John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE:BTO) Short Interest Update

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE:BTO) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 6,900 shares, a decline of 52.7% from the February 13th total of 14,600 shares. Approximately 0.0% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 47,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. US Bancorp DE purchased a new position in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund in the third quarter worth $30,000. Focus Partners Wealth purchased a new position in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund in the fourth quarter worth $212,000. L.M. Kohn & Company raised its position in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 3.5% in the third quarter. L.M. Kohn & Company now owns 12,691 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $421,000 after acquiring an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC purchased a new position in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund in the third quarter worth $511,000. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC raised its position in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 10.5% in the fourth quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 15,445 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $551,000 after acquiring an additional 1,467 shares in the last quarter. 19.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Stock Performance

BTO traded up $0.33 on Friday, reaching $32.45. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 3,997 shares, compared to its average volume of 51,357. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $36.05 and a two-hundred day moving average of $35.38. John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund has a fifty-two week low of $26.11 and a fifty-two week high of $39.87.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 13th will be issued a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 13th.

About John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. The fund invests in the public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in the stocks of companies operating across the financial services sector.