Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (NYSE:HIX) to Issue Monthly Dividend of $0.05

Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (NYSE:HIX) announced a monthly dividend on Thursday, May 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 24th will be given a dividend of 0.049 per share by the closed-end fund on Friday, July 31st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 14.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 24th.

Western Asset High Income Fund II Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of Western Asset High Income Fund II stock opened at $3.96 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $3.97 and its 200 day moving average is $4.11. Western Asset High Income Fund II has a one year low of $3.75 and a one year high of $4.40.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. GraniteShares Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Western Asset High Income Fund II in the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,762,000. UBS Group AG boosted its position in shares of Western Asset High Income Fund II by 13.1% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 3,630,393 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $15,792,000 after purchasing an additional 420,852 shares during the period. Guggenheim Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of Western Asset High Income Fund II by 124.7% in the fourth quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 544,204 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $2,264,000 after purchasing an additional 301,968 shares in the last quarter. NWF Advisory Services Inc. raised its holdings in Western Asset High Income Fund II by 69.6% during the third quarter. NWF Advisory Services Inc. now owns 417,800 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $1,817,000 after acquiring an additional 171,500 shares during the period. Finally, Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its position in shares of Western Asset High Income Fund II by 23.2% during the fourth quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 573,337 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $2,385,000 after acquiring an additional 108,088 shares during the last quarter.

About Western Asset High Income Fund II

Western Asset High Income Fund II (NYSE: HIX) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide high current income by investing primarily in below-investment-grade debt instruments. The fund pursues a diversified portfolio of high-yield corporate bonds, senior loans, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and emerging-market debt, aiming to generate attractive yield while managing credit and interest rate risk.

The fund may employ leverage through borrowings and the issuance of preferred shares to enhance its income potential.