Short Interest in Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) Rises By 76.5%

Virtus Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE:ZTR) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totaling 104,838 shares, a growth of 76.5% from the March 15th total of 59,395 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 184,181 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.6 days. Approximately 0.2% of the company’s stock are sold short.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. North Ground Capital increased its stake in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund by 121.5% during the 3rd quarter. North Ground Capital now owns 1,197,000 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $7,721,000 after purchasing an additional 656,500 shares during the last quarter. Gridiron Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund by 7,620.7% during the 3rd quarter. Gridiron Partners LLC now owns 1,442,455 shares of the investment management company’s stock worth $9,304,000 after purchasing an additional 1,423,772 shares during the last quarter. Alpine Global Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund during the 3rd quarter worth about $4,064,000. Closed End Fund Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund during the 4th quarter worth about $66,000. Finally, Avise Financial Cooperative Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Virtus Total Return Fund during the 4th quarter worth about $169,000. 47.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Virtus Total Return Fund Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of ZTR stock opened at $6.96 on Monday. Virtus Total Return Fund has a 1 year low of $5.50 and a 1 year high of $7.11. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $6.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $6.55.

Virtus Total Return Fund Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 28th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.05 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 11th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.6%.

Virtus Total Return Fund Company Profile

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).