MQS Management LLC Takes Position in Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTS)

MQS Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRTS) during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 1,086 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock, valued at approximately $227,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in Virtus Investment Partners by 3.2% in the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 2,377 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $537,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the period. ProShare Advisors LLC grew its position in Virtus Investment Partners by 6.3% in the first quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 1,377 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $341,000 after acquiring an additional 81 shares during the period. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its position in Virtus Investment Partners by 2.3% in the second quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 3,717 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $839,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the period. Tidal Investments LLC grew its position in Virtus Investment Partners by 9.4% in the first quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 1,048 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $260,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the period. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System grew its position in Virtus Investment Partners by 3.0% in the second quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 3,400 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $768,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. 80.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Virtus Investment Partners Trading Down 1.5 %

Shares of VRTS opened at $238.00 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 15.18, a current ratio of 11.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. Virtus Investment Partners, Inc. has a 12-month low of $190.42 and a 12-month high of $263.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.67 billion, a PE ratio of 14.47 and a beta of 1.45. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $215.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $219.17.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have commented on VRTS. Barclays began coverage on Virtus Investment Partners in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. They issued an “underweight” rating and a $206.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Virtus Investment Partners from $208.00 to $217.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Virtus Investment Partners from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $233.50.

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.