Short Interest in Western Asset Bond ETF (NASDAQ:WABF) Expands By 26.4%

Western Asset Bond ETF (NASDAQ:WABF) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 11,000 shares, a growth of 26.4% from the March 15th total of 8,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 8,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.3 days. Currently, 1.5% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Western Asset Bond ETF Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ WABF opened at $24.84 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $25.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $25.25. Western Asset Bond ETF has a 52-week low of $24.31 and a 52-week high of $26.64.

Western Asset Bond ETF Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 4th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 1st were issued a $0.1166 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.63%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, April 1st.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Encompass More Asset Management lifted its stake in Western Asset Bond ETF by 18.3% in the fourth quarter. Encompass More Asset Management now owns 32,583 shares of the company’s stock valued at $810,000 after buying an additional 5,034 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Western Asset Bond ETF by 20.8% in the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 33,937 shares of the company’s stock worth $844,000 after acquiring an additional 5,837 shares during the period. Landmark Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Western Asset Bond ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $3,059,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in Western Asset Bond ETF by 55.6% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 700,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $18,106,000 after purchasing an additional 250,000 shares during the period.

Western Asset Bond ETF Company Profile

The Western Asset Bond ETF (WABF) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund actively manages a portfolio comprised of USD-denominated debt instruments and fixed income securities of various maturities, with limited exposure to high yield, emerging market debts, and structured securities.