Stock Traders Buy Large Volume of Put Options on SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (NYSEARCA:KRE)

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (NYSEARCA:KRE) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Thursday. Traders acquired 165,383 put options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 80% compared to the typical daily volume of 91,653 put options.

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:KRE opened at $51.31 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $60.35 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $60.97. The company has a market cap of $3.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.74 and a beta of 1.09. SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF has a one year low of $45.46 and a one year high of $70.25.

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 26th. Investors of record on Monday, March 24th were paid a dividend of $0.3782 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 24th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KRE. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF by 1,861.5% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,701,950 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $223,413,000 after acquiring an additional 3,513,217 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its stake in SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF by 28.3% in the fourth quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,852,585 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $111,802,000 after purchasing an additional 408,350 shares in the last quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc lifted its position in SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF by 32.8% during the fourth quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc now owns 1,046,360 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $63,148,000 after purchasing an additional 258,175 shares during the last quarter. Main Management ETF Advisors LLC purchased a new position in SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $58,334,000. Finally, BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp bought a new position in shares of SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF in the 4th quarter worth $53,282,000.

SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF Company Profile

SPDR KBW Regional Banking ETF, formerly SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF, seeks to closely match the returns and characteristics of the S&P Regional Banks Select Industry Index. Its approach is designed to provide portfolios with low portfolio turnover, tracking, and lower costs. As of October 27, 2011, the Company’s holding included Privatebancorp Inc, Webster Finl Corp Conn, Umpqua Hldgs Corp, Firstmerit Corp, East West Bancorp Inc, Fifth Third Bancorp, Fnb Corp Pa, Susquehanna Bancshares Inc and Keycorp New and First Rep Bk San Fran Cali.