Fidus Investment (NASDAQ:FDUS) Sets New 12-Month High – Still a Buy?

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

Fidus Investment Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $734.50 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.74 and a beta of 1.39. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $20.91 and a 200 day moving average price of $20.07.

Fidus Investment (NASDAQ:FDUS) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The asset manager reported $0.61 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $38.38 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $36.43 million. Fidus Investment had a return on equity of 12.11% and a net margin of 60.09%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.68 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Fidus Investment Co. will post 2.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Fidus Investment Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 27th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 17th were paid a $0.61 dividend. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 11.27%. The ex-dividend date 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 61.43%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Fidus Investment

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FDUS. McIlrath & Eck LLC bought a new stake in shares of Fidus Investment during the third quarter worth approximately $59,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its position in Fidus Investment by 23.6% during the third quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 7,467 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $146,000 after acquiring an additional 1,426 shares during the period. Paloma Partners Management Co acquired a new stake in Fidus Investment in the 3rd quarter worth about $268,000. Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new stake in Fidus Investment in the 4th quarter valued at about $274,000. Finally, Optimum Investment Advisors grew its position in shares of Fidus Investment by 24.6% during the 3rd quarter. Optimum Investment Advisors now owns 17,325 shares of the asset manager’s stock worth $340,000 after purchasing an additional 3,425 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors 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.