Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) Short Interest Down 78.4% in December

Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 33,147 shares, a decrease of 78.4% from the December 15th total of 153,408 shares. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 217,946 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days. Based on an average trading volume of 217,946 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days. Currently, 0.1% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Virtus Total Return Fund Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:ZTR traded down $0.01 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $6.29. 176,401 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 163,181. Virtus Total Return Fund has a fifty-two week low of $5.22 and a fifty-two week high of $6.66. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $6.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $6.34.

Virtus Total Return Fund Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 12th will be given a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 12th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.5%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ZTR. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in Virtus Total Return Fund by 18.6% in the 2nd quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 12,092 shares of the investment management company’s stock valued at $75,000 after acquiring an additional 1,900 shares during the period. Integrity Alliance LLC. purchased a new position in Virtus Total Return Fund during the first quarter valued at $76,000. Wedbush Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund in the second quarter valued at about $107,000. Tactive Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund in the second quarter valued at about $131,000. Finally, Integrated Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund by 9.3% during the fourth quarter. Integrated Capital Management Inc. now owns 43,477 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $274,000 after purchasing an additional 3,684 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 47.14% of the company’s stock.

About Virtus Total Return Fund

Virtus Total Return Fund, Inc (NYSE: ZTR) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide investors with high total return with moderate income. The fund, which began operations in 2005, trades on the New York Stock Exchange and is sponsored by Virtus Investment Partners. ZTR offers investors access to a diversified mix of fixed-income and equity opportunities within a single vehicle.

To pursue its stated objective, the fund typically allocates across a broad range of asset classes, including corporate debt securities, high-yield bonds, convertible securities, preferred stocks, common stocks and real estate investment trusts (REITs).