John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE:JHS) Short Interest Down 45.0% in April

John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE:JHS) saw a significant drop in short interest in the month of April. As of April 30th, there was short interest totaling 4,248 shares, a drop of 45.0% from the April 15th total of 7,718 shares. Currently, 0.0% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 26,051 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On John Hancock Income Securities Trust

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Fifth Third Bancorp bought a new position in shares of John Hancock Income Securities Trust during the first quarter worth approximately $27,000. Prestige Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new stake in John Hancock Income Securities Trust during the third quarter worth approximately $42,000. Petra Financial Advisors Inc. grew its position in John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 72.1% during the fourth quarter. Petra Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 19,125 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $224,000 after buying an additional 8,010 shares in the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC grew its position in John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 42.7% during the third quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC now owns 47,622 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $556,000 after buying an additional 14,239 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its position in John Hancock Income Securities Trust by 23.9% during the second quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 60,103 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $678,000 after buying an additional 11,587 shares in the last quarter.

John Hancock Income Securities Trust Price Performance

Shares of NYSE JHS traded down $0.16 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $11.00. 3,397 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 27,100. John Hancock Income Securities Trust has a 52 week low of $10.74 and a 52 week high of $12.09. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $11.10 and its 200 day simple moving average is $11.46.

John Hancock Income Securities Trust Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 12th were paid a dividend of $0.1377 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 12th. This represents a $0.55 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.0%.

About John Hancock Income Securities Trust

John Hancock Income Securities Trust (NYSE: JHS) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with high current income while preserving capital. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange since its launch in the late 1970s, the trust offers investors access to a broad portfolio of fixed-income securities under a professional management structure.

The fund’s primary investment activities include purchasing U.S. government and agency obligations, investment-grade corporate debt, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, preferred stocks, and selected foreign debt instruments.