iShares Semiconductor ETF Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NASDAQ:SOXX)

iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) was the target of some unusual options trading on Friday. Stock investors acquired 30,454 put options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 166% compared to the average volume of 11,430 put options.

iShares Semiconductor ETF Trading Up 1.0%

NASDAQ:SOXX opened at $359.43 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $331.25 and its 200 day moving average price is $295.04. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.84 and a beta of 1.51. iShares Semiconductor ETF has a 1-year low of $148.31 and a 1-year high of $365.38.

iShares Semiconductor ETF Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 19th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 16th were issued a $0.4363 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 16th. This represents a $1.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. First Horizon Corp bought a new position in iShares Semiconductor ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $646,000. 17 Capital Partners LLC grew its position in iShares Semiconductor ETF by 21.1% in the second quarter. 17 Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,863 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $445,000 after acquiring an additional 324 shares in the last quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Semiconductor ETF by 34.3% during the 3rd quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 14,167 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $3,841,000 after purchasing an additional 3,616 shares during the last quarter. Analyst IMS Investment Management Services Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of iShares Semiconductor ETF by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Analyst IMS Investment Management Services Ltd. now owns 159,111 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $43,138,000 after purchasing an additional 6,953 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CW Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares Semiconductor ETF by 140.5% during the 2nd quarter. CW Advisors LLC now owns 3,530 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $843,000 after purchasing an additional 2,062 shares in the last quarter.

iShares Semiconductor ETF Company Profile

iShares PHLX Semiconductor ETF, formerly iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the United States-listed semiconductor stocks as represented by the PHLX Semiconductor Sector Index (the Index). The Index is an equity benchmark for the United States-listed semiconductor stocks. The Index includes companies primarily involved in the design, distribution, manufacture and sale of semiconductors.