John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE:JHS) Short Interest Up 237.0% in January

John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE:JHS) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totaling 15,039 shares, an increase of 237.0% from the December 31st total of 4,463 shares. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 9,022 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.7 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 9,022 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.7 days. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Institutional Trading of John Hancock Income Securities Trust

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Income Securities Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,000. Wolverine Asset Management LLC raised its stake in John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 5,395.0% during the second quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 5,495 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 5,395 shares during the period. Petra Financial Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 72.1% in the 4th quarter. Petra Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 19,125 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $224,000 after purchasing an additional 8,010 shares during the last quarter. Fiera Capital Corp grew its stake in shares of John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 16.1% in the 3rd quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 78,037 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $911,000 after buying an additional 10,836 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 23.9% during the 2nd quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 60,103 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $678,000 after buying an additional 11,587 shares during the last quarter.

John Hancock Income Securities Trust Stock Up 0.1%

JHS stock traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $11.81. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 7,729 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,601. The company’s 50 day moving average is $11.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.60. John Hancock Income Securities Trust has a fifty-two week low of $10.62 and a fifty-two week high of $12.09.

John Hancock Income Securities Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 11th were paid a dividend of $0.1831 per share. This represents a $0.73 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.2%. This is an increase from John Hancock Income Securities Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 11th.

About John Hancock Income Securities Trust

John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE: JHS) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with high current income while preserving capital. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange since its launch in the late 1970s, the trust offers investors access to a broad portfolio of fixed-income securities under a professional management structure.

The fund’s primary investment activities include purchasing U.S. government and agency obligations, investment-grade corporate debt, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, preferred stocks, and selected foreign debt instruments.