Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLB) Short Interest Update

Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLB) saw a significant increase in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totaling 23,098,271 shares, an increase of 32.9% from the December 31st total of 17,376,558 shares. Approximately 19.6% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 15,945,364 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.4 days. Based on an average trading volume of 15,945,364 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.4 days. Approximately 19.6% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund Price Performance

Shares of Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund stock traded up $1.15 on Tuesday, reaching $50.80. The company had a trading volume of 10,737,630 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,346,246. The firm has a market cap of $6.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.55 and a beta of 1.03. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $46.57 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $45.28. Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund has a 1 year low of $36.56 and a 1 year high of $51.22.

Institutional Trading of Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund by 27.3% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 5,234 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $450,000 after acquiring an additional 1,123 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC bought a new stake in shares of Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,217,000. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its position in shares of Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund by 16.7% in the 2nd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 84,148 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $7,389,000 after purchasing an additional 12,049 shares during the period. OLD National Bancorp IN lifted its position in shares of Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund by 250.2% in the 2nd quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 76,849 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $6,748,000 after purchasing an additional 54,907 shares during the period. Finally, DAVENPORT & Co LLC bought a new position in shares of Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund during the second quarter valued at approximately $267,000. 75.78% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund Company Profile

Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (the Fund) seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Materials Select Sector Index (the Index). The Index includes companies involved in such industries as chemicals; metals and mining; paper and forest products; containers and packaging, and construction materials. The Fund’s investment advisor is SSgA Funds Management, Inc