Smartleaf Asset Management LLC Increases Holdings in Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTS)

Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTS) by 170.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 200 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock after acquiring an additional 126 shares during the quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Virtus Investment Partners were worth $44,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in VRTS. Quarry LP boosted its holdings in Virtus Investment Partners by 388.5% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 127 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Virtus Investment Partners in the 4th quarter valued at $75,000. KBC Group NV boosted its holdings in shares of Virtus Investment Partners by 61.2% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 395 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $87,000 after buying an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Point72 DIFC Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Virtus Investment Partners by 57.2% in the 3rd quarter. Point72 DIFC Ltd now owns 610 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $128,000 after buying an additional 222 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Virtus Investment Partners by 269.0% in the 3rd quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. now owns 690 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $145,000 after buying an additional 503 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.52% of the company’s stock.

Virtus Investment Partners Price Performance

Shares of VRTS opened at $176.36 on Wednesday. Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $170.14 and a fifty-two week high of $263.39. The company has a market capitalization of $1.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.44 and a beta of 1.49. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $197.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $213.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 11.86 and a current ratio of 11.86.

Virtus Investment Partners Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 30th will be given a dividend of $2.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 30th. This represents a $9.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.10%. Virtus Investment Partners’s payout ratio is 53.25%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have issued reports on VRTS shares. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Virtus Investment Partners from $221.00 to $200.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Virtus Investment Partners from $211.00 to $198.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on Virtus Investment Partners from $274.00 to $258.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, StockNews.com raised Virtus Investment Partners from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, March 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $225.75.

About Virtus Investment Partners

Virtus Investment Partners, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to individual and institutional clients. It launches separate client focused equity and fixed income portfolios. The firm launches equity, fixed income, and balanced mutual funds for its clients.