iShares Semiconductor ETF Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NASDAQ:SOXX)

iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) was the recipient of unusually large options trading on Thursday. Investors purchased 67,222 put options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 37% compared to the typical volume of 48,960 put options.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. BOKF NA acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Semiconductor ETF in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares Semiconductor ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Wealth Watch Advisors INC boosted its stake in iShares Semiconductor ETF by 278.6% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Watch Advisors INC now owns 106 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 78 shares during the period. Gould Capital LLC boosted its stake in iShares Semiconductor ETF by 39.2% during the 1st quarter. Gould Capital LLC now owns 110 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the period. Finally, SHP Wealth Management acquired a new stake in iShares Semiconductor ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000.

iShares Semiconductor ETF Stock Up 8.5%

SOXX stock traded up $39.53 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $504.53. 16,920,526 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,559,610. iShares Semiconductor ETF has a twelve month low of $232.33 and a twelve month high of $655.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.84 and a beta of 1.77. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $571.26 and a 200-day simple moving average of $446.83.

iShares Semiconductor ETF Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 18th. Investors of record on Monday, June 15th were issued a dividend of $0.2827 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 15th. This represents a $1.13 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.2%. This is an increase from iShares Semiconductor ETF’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.21.

About iShares Semiconductor ETF

iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF, formerly iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the United States-listed semiconductor stocks as represented by the PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index (the Index). The Index is an equity benchmark for the United States-listed semiconductor stocks. The Index includes companies primarily involved in the design, distribution, manufacture and sale of semiconductors.