KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Buys Shares of 1,600 Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTS)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new stake in shares of Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTS - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 1,600 shares of the closed-end fund's stock, valued at approximately $353,000.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its holdings in Virtus Investment Partners by 22.6% during the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 4,304 shares of the closed-end fund's stock valued at $901,000 after buying an additional 794 shares in the last quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Virtus Investment Partners by 219.0% in the third quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 3,688 shares of the closed-end fund's stock valued at $772,000 after purchasing an additional 2,532 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its position in Virtus Investment Partners by 21.5% in the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 1,157 shares of the closed-end fund's stock worth $242,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in Virtus Investment Partners during the third quarter valued at $482,000. Finally, Point72 DIFC Ltd lifted its position in Virtus Investment Partners by 57.2% during the third quarter. Point72 DIFC Ltd now owns 610 shares of the closed-end fund's stock valued at $128,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. 80.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

VRTS has been the topic of several analyst reports. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on Virtus Investment Partners from $252.00 to $216.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Virtus Investment Partners from $211.00 to $198.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Virtus Investment Partners from $220.00 to $158.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. StockNews.com raised Virtus Investment Partners from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on Virtus Investment Partners from $221.00 to $200.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $193.00.

Virtus Investment Partners Trading Down 7.6 %

Shares of NASDAQ:VRTS traded down $12.08 during trading on Thursday, reaching $147.80. 55,666 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 40,306. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $176.18 and its 200-day simple moving average is $206.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 11.86 and a quick ratio of 11.86. Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. has a 12-month low of $144.13 and a 12-month high of $252.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.02 billion, a PE ratio of 8.75 and a beta of 1.36.

Virtus Investment Partners Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 30th will be issued a dividend of $2.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 30th. This represents a $9.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.09%. Virtus Investment Partners's payout ratio is currently 53.25%.

About Virtus Investment Partners

Virtus Investment Partners, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to individual and institutional clients. It launches separate client focused equity and fixed income portfolios. The firm launches equity, fixed income, and balanced mutual funds for its clients.