Investors Purchase High Volume of Put Options on iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX)

iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) saw some unusual options trading on Thursday. Investors acquired 49,561 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of 29% compared to the typical volume of 38,560 put options.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On iShares Semiconductor ETF

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. BOKF NA acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Semiconductor ETF during the fourth quarter worth approximately $30,000. Commonwealth Retirement Investments LLC bought a new position in iShares Semiconductor ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. Wealth Watch Advisors INC grew its holdings 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 worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 78 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Advocates LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Semiconductor ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, Gould Capital LLC increased its position in shares of iShares Semiconductor ETF by 39.2% in the 1st quarter. Gould Capital LLC now owns 110 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the last quarter.

iShares Semiconductor ETF Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:SOXX traded down $0.36 during trading on Friday, hitting $581.34. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 5,843,913 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,279,269. iShares Semiconductor ETF has a fifty-two week low of $232.33 and a fifty-two week high of $655.95. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $564.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $425.75. The company has a market capitalization of $48.80 billion, a PE ratio of 31.84 and a beta of 1.77.

iShares Semiconductor ETF Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 15th were issued a dividend of $0.2827 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 15th. This represents a $1.13 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.2%. This is a boost 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.