John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE:BTO) Short Interest Update

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE:BTO) saw a significant growth in short interest in March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 20,500 shares, a growth of 197.1% from the February 28th total of 6,900 shares. Approximately 0.1% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 46,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.4 days.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Stock Performance

NYSE:BTO opened at $33.88 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $35.59 and its 200 day simple moving average is $35.40. John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund has a twelve month low of $26.11 and a twelve month high of $39.87.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 13th will be given a dividend of $0.65 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 13th. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.68%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BTO. Focus Partners Wealth acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund in the fourth quarter worth about $212,000. L.M. Kohn & Company raised its position in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. L.M. Kohn & Company now owns 12,691 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $421,000 after purchasing an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund during the third quarter worth approximately $511,000. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its stake in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 10.5% in the fourth quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 15,445 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $551,000 after buying an additional 1,467 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC raised its holdings in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 18,486 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $660,000 after acquiring an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. 19.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. The fund invests in the public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in the stocks of companies operating across the financial services sector.