Short Interest in Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLF) Grows By 49.3%

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSEARCA:XLF) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 89,171,222 shares, an increase of 49.3% from the January 29th total of 59,730,956 shares. Approximately 8.6% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 59,302,870 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.5 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 59,302,870 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.5 days. Approximately 8.6% of the company’s shares are sold short.

Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund Stock Down 2.0%

NYSEARCA XLF traded down $1.07 on Friday, hitting $51.43. The stock had a trading volume of 81,994,522 shares, compared to its average volume of 52,986,609. The company’s 50-day moving average is $53.81 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.42. The stock has a market cap of $53.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.25 and a beta of 0.99. Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund has a one year low of $42.21 and a one year high of $56.51.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in XLF. HUB Investment Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund in the 2nd quarter worth about $452,000. Diversify Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund by 17.3% in the second quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 42,105 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $2,209,000 after acquiring an additional 6,208 shares during the last quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP raised its stake in shares of Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund by 14.0% in the second quarter. Quantinno Capital Management LP now owns 254,283 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $13,317,000 after acquiring an additional 31,286 shares during the last quarter. Darwin Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $4,162,000. Finally, Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. increased its holdings in Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund by 6.3% during the 2nd quarter. Ausdal Financial Partners Inc. now owns 67,595 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $3,540,000 after purchasing an additional 3,982 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.51% of the company’s stock.

About Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund

The Fund seeks to provide investors with a low-cost passive approach for investing in a portfolio of equity securities of firms as represented by the Financial Select Sector Index.