Virtus Investment Partners (NASDAQ:VRTS) Sees Large Volume Increase – Still a Buy?

Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTS) saw strong trading volume on Friday . 53,229 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 51% from the previous session’s volume of 108,744 shares.The stock last traded at $164.1650 and had previously closed at $163.02.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have commented on VRTS. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Virtus Investment Partners from $112.00 to $119.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Friday, June 26th. Barclays lifted their price target on Virtus Investment Partners from $125.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Piper Sandler dropped their price target on shares of Virtus Investment Partners from $181.00 to $170.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 4th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Virtus Investment Partners from $136.00 to $147.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, July 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Reduce” and an average price target of $144.25.

Virtus Investment Partners Price Performance

The firm has a 50-day moving average of $148.71 and a 200-day moving average of $146.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 11.86 and a current ratio of 11.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.79 and a beta of 1.38.

Virtus Investment Partners Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 31st will be issued a dividend of $2.40 per share. This represents a $9.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 31st. Virtus Investment Partners’s dividend payout ratio is presently 56.50%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Virtus Investment Partners

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Two Sigma Investments LP raised its holdings in shares of Virtus Investment Partners by 574.8% during the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 46,059 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $8,753,000 after purchasing an additional 39,233 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its position in Virtus Investment Partners by 101.1% during the fourth quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 77,937 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $12,715,000 after purchasing an additional 39,188 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in Virtus Investment Partners by 220.5% in the third quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 37,737 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $7,171,000 after purchasing an additional 25,961 shares during the last quarter. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL purchased a new stake in Virtus Investment Partners in the fourth quarter worth approximately $4,146,000. Finally, Zimmer Partners LP bought a new stake in Virtus Investment Partners in the 4th quarter worth approximately $4,079,000. 80.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Virtus Investment Partners

Virtus Investment Partners (NASDAQ: VRTS) is a publicly traded investment management company headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. The firm offers a broad range of investment solutions to institutional, high-net-wealth, and retail investors, drawing on the expertise of multiple affiliated investment teams. Since its founding in 1995, Virtus has grown by integrating specialized asset managers and expanding its product lineup, while maintaining a focus on active management across diverse market environments.

The company’s product suite encompasses mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), collective trusts, UCITS funds, and separately managed accounts.