Short Interest in Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:VPU) Drops By 33.5%

Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:VPU) saw a large drop in short interest during the month of August. As of August 14th, there was short interest totaling 66,909 shares, a drop of 33.5% from the July 30th total of 100,650 shares. Currently, 0.2% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 322,756 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vanguard Utilities ETF

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Franklin Resources Inc. purchased a new stake in Vanguard Utilities ETF during the 2nd quarter worth $235,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its holdings in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 57.4% in the second quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 428 shares of the company’s stock worth $76,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 57.3% in the 2nd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 10,106 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,784,000 after purchasing an additional 3,681 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vanguard Utilities ETF by 481.0% during the second quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 11,429 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,017,000 after acquiring an additional 9,462 shares during the period. Finally, Main Street Financial Solutions LLC grew its position in Vanguard Utilities ETF by 29.5% in the 2nd quarter. Main Street Financial Solutions LLC now owns 11,508 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,031,000 after purchasing an additional 2,624 shares during the last quarter.

Vanguard Utilities ETF Stock Performance

Vanguard Utilities ETF stock traded up $1.26 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $184.12. The stock had a trading volume of 214,058 shares, compared to its average volume of 256,941. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.15 billion, a PE ratio of 20.60 and a beta of 0.59. Vanguard Utilities ETF has a twelve month low of $178.51 and a twelve month high of $206.10. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $193.00 and its 200 day simple moving average is $195.91.

Vanguard Utilities ETF Company Profile

Vanguard Utilities ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded class of shares issued by Vanguard Utilities Index Fund. The Fund tracks the performance of Morgan Stanley Capital International United States Investable Market Utilities Index, an index made up of stocks of large, medium-size and small United States companies in the utilities sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). This GICS sector is made up of those companies considered electric, gas, or water utilities, or companies that operate as independent producers and/or distributors of power.