John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (NYSE:HPF) Short Interest Up 10.1% in December

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II (NYSE:HPF) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 10,900 shares, a growth of 10.1% from the November 30th total of 9,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 37,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.3 days.

Institutional Trading of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Stifel Financial Corp grew its position in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 141,507 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,639,000 after buying an additional 1,465 shares during the period. Cornerstone Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $69,000. Axim Planning & Wealth increased its position in John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II by 14.0% during the 3rd quarter. Axim Planning & Wealth now owns 420,003 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,833,000 after buying an additional 51,730 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its stake in John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II by 2,654.0% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 23,271 shares of the company’s stock valued at $434,000 after buying an additional 22,426 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. bought a new stake in John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II in the third quarter worth $33,000.

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II Stock Performance

Shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II stock traded up $0.12 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $16.55. 70,292 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 41,271. John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II has a 1 year low of $15.39 and a 1 year high of $19.00. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $17.24 and its 200 day moving average is $17.32.

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 12th were paid a dividend of $0.1235 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 12th. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.95%.

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II Company Profile

John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It seeks to invest in securities of companies operating across diversified sectors.