John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (NYSE:HPF) Short Interest Up 290.3% in March

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (NYSE:HPF) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of March. As of March 13th, there was short interest totaling 31,422 shares, a growth of 290.3% from the February 26th total of 8,051 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 47,356 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.7 days.

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II Trading Down 0.6%

HPF stock opened at $15.38 on Friday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $16.00 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $16.31. John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II has a twelve month low of $14.56 and a twelve month high of $17.13.

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 12th will be issued a $0.1235 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 12th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.6%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Guggenheim Capital LLC boosted its position in John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II by 73.1% in the 4th quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 243,009 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,905,000 after buying an additional 102,627 shares during the period. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II by 26.4% during the second quarter. J.W. Cole Advisors Inc. now owns 132,495 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,095,000 after acquiring an additional 27,684 shares during the period. UBS Group AG raised its stake in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II by 8.2% during the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 339,995 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,729,000 after acquiring an additional 25,779 shares in the last quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II by 57.5% during the fourth quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 66,744 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,073,000 after acquiring an additional 24,354 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II by 14.8% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 182,941 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,083,000 after purchasing an additional 23,622 shares during the period.

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II Company Profile

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (NYSE: HPF) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide a high level of current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the fund primarily invests in preferred securities issued by U.S. and, to a lesser extent, international issuers. Its diversified portfolio may include investment-grade and below-investment-grade preferred stocks, corporate debt securities, convertible securities and, when deemed appropriate, common equity.

Launched in June 2006, HPF employs leverage through preferred share borrowings and other forms of financing to enhance income potential.