performance of First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund

The QABA stock saw a slight increase of 0.1% on Thursday, reaching a price of $56.29. During the trading session, 4,940 shares changed hands, which is lower than its average volume of 21,551 shares. The fund’s fifty-day moving average stands at $58.56, while the two-hundred-day moving average is $53.34. The market capitalization of the First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund is $115.39 million, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.90 and a beta of 0.92. Over the past year, the stock has experienced a low of $42.52 and a high of $64.30.

Dividend Announcement from First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund

Recently, the First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund announced a dividend payment, scheduled for December 31st. Shareholders who were on record as of December 13th will receive a dividend payout of $0.3361. The ex-dividend date was also December 13th.

Institutional Investment Activity

In recent months, various hedge funds and institutional investors have modified their stakes in the QABA fund. For instance, Virtu Financial LLC established a new position valued at approximately $797,000 in QABA during the third quarter. Additionally, International Assets Investment Management LLC significantly increased its holdings by 5,188.7% in the same quarter, bringing its total shares to 16,395, valued at around $867,000. Stifel Financial Corp also acquired a new stake estimated at $1,099,000, while Private Advisory Group LLC added about $1,428,000 worth in QABA. Furthermore, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. invested around $1,710,000 in the fund in the second quarter.

Company Background of First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund

The First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA) is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the NASDAQ OMX ABA Community Bank Index. The fund focuses on NASDAQ-listed banks and thrifts, deliberately excluding the largest 50 institutions in the sector. Launched on June 29, 2009, it is managed by First Trust.

Investment Consideration for First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund

As you evaluate the First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund, it's essential to consider recent market ratings. Analysts on Wall Street currently assign a 'Hold' rating to QABA. However, some analysts believe that there are potentially more advantageous investment opportunities available at this time.

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