Royce Small-Cap Trust, Inc. (NYSE:RVT) Sees Large Increase in Short Interest

Royce Small-Cap Trust, Inc. (NYSE:RVT) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totaling 144,378 shares, a growth of 80.9% from the December 31st total of 79,820 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 521,839 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.3 days. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 521,839 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Royce Small-Cap Trust Stock Performance

RVT stock traded down $0.11 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $17.34. 300,065 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 523,360. Royce Small-Cap Trust has a 1-year low of $12.12 and a 1-year high of $17.70. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $16.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $16.10.

Royce Small-Cap Trust Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 24th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 11th were paid a $0.54 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 11th. This is a positive change from Royce Small-Cap Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 12.5%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Royce Small-Cap Trust

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Moors & Cabot Inc. increased its holdings in Royce Small-Cap Trust by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 24,501 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $395,000 after acquiring an additional 660 shares during the period. Triumph Capital Management grew its holdings in Royce Small-Cap Trust by 1.4% in the third quarter. Triumph Capital Management now owns 51,034 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $823,000 after purchasing an additional 716 shares during the last quarter. Whitener Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Royce Small-Cap Trust by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Whitener Capital Management Inc. now owns 48,512 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $782,000 after purchasing an additional 754 shares in the last quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. lifted its holdings in Royce Small-Cap Trust by 5.5% in the second quarter. Barrett & Company Inc. now owns 14,470 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $218,000 after acquiring an additional 758 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV boosted its holdings in Royce Small-Cap Trust by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 49,163 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $792,000 after purchasing an additional 811 shares in the last quarter. 25.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Royce Small-Cap Trust

Royce Small-Cap Trust (NYSE:RVT) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide investors with long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in the common stocks of small-capitalization companies. The trust is structured to trade on the New York Stock Exchange, offering shares that represent an undivided interest in a diversified portfolio of U.S. small-cap equities. As a closed-end vehicle, the fund may employ leverage to enhance returns and reinvest dividends to support growth over time.

The trust’s investment strategy is driven by fundamental, bottom-up research, focusing on companies with market capitalizations typically falling within the small-cap spectrum.