Fidus Investment (NASDAQ:FDUS) Reaches New 52-Week High - Should You Buy?

Fidus Investment Co. (NASDAQ:FDUS - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Friday . The company traded as high as $21.75 and last traded at $21.69, with a volume of 74652 shares. The stock had previously closed at $21.62.

Fidus Investment Stock Up 0.4 %

The firm has a market capitalization of $736.06 million, a PE ratio of 7.75 and a beta of 1.39. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $20.94 and a 200 day moving average price of $20.09.

Fidus Investment (NASDAQ:FDUS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The asset manager reported $0.61 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.04. Fidus Investment had a net margin of 60.09% and a return on equity of 12.11%. The business had revenue of $38.38 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $36.43 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.68 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Fidus Investment Co. will post 2.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Fidus Investment Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 27th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 17th were paid a dividend of $0.61 per share. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 11.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 17th. This is a boost from Fidus Investment's previous quarterly dividend of $0.57. Fidus Investment's dividend payout ratio is currently 61.43%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Fidus Investment

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its holdings in shares of Fidus Investment by 11.5% during the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 809,411 shares of the asset manager's stock worth $15,808,000 after buying an additional 83,538 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its position in shares of Fidus Investment by 18.1% during the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 233,826 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $4,555,000 after acquiring an additional 35,861 shares during the last quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Fidus Investment in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $683,000. Riverbridge Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Fidus Investment during the 4th quarter worth approximately $716,000. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Fidus Investment by 17.4% in the second quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 225,904 shares of the asset manager's stock valued at $4,401,000 after buying an additional 33,474 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 28.14% of the company's stock.

About Fidus Investment

Fidus Investment Corporation is a business development company. It specializing in leveraged buyouts, refinancings, change of ownership transactions, recapitalizations, strategic acquisitions, mezzanine, growth capital, business expansion, lower middle market investments, debt investments, subordinated and second lien loans, senior secured and unitranche debt, preferred equity, warrants, subordinated debt, senior subordinated notes, junior secured loans, and unitranche loans.