Virtus Investment Partners (NASDAQ:VRTS) Stock Crosses Above 200-Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?

Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTS) passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $148.80 and traded as high as $149.86. Virtus Investment Partners shares last traded at $146.3130, with a volume of 95,050 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

VRTS has been the topic of several research reports. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Virtus Investment Partners from $128.00 to $112.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 19th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Virtus Investment Partners from $128.00 to $125.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 4th. Piper Sandler cut 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 report on Monday, May 4th. Finally, TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Virtus Investment Partners from $132.00 to $131.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Virtus Investment Partners has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $134.50.

Virtus Investment Partners Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $977.66 million, a PE ratio of 8.66 and a beta of 1.38. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $139.81 and its 200-day moving average price is $148.80. The company has a quick ratio of 11.86, a current ratio of 11.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27.

Virtus Investment Partners Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 14th. Shareholders 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 6.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 31st. Virtus Investment Partners’s dividend payout ratio is 56.50%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Virtus Investment Partners

In other Virtus Investment Partners news, Director W Howard Morris bought 2,150 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 12th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $129.34 per share, with a total value of $278,081.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 2,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $258,680. This trade represents a -1,433.33% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 6.40% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Virtus Investment Partners

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of VRTS. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Virtus Investment Partners during the first quarter valued at $26,000. Assetmark Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Virtus Investment Partners during the first quarter valued at $36,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd lifted its holdings in Virtus Investment Partners by 269.9% in the fourth quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd now owns 307 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 224 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in Virtus Investment Partners by 90.4% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 316 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Virtus Investment Partners by 24.1% in the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 499 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $81,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.52% of the company’s stock.

Virtus Investment Partners Company Profile

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.