John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE:BTO) Stock Short Interest Report for October

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE:BTO) was the target of a large decline in short interest in October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totaling 3,353 shares, a decline of 56.8% from the September 30th total of 7,757 shares. Approximately 0.0% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 47,860 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Price Performance

Shares of BTO stock traded down $0.31 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $37.22. The stock had a trading volume of 22,483 shares, compared to its average volume of 46,683. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $37.67 and its 200 day simple moving average is $37.59. John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund has a 12 month low of $32.01 and a 12 month high of $42.00.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 11th were paid a $0.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 11th. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.0%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 45,151 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,620,000 after purchasing an additional 1,311 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 3.3% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 267,804 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $9,606,000 after buying an additional 8,443 shares in the last quarter. FCA Corp TX boosted its stake in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 2.4% during the first quarter. FCA Corp TX now owns 88,984 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,192,000 after buying an additional 2,064 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 18.5% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 8,415 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $302,000 after buying an additional 1,315 shares during the period. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp bought a new stake in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund during the first quarter valued at $206,000. 19.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE:BTO) is a closed-end investment company that seeks to provide investors with a high level of current income and long-term capital appreciation. The fund focuses primarily on the financial services sector.

Its portfolio may include common stocks, preferred securities and debt investments issued by companies such as banks, insurers, asset managers, brokerages, specialty finance firms and other financial institutions. The fund may also invest across different areas of the financial industry and geographic markets as its investment team identifies opportunities.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund is advised by John Hancock Investment Management, the asset-management business associated with Manulife Investment Management.